David Espin
New Cambridge Lions president David Espin wants to extend the club’s community service focus to one that better cares for club members.
“We have an effective hands-on approach to looking after people in the community,” he said. “It’s traditional for the incoming president to take on a project… I’d like to concentrate on members’ welfare.
“Lions are great at looking after others, but the reality is that we have older people in our club who may themselves need help. I’d like to look at more practical ways to offer that, and we have a committee to do that. We might look at taking members to medical appointments, mow their lawn or just take them for a coffee. They give so much to the club; their wellbeing needs to be part of our focus.”
David said with about 80 members, the club is in good heart. Younger people are joining, but societal changes over the club’s 62-year history mean they’re often coming on board a decade or so later than their predecessors.
Also doing well are the group of Leos operating through Cambridge High School.
Taranaki-born David, who is employed at Grinter’s Funeral Home, is a former Cambridge High student. He knew something about service to others through his mother’s ties with the Country Women’s Institute, and after trying out several post-school jobs then completing a social science degree as an adult student, he was ready to find something that ‘gave back’.
While David was working at a petrol station while doing his degree, Trevor Grinter approached him. He reckoned David had the sort of easy connection with customers that might translate well to the funeral industry and offered him a job.
“I’d never really thought of it, but I went on to learn everything with Trevor. I’m now a funeral director and embalmer… it’s a very satisfying industry to be in,” he said.
Given the surfeit of Lions members working with him, it was likely a sure-fire thing that David would eventually join the club. He did in 2016 and has since been involved in almost every aspect of the club’s activities. The past three years have seen him as social director.
When he became president last month, he took on a wider oversight of club activities. It is something he is particularly looking forward to.
