THE Portland Senior Citizens’ Club has been around a long time – since 1968, to be exact – and while it like many others battled the coronavirus pandemic restrictions and lockdowns, it is still going strong.

The club celebrated its 55th birthday with a lunch at the Mac’s Hotel on Wednesday, a function attended by dozens of members.

A highlight was the cutting of the birthday cake by life member and former long-time secretary Mavis Jennings and Peg Marshman, probably the longest-serving members at the club.

Vice-president Pam Holmes said the make up of the club, being as it was, had changed over the years, as had the birthday parties.

“Obviously the group now is generally a lot younger with not as many of the original members,” she said.

“In years gone by with our birthdays we’d have groups from Heywood, Hamilton and others come down but COVID put a stop to that.

“Quite a few Senior Citizens’ Clubs have closed, as with every organisation it’s hard to get people to take up (committee) positions.”

Three activities at the Fawthrop Centre on Hood St were the highlight for the club each week – indoor bowls on Saturdays and Mondays from 12.30pm, cards on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2pm and pantry bingo (where contestants play for groceries) on Fridays at 1pm.

The bowls had proved popular in getting more members, with the club total standing about 70.

Anyone interested in joining could do so by coming along to one of the events.

Membership was $5 a year, with a $2.50 charge each time to play indoor bowls.

“It’s not expensive and everything’s done during the day,” Ms Holmes said.

Prospective members need to be aged 50 or older to join.