Lions need pick-up help

The Hinuera Te Poi Lions are struggling to get groups to help with their monthly paper drive.

Club president John Rea said the service club was looking for more groups who want to raise funds through helping the club with their monthly paper drive.

‘‘We’ve tended to use two or three groups and they maybe get a bit sick of it,’’ he said.

The drive, which takes place on the first Saturday of every month, needs about eight or nine cars and takes about 11⁄ hours to collect the papers from around Matamata township. They are then dropped them off at the Swaps depot.

Rural residents can also drop any newspapers to be recycled at Swaps on that day too.

On a good day, the drive can reap 10 tonne of paper and earns the various groups that help $250, Rea said.

The club does not make any money from the initiative.

‘‘It’s not a fortune but it’s not about that. It’s about doing something for the community. You have bit of fun doing it too. Recently we had the UMS rugby club come down and help and they actually enjoyed it, they were able to have a run around and get a bit of fitness, and have a laugh.’’

The club also fundraises by collecting slinks from July to August.

It gets great satisfaction from serving the community by providing services such as fixing a derelict fence that runs alongside the Hinuera straight, he said.

The club is also discussing paying for the costs and getting the Men’s Shed to build a new sign to replace the one that was destroyed in a car accident on Broadway.

Rea said the social club was always looking for younger members.

The club meets twice a month. One week is for a dinner and a guest speaker at the RSA.

Recently the club heard from two Rangers who went to a jamboree in England, and Matamata college students who went to an Outdoor Pursuit Centre. The club had partially funded their trips.

Rea said the club also has a meeting to discuss club plans at the Matamata Club once a month.