A broken flash light earns a place of great honour.

Occupying a place of honour at the Round Table club house, hanging on a hook at the bar, is a broken flashlight.

It has neither bulb nor batteries and has clearly seen better days, but it has earned its place on the wall.

The flashlight used to be one of two possessions belonging to a homeless man who sleeps on the sidewalk on Landdrost Street.

His only other belonging was a filthy, tattered and torn blanket, which offered pitifully little comfort from the damp and the icy cold.

Despite pulling his blanket closely around himself, he was still trembling uncontrollably from the cold when members of the Round Table (Tablers) walked up to him.

He regarded them apprehensively. When anyone approached him this late it could only mean trouble.

“We brought you some soup,” said a Tabler. The homeless man’s weathered face broke into a sunny grin.

“We gave him soup, bread, two blankets and a few canned foods…” said Round Table president, Rupert Niebuhr, “… but he refused to accept any of it unless he could give us something in return. Even though, he was down and out, he wanted to retain a little human dignity by offering us something in return for the kindness we showed him.”

All the homeless man had to give was his broken flashlight, and so he did.

“That was a moment of personal growth for every Tabler who was there. It was a moment that really brought home how privileged we are, and how grateful we should be for everything we have. It taught us that, in any situation, no matter how bad things get, there is hope. By giving us the flashlight, this man showed that he had not given in to his circumstances completely. He still chose to hold onto his dignity because he had not given up hope,” explained Mr Niebuhr.

The Round Tablers had come across this homeless man during a project called ‘Winter Knights’, one of the club’s annual charity drives.

Describing the advantages of being a Tabler, Mr Niebuhr continues, “You gain personal growth by being a member of Round Table because you are exposed to things you wouldn’t usually expose yourself to. You have the opportunity to explore and you learn a lot about yourself in the process. You appreciate how lucky you are and understand that you can make a difference.”

Until April next year, Mr Niebuhr will be sharing this message with potential Round Tablers as the newly elected Association President of Round Table Southern Africa.

During his term, Mr Niebuhr, a Vryheid insurance broker who first became involved with Round Table in 2008, will oversee 142 clubs throughout Southern Africa. He is the first Tabler from Vryhied to be elected to serve in this prestigious position.

“My role as President is to represent Round Table Southern Africa on an international forum and prepare my successor, Andrew Lea from Round Table Barberton, for his term,” said Mr Niebuhr.

“During this year, I will have the opportunity to travel to places that I have never been to before, and to experience community projects with clubs in different areas. In this way, the charitable aspect of each club will become a lot more personal, because I will be directly involved in it.”

Mr Niebuhr has this message for aspiring Round Tablers, “All of us are potential leaders. You just need the right company and exposure to the right people to make you realise it. The Round Table allows you to learn a lot of life skills , e.g. public speaking, from friends that won’t ridicule you, but will help you along. To develop as a man, find the nearest Round Table and get involved. The members will welcome you like a brother and help you, like they helped me, become a better version of yourself.”

He gives special thanks to his wife, Chané, for her love and support.

Also read: Round Table Golf Day a great success |.

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