One of the recurring themes among pensioners, particularly those who have lost their spouses, is how lonely life becomes. But Our Club says that they have a solution to this.
As Sandy Fitzgibbon, a member of the club, said, “I wondered what to do. My children were grown and had their own lives. It gets very lonely not having anyone to talk to.”
The club serves the purpose of allowing members to socialise. Chairperson Sandy Green insisted, “This is not a dating club. While a couple of members may pair up, that is not the club’s purpose. We’re a non-profit organisation, so we give proceeds from our events to charity. It’s not a huge amount but it is nice for the members to feel like they can give back.”
According to Carol Driessen, the club’s treasurer, the club has been going for 34 years and she has been a member since 1988. She explained, “The founding member was a woman, who had just lost her husband, and she put an advert in the paper, inviting other lonely singles to her house for a braai. So many people arrived that they decided to start a club. The name, Our Club, just stuck.”
The club has a full social calendar that consists mostly of darts every Wednesday, a party each Saturday and a braai each Sunday. Venues that have opened their doors to the group include the Randburg SAPS Lapa, Northcliff Country Club, Fairways Hotel and Golf Resort on the Randpark Golf Course and most recently, Mark’s Park in Emmarentia.
On 18 July the club held a function at the Randburg Police Station’s clubhouse where they sold hot dogs. Each month, proceeds go to a charity of choice. Green added that the club does not want people to feel put off or uninvited. Visitors are always welcome to come and see what the club is all about and Green is trying to encourage this. If anyone would like to know more about the club and their upcoming activities they can contact Sandy Green.
Details: Sandy Green 082 553 8473.
