HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-01-01, Page 3Life of author filled
with colourful
characters and stories
IL, My Mother's Cousin
and Other
Memorable
Characters by Bill Ferguson
Dave Flaherty
Goderich Signal -Star
The life of Bill "Snakebite" Ferguson
has been one filled with many amazing
stories and colourful characters along
the way.
Ferguson and his wife recently moved
to Goderich and his book My Mother's
Cousin and Other Memorable Charac-
ters is now available at Fincher's.
Born in Randfontein, Transvaal (now
Gauteng), South Africa, Ferguson worked
as a prospector for De Beers in Tanzania
in the early 1960s, which began a career
in mining that spanned 47 years.
He also worked in gold mining in
South Africa and in uranium, nickel,
tantalum, spodumene and pollucite
mining for Canada.
Ferguson said the book was inspired
significantly by a cousin of his mother,
who he called his "Uncle" Robert.
During his travels to Scotland, Fergu-
son would share his stories about his
uncle with other members of his family.
At the behest of one of his other cous-
ins, he decided to share those stories.
The book was published in 2008 and
Ferguson said it became a very big suc-
cess in his hometown.
"I've sold copies in the USA, UK and
Australia as well," he said.
The book also includes other experi-
ences from his days in the mining
industry.
Asked to describe his Uncle Robert,
Ferguson said he was "an Archie Bun-
ker type."
"He was a Scottish nationalist and
anti -English," Ferguson said, adding
while his uncle could be very "abrasive
and outspoken", he was very soft-
hearted as well.
"There wasn't a dull moment with
him," Ferguson said.
To him, Robert was not just an uncle,
but also a "mentor':
Ferguson said he believes the book
would be of interest to local residents,
as many are of Scottish heritage.
He received a lot of positive feedback
on the book, including from his younger
sister, who said it, "brought Uncle Rob-
ert back to life for her."
Although Robert has passed away,
Ferguson said he believes his uncle
would be "overjoyed" to see the book,
noting that one fellow family member
told him, "you immortalized him."
Ferguson said he is currently working
on a book called Mining Memoirs,
which shares even more stories from
his mining days.
The book can also be ordered through
Pay Pal at Ferguson's website, www.
mymotherscousinl.blogspot.com.
Driven to Quit kicks off across Ontario
Hoping to help folks kick the habit in
the New Year, the Canadian Cancer
Society is offering some big incentives
for those ready to give up smoking.
The Drive to Quit Challenge is a
health promotion campaign intended
to motivate adult Ontario tobacco users
to quit smoking for one month, with the
help of a support "buddy" for their
chance to win a new car, or one of sev-
eral cash prizes.
According to John Atkinson, director
of tobacco control and cancer preven-
tion with the Canadian Cancer Society,
Ontario division, the challenge is a
chance for smokers across the province
to make 2014 their healthiest year yet.
"Tobacco users account for 30 per
cent of all cancer deaths in Canada and
15 per cent of people in Ontario smoke,"
he said in a press release. "With acces-
sible resources such as Smokers' Hel-
pline and motivation like The Driven to
Quit Challenge, Ontarians who use
tobacco have an opportunity to improve
their health."
Registration is now open and will
continue until Feb. 28, 2014.
In order to claim their prize, winners
must be able to demonstrate they have
remained tobacco -free for the month of
March.
To register, or for more information
about the Driven to Quit Challenge,
visit www.driventoquit.ca or call the
Canadian Cancer Society's Smokers'
Helpline at 1-877-513-5333.
Ten tips to stay smoke-free during the
holidays
• Give yourself an incentive
• Try Nicotine Replacement
Therapy
• Get help
• Start now!
• Don't forget about your health
• Avoid events with a lot of other
smokers
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Know your reasons and believe you
can do it
• Know your triggers and be
prepared for them
• Let your family and friends know
Wednesday, January 1, 2014 • Huron Expositor 3
Whitney South Huron Expositor
A little
Christmas
crooning
The Seaforth Harmony
Kings treated guests
to some smooth vocal
stylings during their
18th annual dinner and
dance at the Seaforth
Community Centre on
Dec. 13. The group
was full of the holiday
spirit, singing such
favourites as We Wish
You a Merry Christmas
and Feliz Navidad.
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