A group of “old farts” who meet once a week to make new friends, have a yarn and grab breakfast say they were inspired by the lack of senior men’s social activities in Logan.
“I noticed about three years ago that there were all these outings and trips for ladies – gardening clubs and knitting – but nothing for men,” founder of the Men’s Coffee Morning group John Morrison said.
“And then I noticed at lunch one time that there were a few old men the same age as me sitting by themselves.”
He said he chatted to the men, who told him “unbelievable” tales of loneliness, so he decided to start a club himself.
Now the group meets every Thursday at Jo and Cos Cafe on Illaweena Street, Drewvale.
“At first there were two, then three and today we average 16 men,” Mr Morrison said.
“But it goes up and down, because people are either dying, on a holiday, or at the doctor with haemorrhoid problems.”
He said many men really look forward to the meetings.
“They say ‘Oh John, on Wednesday nights I can’t sleep’,” Mr Morrison said.
“And I say ‘What? You are 86-years-old’.”
Mr Morrison said that unlike other groups or clubs, there’s only one rule in the Men’s Coffee Morning: “whatever’s said at the table stays at the table”.
“We talk about life in general, we talk about the ex-lovers and wives, we talk about if anyone’s getting ripped off by Centrelink – it all stays at the table,” he said.
He said the group usually goes by a different name: The Old Farts Club.
“Even the grandkids say to me ‘Pop, are you going to the Old Farts Club this week?'” Mr Morrison said.
“It’s all good fun.”
