WHEN MAVIS Humphreys began working at Brothers Leagues Club Ipswich, it was to give a helping hand to her brother-in-law, who was treasurer at the time.
That became a career in administration with the club that has spanned four decades, as she told Local Ipswich News.
“At that time, the books were in a little bit of a mess, and he asked me if I’d be interested just for a couple of hours a day, which I did,” Mavis said.
“One of my kids was at preschool and the other one was at school.
“I just worked two hours a day every day for a week – I did that for a couple of years.
“Then once the gaming machines started, the hours increased and then it’s just gone on from there.”
Mavis said her time with Brothers was something that made her proud, and that it came down to working with a great team around her.
“I think the success of the club can be attributed to the great board of directors that they’ve had,” she said.
“They’ve always had foresight and forward planning.
“Great general managers and great staff that are so lovely to work with, and there’s lifelong friends that I’ve made here.”
Brothers has built a strong reputation as more than a sports club, but a caring community club that gives back to a range of groups and programs.
Mavis said that feeling of giving back to the community added importance to her time working there.
“It’s such a good feeling, it really is,” she said.
“It’s great to see charitable organisations that are benefiting from you – it’s just great.”
To recognise her 40 years, the staff celebrated not only the milestone, but Mavis Humphreys’ the individual.
“I was sitting quietly at my desk entering invoices and in they all walked,” she laughed.
“It was lovely – just to be recognised, and they had a great bunch of flowers.”
Mavis said the facility had come a long way in its own 50 years that was celebrated last year, and when she first began it was “just a besser brick building”.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “If someone had said to me back then, it would be like it is now, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
Mavis said she had not given much thought to retirement, and joked that to mark 45 years, they may just have to wheel her in for her celebration.
“For the past five years, I’ve been saying I will retire the next year,” she said.
“I will probably wake up one morning and think, oh no, I’ve had enough.
But at this stage, no, I’m still going.”
