Lions Club news: Meet Ricky Jackson

Lions Club stalwart Ricky Jackson.

RICKY Jackson is a familiar figure in New Norfolk, a local personality who loves to help out in the community and who proudly states that he has “lived in the same house my whole life”.

Ricky‘s generous volunteering led him to be an honorary member of the New Norfolk Lions Club for two years before he joined. “Whenever Greg Hudson asked me to help with anything, I was glad to do it," Ricky said. In particular, he would often help out with raffles and selling Christmas cakes.

Since he officially joined the club eight years ago, Ricky has taken over the responsibility for organising raffles and he also helps with fundraising at sausage sizzles and the entry gates at Baskerville raceway. This year, he is third vice-president of the New Norfolk Lions.

Ricky is most proud of the work that the Lions Club does to help disadvantaged children particularly when it used to operate the Lions train ride. "The kids used to love it, especially the kids in wheelchairs," he said.

"We could take three or four wheelchairs at a time, as well as filling the seats with excited kids who jumped on. It made the kids smile and their parents happy. We used to take it to all the shows - local and further away like Orford and Glenorchy.”

Volunteering began for Ricky at 13 years of age when his Dad was president of the Lachlan Football Club and his late Mum was Treasurer. Ricky helped out with whatever needed doing including umpiring. Before he was 24 years of age he had umpired an impressive 150 reserve-grade games.

When the Lachlan Football Club closed, Ricky’s love of the sport motivated him to join the New Norfolk District Football Club. For the next 20 years he would be seen volunteering at the Boyer Oval entry gates for Eagles home games.

Ricky is often seen these days volunteering at the New Norfolk Hotel where for 14 years he has helped out with whatever needs doing such as distributing advertising leaflets or counting the till at the end of the day.

For Ricky, volunteering is a way of life. “It gets me out of the house and talking to people," he says. "I’ve made friends. It’s the friendship and fellowship that I enjoy most in the Lions Club.”

If you would like to know more about the Lions Club of New Norfolk contact membership officers Greg Hudson on 6261 1329 or Troy Bester on 0401 064 172. Lions Australia. We serve (more than sausages).