HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-05-28, Page 12The Auburn Women’s Institute
met Thursday afternoon at the
Auburn Hall with 16 present.
The meeting opened with the Ode,
Mary Stewart Collect and O’
Canada.
President Erma Cartwright gave a
reading entitled Sweets of May,
Wood Ruff the Remarkable Plant.
Minutes were read and approved.
The treasurer’s report and card
report were given.
Gwen Bidwell, public relations
convenor introduced the guest
speaker, Kris Stoner, a Grade 9
student from Port Elgin and
grandson of one of the WI members.
As a Grade 5 student he became
fascinated by government. When he
heard of the Forum for Young
Canadians he applied for the
program. This is a program that
promotes the understanding of the
role and function of the three levels
of government in Canada and the
meaning of Canadian citizenship
and democracy.
He was one of 92 members to
spend a week in Ottawa. His
roommates were from Alberta,
Ottawa and Newfoundland.
They would get up at 7 a.m. and
have their breakfast and get told of
the day’s plans. After they dressed in
their black suits, they went to a
building west of Parliament Hill
aptly named west Block. There they
would run simulations. One example
was an election where candidates
would have a speech prepared, then
would get to ask questions.
After this they would hear a
speaker, who was a public servant.
After lunch they returned to the
West Block to hear more speakers.
They had dinner at the hotel then
were divided into small groups and
were briefed on what to expect at
their next simulation.
At 10:30 p.m. they would have a
half hour to do as they wished.
They had a breakfast at the senate
and met a lot of senators. They also
had a dinner where they met some of
the MPs. Stoner learned about the
roles of many public servants, toured
both the House of Commons and the
Senate, learned about immigration,
how elections are run. He also
learned about the different way each
legislature is run in different
provinces and territories.
He enjoyed his week.
PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009.The members of the WalkerburnClub are celebrating 90 years ofservice to the community this June.Walkerburn was a small villagesouth east of Auburn on the 13thConcession of Hullett, now knownas Hullett McKillop road.
Walkerburn was named in 1859
after Walkerburn in Scotland. There
was a dam built over the Blyth creek
with a sawmill on one side of the
river. Later a woollen mill was built
on the other side of the river and a
post office across the road from the
mills.
The post office was later moved to
Auburn and is situated next to the
United Church.
The winter of 1911 had a lot of
heavy snow and when spring came
suddenly, it caused the creek to
flood and it washed out the dam,
ending the operation of the mills.
In 1919, the Red Cross was in
need of money and supplies, so Mrs.
Fingland invited neighbour ladies in
and they formed the Walkerburn
Club with the purpose of helping the
Red Cross. The first meeting was
held July 19, 1919 at the home of
Mrs. Foster Wright. They met
monthly in members’ homes.
When the Red Cross didn’t need
their help anymore, they remade and
made new clothes to send to two
Toronto organizations.
Also, Miss Margaret Jackson,
daughter of one of the members,
taught school in Toronto and found
many of her students could use help.
They sent clothing and Bibles to
Margaret for her students. They also
made quilts to give to organizations
and needy families, even sending
some to Western Canada.
In 1939, the Red Cross asked for
help again, wanting quilts to be sent
to the Polish people as soon as
possible. The club made blocks and
assembled the quilt tops and quilted
them at meetings as well as at home.
Some months they held a second
meeting to work on the quilts. In
1940 they purchased flannelettefrom Red Cross headquarters andmade 25 nighties for six-year-oldsfor the Red Cross. The T. Eatoncompany donated a bundle ofremnants to be made into quilts etc.They also sent boxes of chocolates
and Christmas presents to the local
boys serving overseas.
After the war was over, the club
was not nearly as active and the
meetings were more social
gatherings, making the occasional
quilt and donating to different
organizations as well as the Red
Cross.
In the late 50s and early 60s there
were 25 members.
In 1963, they adopted a Korean
foster child and adopted children for
approximately 25 years.
In 1984, the members made an
autographed quilt and raffled it off to
raise money for the foster child. The
ticket was drawn at the 65th
anniversary of the club, held at
Londesborough school in August.
In the 1990s the Club members
began making quilts again. One of
the first was given to a former
Auburn resident who was one of the
first people to live in Restview
Nursing Home. They made lap quilts
to donate to the nursing home, and
also went to play cards and bingo
and to sing Christmas carols.
They also donated birthday and
Christmas presents to residents at
the nursing home who had no family
or friends.
The Club donated lap quilts and
quilts to other organizations as well.
They have made and donated 10
quilts for the breast cancer auction in
Stratford raising close to $25,000 for
the worthy cause. The last quilt
made has been donated to the
Alzheimer Society for a 2009
fundraiser.
They are also working on a crazy
quilt out of material that has been
donated to the Club.
Members have also donated quilts
or money to fire victims or others inneed.Every year they donate to theSalvation Army, the ChristmasBureau, and three local hospitalsthat serve the members.Other organizations they have
supported are the Auburn Lions
Club, Hope Chapel and Ball’s
Cemeteries to name a few.
They also donated to eastern
Ontario when they had a sleet storm
and to Western Canada to help
farmers buy hay when everything
dried up there.
There are presently eight members
who meet nine times a year in the
members’ homes. They are Betty
Archambault, Christena Gross,
Eileen McClinchey, Ila
Cunningham, Vera Penfound,Bernice Norman, Deanna Snell andDorothy Schneider. Four of thesemembers are descendants of twooriginal members. Christena, Eileenand Ila are descendants of Mrs. W.Cunningham and Bernice is a
descendant of Mrs. R. Hunking.
The Club members are presently
planning a 90th anniversary
celebration. They are holding a
potluck dinner on Sunday, June 14 at
1 p.m. at the Auburn Community
hall. They are inviting former
members, families of former
members and neighbours.
Invitations are being sent but if
anyone has been missed, the
members hope they will accept this
as their invitation.
Leave a penny...
The Blyth Legion’s annual penny sale drew a large crowd
last weekend from increased village traffic from the Barn
Dance Jamboree Campout weekend and the AM920
Ontario Open Country Singing Contest. Six-year-old
Heather Riley had her eye on a kite during her time in the
Legion. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Walkerburn Club celebrates 90th
By Sophie Jefferson
Wawanosh 4-H is back at it,
having just finished their club A
Walk on the Wild Side. The
members are now focusing on
fitness and healthy living in the club,
To Your Good Health.
The first meeting was held on
Monday, May 17 at the home of
leader Mary Ellen Foran.
After playing a game titled fruit
salad, the members all said the
pledge together to start the meeting,
then began the election of officers.
Melissa Higgins was elected as
president and Scott Jefferson will
serve as vice-president.
Eugenia Pentland, is trying her
hand at secretary. Press reporter
duties will be taken care of by
Sophie Jefferson.
Melissa began her duties
immediately and led the members in
roll call, where they each mentioned
healthy foods they had eaten that
day. Many members made
suggestions like milk, fruit, eggs and
nuts.
Eileen George, one of the club’s
leaders, passed out a copy of the
Canada Food Guide and showed the
members a chart in their book which
outlined what each group
contributes to their well being.
The members were divided into
small groups to put together a skit or
song about the food guide. After the
performances, junior leaders Ellen
and Reba Jefferson took the group
outside to play ultimate frisbee.
When the members came back
inside, Eileen and Mary Ellen went
over the requirements for the club.
Each member will plant a couple of
items in their garden to provide them
with physical activity and healthy
food for the summer.
The members will also enter some
of their produce in the Lucknow
Horticultural Society show in July.
After snacking on some melon,
the members said the motto together
to close the meeting.
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NEWS
FROM AUBURN
Good Health for 4-Hers
WI hears from student