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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-12-11, Page 26Page 12A Times -Advocate, December 11, 1975 INSIDE GETS FACE-LiFTING — The interior of Braemor Nursing Home is receiving a face-lifting, Shirley Wilhelm does a little "sidewalk superintending" as Art Whilsmith of Exeter installs panelling in the kitchen. The Wilheims took over the nursing home seven years ago this coming December. T -A photo 1500 PARALLEL BARS — One of the work projects currently un- derway at the Exeter Workshop involves boring precisely measured holes in parallel bars, used on cultivators. The small shop which employs the out-patient psychiatric residents from Braemor Manor, has contracted with .1. F. Farm Machinery Ltd. to produce 1500 of the ports. Ruth Arthur admires the precision and skill of one of the resident - employees. T -A photo Best Interest 114% We represent many Trust Companies. We are often able to arrange for the highest interest being offered on Guaranteed Investment Certificates. * Subject to change 411W Gaiser-Kneale Insurance Agency incl Exeter' Office 235-2420 Grand Bend Office 238-8484 Hive of activity Approach to out-patient care by Leigh Robinson Something's happening over at the Exeter Workshop. It happens five days a week and involves the 27 residents of Braemor Manor Nursing Home, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Russ Wilhelm. All of the residents of Braemor Manor either work over at the workshop just across the street, or at the residence, Its a new approach to the opt -patient care concept andmost of the credit on go to the Wilhelm's and the residents, themselves. Generally the residents are referred to Braemor through the auspices of the Ontario Hospital system. They are persons who are under ksychiatric care, but have been deemed capable of living outside of the institutional confines of a hospital setting. Ironically, they have been assessed as incapable of working, but tell Russ Wilhelm that, and he will show you just how much productive work they are ac- complishing in the shop that he built about two years ago. We have toured through a number of ability workshops in our time, but we have never seen more en- thusiasm and energy flowing from people than those who work in the Exeter Workshop, According to Russ, the idea of providing a work environment came to him about four years ago. "Several of the residents here had nomoney of their own, whatsoever, but they wanted to smoke. I said, look, if you want to smoke, you gotta work for it." They are paid a salary and many use it to buy clothing or special items, One resident has even donated a colour television to the home. It wasn't long before Russ had converted the back part of the nursing home into a makeshift workshop -In 1973 he had the men working on cultivators for the J.F. Machinery, a local manufacturing firm. They put together a great number of them and Russ has some snapshots of the machinery lined up in a row out on the back lawn. Now there is an addition on the nursing home and the work is done over at the worshop, which Russ built. There were risks involved -Russ had to convince not only officials of Ontario Hospital, but industry people that the residents of his home could handle industrial jobs. On top of that, the money that went into buying the press Machines and other equipment that is used in the workshop, came out of the Wilhelm's own pockets. If the residents hadn't come through with very satisfactory work on those machines, Russ and his wife, Shirley would have been out a great deal of money. Fortunately they did come through and welcomed the op- portunity to work again. Today, a large number of companies supply work to the shop on a contract basis, led by J.F. Farm Machinery, a company for which the Wilhelms have a great deal of respect. "You couldn't deal with Santa's List isn't so long for Christmas! SANT 11S MERE Santa just hasn't been receiving letters from all the kids. There has been no mail at the North Pole because of the mail strike. We can't let this dampen our spirits so Santa and the T -A have gone to great efforts to solve the dilemma. Santa will be at the T� A office to pick up his letters on a nicer firm," Russ commented. He noted that very few com- plaints are received from the companies who employ the workshop's services, but many compliments. There are two basic areas to the workshop, the machining room, where objects such as parallel bars for cultivators are finished off, and the packaging room, where many small items are packaged, boxed, and labelled. There are two sewing machines in this department and a number of dry goods items,like press gloves and replacement pockets for work clothes are finished off, - Although the residents are allowed to stop and take a coffee break whenever they choose, there seems to be very few idle moments spent in the workshop and with Christmas coining on and all, it makes a person wonder whether he's at the North Pole. The enthusiasm is genuine and there is a good deal of friendly interaction between the residents that might never have surfaced if it weren't for the positive at - Saturday, Dec. 13 From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. TO celebrate Santa's arrival the T -A will give three prizes to the best written or printed letters, ages 6 to 8, and equal prizes 6 and under. FIRST PRIZE SECOND PRIZE THIRD PRIZE $15 90$5 Please bring your letters when you came to see Santa, Letters will be published in the December 2rd. edition of the T -A, 1eoefei1mes-,Abmeafe WORK AND SOCIAL INTERACTION GO TOGETHER Marjorie Hodgert, a work supervisor at the. Exeter Workshop, explains a new job to several residents of Braemor Manor, who are employed at the small shop. The types of work vary with the orders that come in from area firms. Several graduates of the shop have gone on to outside jobs, utilizing the skills they have acquired. T -A photo. mosphere there, Russ and Shirley Wilhelm. took Over Braemor Manor seven years ago this December. Some of the patients that were present at that time are still with them. Others are new. There have been several patients who have graduated from the home and the workshop and are now working in jobs outside. Mr. Wilhelm talked about them with pride and satisfaction, He doesn't single out any one group or aspect of his project, though. He is abviously proud of all of the residents, even those who will probably never be able to handle an outside job on their own. "For an example", he said, those guys on the drill presses are doing a bang up job. I don't think a man off the street could do as well. But I don't know whether they could handle an eight hour day job. At this pont Russ scratched his head, pondered his statement for a moment and then chuckled, "Some of them will work for awhile, sit down have a pop, and then that's it for the day " r The work does get done, however, On one of the walls of the shop, the various types of products that the residents have .finished off, packaged, or machined hang as a symbol of group accomplishment. Russ and Shirley attribute a great deal of their success to the support that they have received from the residents of Exeter and from service organizations. They also are quick to praise their staff, which consists of two full- time and two part-time workers in the home, and two full-time workers in the shop. It is the residents, though,who receive most of their attention and praise, Being in the nursing home business is not just a means of earning an income for this special couple, its a way of life. Crediton Institute members entertain senior citizens By MISS ELLA MORLOCK Last week's account, tran- smitted by telephone, contained some errors in the printing. The gift from the CWL for 4-H work is $20. Bowling winners at the WI November meeting were Mrs. Robert Crawford, Mrs, Sam King, Mrs, Earl Neil and Mrs. Gerald Dearing. The next meeting of the WI is scheduled for Monday, December 15. Members of the Women's Institute entertained the senior citizens of Crediton and the community at a Christmas party Tuesday evening. 52 seniors sat down to a turkey dinner. The program which followed was under the direction of the April Program Committee, Mrs, Gerald Dearing convener. Mrs. Cliff Kenney, president, welcomed the guests. Gordon Ratz, representing the Crediton & District Men's Social Club was chairman. Christmas carols were sung along with musical numbers being played by Bob Heywood, Exeter, and Bill and Don Harvey, Huron Park. Guest speaker was Rev. Bruce Pierce, pastor of Zion United Church. He was thanked by Mrs, Art Ball. There were humorous readings by Anne Dearing and Gordon Ratz. Mona Hodgins stepdanced. On behalf of the seniors Rev, Armin Schlenker thanked the WI for a delightful evening. Cliff Kenney, Ed Nethercott and Harvey Hodgins distributed gifts from the Men's Social Club. ucw Thursday evening was the Christmas meeting of the UCW of Zion United Church. Mrs. Gordon Ratz and her committee, Mrs. Ray Morlock, Mrs. Harold Fahner, Mrs.. Cora Wein, were in charge of devotions. Members sat at tables in a room bright with Christmas decorations. Mrs. Ratz, Mrs. Fahner, Mrs. Morlock and Mrs. Wein presented the pageant "The Visited Planet," representing angels as viewing with awe the planet that was visited by the Light of the World. A candle lighting service followed, with readings by Mrs. Fahner, Mrs. Ratz, Mrs. Wein and Ella Morlock, Mrs. Morlock and Mrs. Fahner carried the Candle light to the tiny candle held by each member. A collection of gifts for the James St. HOMO was placed under the tree, A Christmas number was sung by Mrs. Ervin Ratz, Mrs, Rruce Pierce, Ray Mllock and Clair Schwartz. Lunch was served by Mrs, Lorne Preszcator, Mrs. Chris Dinney and Mrs. floss Pickering. Roll call was answered by a Christmas message. It was decided tohold a yard sale in the spring and a handicraft and baking bazaar in the fall. Mrs. Gordon Finkbeiner accompanied the singing and played Christmas music while lunch was being served. The Live Love Unlimited Youth Group were guests Friday evening of the young people of Thames Road United Church. Wednesday evening the congregation of Zion United Church met to approve the 1976 budget and the report of the Nominating Committee. A social hour followed. A confirmation class, preparing for church mem- bership, meets after the Sunday School hour, under the leadership of Rev. & Mrs. Bruce Pierce. Eighteen members attend. The Sunday School choir and orchestra are preparing for a festival of music to celebrate Christmas Sunday evening, December 21. In his Sunday morning sermon Rev. Pierce spoke on "Joy to the World." Happiness depends on happenings. Joy depends upon a person, Christ, not upon cir- cumstances. In fact, one's capacity for joy is enhanced by tragedy. Mrs. Chris Dinney spent the weekend with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Bill Wareing, Exeter. 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