A number of Barrhead residents joined an exclusive club — one they have literally been working their whole lives to qualify for whether they knew it or not.
On Sunday, June 4 at Hillcrest Lodge, Barrhead and Social Housing Association inducted a dozen of its residents into a prestigious club the 90- years-plus club.
To join, all members had to do is turn 90 sometime in 2017.
This year an even dozen joined their ranks.
In addition, two Hillcrest Lodge residents joined the even more exclusive century club.
“The members who are inducted into this club have lived through both good and bad times, and have worked hard to build a country and community that we all can be proud of,” Barrhead and District Social Association CAO Dorothy Clarke said.
Clarke also urged the inductees to share their stories with today’s generation.
“Give advice with humour,” she said. “Remember the good and forget the bad. As time moves along nostalgia allows us to reminisce about when prices seemed reasonable, politicians were noble and people respected their elders.”
Clarke ended her speech by giving the inductees some advice of her own, taken from Mary Schmich of Chicago Tribune.
“Do one thing every day that scares you, then laugh about it with your friends. Sing even if you can’t carry a tune and dance even if you have nowhere to do it but in your room,” she said.
Hillcrest Lodge activities manager Shelley Oswald said they have been holding the 90 club for 18 years celebration and over that time, she noticed all the inductees have one thing in common.
“The people sitting here at this table [table of honour] are the ones that are the movers and the shakers and doing things, whether it is curling four days a week, or gardening. If you can’t get them on the phone, then they are out there doing something, having fun and working hard,” she said. “I think that is something we can all learn from.”
Inductees included: Merle Henning, Emma Brinsky, Mike DeGroot, Catherine Cook, Jean Rees, Margaret Penchuk, Madge Gummow, Lucille Ruhl, Elizabeth (Betty) Fry, Joe Smith, Clara Schoonekamp and Mary Kuropatwa.
Joining the Century Club are Eric Beniston and Rulie Nanninga.
