Lions Club celebrates 60th anniversary

Sharlien Tjambari 

The Lions Club Swakopmund celebrated their 60th Anniversary this past Friday. The club was chartered on 4 September 1959 by 16 Charter members because they were living in backyard flats or in houses, they were unable to maintain at the time.

Members of the Lions Club Swakopmund gathered at the Lions Old Age Home in Swakopmund to dance the night away and to be reminded of the history of the Lions Club Swakopmund. The Lions Club Swakopmund also had an induction of a new member, Jonathan Wilsnach and introduced the new Lions President Heiko Zicker on that same night.
Zicker said: “I have had life changing experiences with the Lions and I am sure being President will also be a life-changing experience for me. I am a Lion for about 9 years now. My priority has never been to become a president but to serve the community. Nevertheless, I am now prepared to take the leadership role but, fellow club members without your support, guidance and dedicated service.
I would not be able to fill this position successfully”.
He further said, “I would also like to raise the standing of our club through effective publicity and awareness programs. It is my dream and pray-er that we will have transformed possibilities and opportunities into stories of success and triumph at the end of my term”.
The Lions Club Swakopmund obtained a 7000 square meter erf (801) at Rhode Allee for only N$10 in 1962 and the first stage of completion was in 1967. A donation by Mrs Linda Brumm made it possible to start the first building stage comprising of 10 single bungalows, one ablution block, single matron quarters, one garage, 2 servants’ quarters at the cost of N$33 700.
In total, the Lions Club Swakopmund was built in 20 different stages, starting in September 1972 up until 2009. The club contributed towards the following projects: annual adventskaffee for all pensioners in Swakopmund, Swakop Sight First Project (eye screening for all Grade 1 children in Swakopmund and supply of specs if parents could not afford), they were also part of the planting of replica cross at Cape Cross. The Lions Club have served the community of Swakopmund in many ways and have been a pillar of the community. The Swakopmund Lions Club is the fifth Lions Club in Southern Africa.
Outgoing President Mr. Mark Schieger also mentioned some of the Lions Club’s newest project such as the handover of wheelchairs and walkers to the senior citizens of Welwitschia Phase one and two about a month ago and their regular project of giving vegetables and meat for vulnerable children in the DRC informal settlement.