BY DI SNEDDON
Jenny and Rob Merrick have been energetic members of Singleton Lions Club for ten years.
When they were awarded the Melvin Jones Award some years ago, they were honoured to receive the prestigious award. Never in their wildest thoughts, did they think they would receive it again. But guess what? They did.
Jenny and Rob Merrick never joined the Lions Club of Singleton for the awards but the pair have received the highest recognition after they were both awarded a second Melvin Jones Award.
This award is presented by the Lions Club International Foundation and is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism. The recipients of this award are model Lions because of their exemplary service to their club and the community which it serves.
It is a rare honour to receive the award once, let alone twice.
Club president Mick McCrone believes the Merricks would be among a handful of people worldwide to have received the Melvin Jones a second time.
“It is rare to receive it once, let alone twice, and they thoroughly deserve it,” Mr McCrone said.
The humble couple aren’t one to speak of their achievements, they are the type of people who just get on with the job.
Jobs like coordinating Singleton’s Driver Reviver program and the annual Book Fair, a massive job that consumes a full 12 months to organize from year to year.
The book fair would have marked its 15th year in August but was cancelled because of covid. However, the storage and sorting of books goes on behind the scenes regardless.
Jenny and Rob were invited to join the Singleton club by a friend and says it is a decision they don’t regret.
“They are a great bunch of people, more like family really and we are all working towards the same aim of helping the community,” Jenny said.
They both encourage others to volunteer and say the rewards are in the friendships made.
“Just do it,” Rob said.
