HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-01-19, Page 5Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, January 19, 1994 Page 5
On a wing and a prayer to save lives
by Marsha Boulton
FORT VERMILION, . ALBERTA,
1929 - What Canadian bush pilot
flew a windowless airplane on a
mission of mercy in the dead of
winter to deliver antitoxin which
prevented an epidemic of diphtheria
in Northern Alberta?
There are many legendary bush
pilots in the annals of Canadian
aviation, and among them Wilfred
Reid "Wop" May is a classic
example of the skill and bravery of
these winged coureurs de bois.
From the beginning, flying was an
adventure for May. On his first
World War One combat mission, he
shot down an enemy aircraft. As he
returned, May's guns jammed and
he was chased by the German ace,
Baron Manfred von Richthofen.
Captain Roy Brown, one of May's
Alberta school chums, shot down
Richthofen and saved his friend
from becoming the 81st victim of
the Red Baron.
After the war, May settled in
Edmonton and started a commercial
aviation business, along with daring
"barnstorming" exhibitions. He was
one of the founding members of the
Edmonton and Northern Alberta
Aero. Club.
All of May's skill and ingenuity
were called on when he was asked
to fly a mercy mission on the bitter-
ly • cold New year's Day of 1929.
On December 15, a Hudson Bay
Company employee in Little Red
River, north of Fort Vermilion, died
of diphtheria. Other cases were
breaking out and vaccine was
desperately needed to prevent an
epidemic in the community of about
300 people. -
The nearest radio station was at
Peace River, and Louis Bourassa
the postal courier set out on a 14 -
Mollie and her husband
are taking things easier
Dear editor, staff and readers,
friends all:
Another year, another Christmas!
How time. flies! But I never forget
you, your kindness. to me, letters
that keep me in touch, occasional
callers .here in our Dungannon,
though with the passage of time,
these become less frequent.
• Good wishes to you every one,
especially -Margaret Pritchard, a
most faithful correspondent until
her sight began to fail; Dorothy
Wardell, still entertaining with her
violin; Phyllis Morrison, surrounded
by her children and grandchildren,
• all flourishing, I gather, . Alma
Black, still busy with her quilting,
farm and family; the Colin Crosiers,
into their new home; Mabel Murdie,
who is well, I .hope as I've not
Jteard from her this time round;
K.K. Dawson, Mayor of Dungan-
non, who keeps me well supplied
with information of all kinds,
especiallyabout the old days. He's
a most wonderful man, interested in
everything under the sun and with a
marvelous memory which I could
envy. Advancing age and illness are
shrugged off, never getting him
down. His .letters are full of con-
fidence and good humor, though
each; he tells me, will be his. Last.
But then. I write again and so does
he and I hope we continue in this
way.
I think of you all and many more.
Do you have news for me of Mr.
and Mrs. John Spivak who looked
after me so well when I was out
there in 1980, staying in their
home?
1993 was such an eventful year
for us, I'm sure you'll understand
why we're glad to sit back. Right at
the beginning, a horrific storm
brought a tree down on our house.
Tiles, eaves troughs, aerials and the
comer of our son's bedroom went
flying in all directions PLUS the
lights went out. No power, not even
for a cup of tea, but thankfully that
was soon restored.
Men carne round to' do repairs
and one of them, working to
remove the fallen tree with a chain
saw, misjudged angle, weight or
both and was knocked flying into
next door's garden, breaking three
ribs and a collar bone and ending
up in hospital. Imagine the fright!
He wears a plate now and had
made a good recovery. Fortunately,
too, we were well insured from
every misfortune.
Later, my husband and I both had
health problems, fortunately not
both at once, so we were able to
care for one an other, but we've
both had to slow down, the only
cure, they said. So now we, live
very quietly, very gently. We read
lots and lots and garden and I raise
loads of pot plants for local
charities to sell.
We have five charity shops in our
small town, Age concern, Cancer
Research, Oxfam, Barnardos and
Agd Care. And of course we're still
0 THE EDITOR
involved with the Royal British
Legion which means a great deal to
us both. Last year, Northern Ireland
came first in the whole United
Kingdom for the generosity of our
people to . the Earl Haig- Polipv
Fund. This year, we've raised even
more and hope we can come first
again in spite of our trouble.
Everyone wants peace except the
terrorists who keep on with their
bombing' and killing and won't
listen to anyone. But peace will
come some 'clay. Maybe some day
soon.
We had my cousin with us in the
summer, all the way from Van-
couver,then my brother's daughter
(a medical professor) and her „hus-
band (a sculptpr) from San Francis-
co, and my 'sister came home after
six months with her daughter in
Australia. His contract completed,'
the son-in-law moved his family. to
Saudi Arabia so she's off there next
for several months:
Our : son has holidayed in Crete,
France and Spain this season and
researched for TV in Rome,
Florence and Munich. The world
gets smaller every day!
I'll be thinking of you all at
Christmas, wishing you a happy.
time and everything that's .good in
the New Year, health, happiness
and peace.
With love,
Mollie Whiteside (Mrs.)
Editor's note: Mrs. Whiteside's
letter, dated Dec. 19, arrived on
Jan. 13/94; Her address, for anyone
interested in corresponding is: 59,
Killyman Road, Dungannon, Co,
Tyrone, N. Ireland., BTI1 6DQ.
Will canvass
rural area for
March of Dimes
Did you know that in Ontario
there are .an estimated 1.2 million
teens and adults with physical
disabilities?
For over 40 years, volunteers
have raised funds through March of,
Dimes canvasses to help people live
more dignified and independent
lives.
In Waterloo Region, people with
physical disabilities in Waterloo,
Wellington, Bruce, Grey, Perth,
Peel and Huron have been able to
benefit from programs such as
Camping and Recreation,the Assis-
tive Devices Program, Community
Services and Independent Living
Assistance.
This year Tammy Somers,
Bluevale, is the volunteer and
fundraising co-ordinator for this
area. The Rural Appeal Campaign
has been re-established for the
Lucknow, Holyrood and Dungannon
area with co -chairperson Anne
Anderson receiving donations.
day dog sled trip to send the urgent
request.
• In Edmonton, May , and his co-
pilot Vic Horner prepared to make
the trip while emergency workers
gathered the life-saving serum.
The only airplane available to
them was a small Avro biplane with
'open cockpits, and no skiis for
winter landing. To protect the vac-
cine from freezing, it was placed in
pan improvised thermal unit consis-
ting of heated containers balanced
on a portable charcoal stove. and
covered with blankets.
Blizzard conditions forced them
to land on a frozen lake at McLen-
nan Junction, almost half way to
Fort Vermilion. May realized that
'he would have to remove the
plane's oil to prevent it from con-
gealing, but he did not have a con-
tainer. Undaunted, he siphoned the
oil onto the crusty snow where it
froze immediately. May carried the
"oilsicle" to the village, where it
thawed overnight.
May and. Horner arrived . in Fort
Vermilion the following day. Their
precious cargo was protected but
the fliers were so frost-bitten that
they had to be physically removed
from the cockpit. -
The serum was dispersed by dog
sled to the anxious community and
the epidemic was checked.
Purchasing a vehicle'
is a big decision!
Let us help you
make the right one!
GARRY WOODCOCK.
Duality Cars & Trucks
We Can Save You Money -
Drive A Utile - Save A Lot
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•
A crowd of 5,000 was on hand to
greet the heroes when they returned
to Edmonton and May was awarded
the prestigious McKee Trophy for
his efforts.
May received the Order of the
British Empire in 1935. He
pioneered` aerial search and rescue
techniques and helped set up the
British Commonwealth Air Training
Plan during WW11.
The bush pilots of Canada's
North helped the nation enter into a
new era of transportation and com-
munication. Wilfred Reid May, who
was nicknamed "Wop" by a baby
cousin who could not pronounce
"Wilfred,"• was one of the best.
Rby Pat Livingston
AMBLINGS
•from page 4
even made a trip to the cc dumpster
on his own last week.
By the way, when he informed
me that 'he had done so, he was
quick to point out that some Luck
nowites are depositing it beside the
box, not in it. Shame, shame!
Yes, a mother's and a wife's
educating of her family never ends.
Now all- I have to do is convince
my cat to lick his tin of food clean.
That is one, thing I abhor - washing
out those•cat food tins! •
Happy recycling and come on
folks - let's get that blue box per-
centage up to a point where wecan
be proud.
LUCISNOW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Sunday, January 23rd, 1994
11:00 AM '
Worship Service.
Church School
Rev. Margaret Kinsman
Nursery Provided • Everyone Welcome
BARRY W. REID B.A.
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
•Auditing •Financial accounting
-Personal &Corporate Tax Consultation
-Personal Financing Planning •
-Manual & Computerized Bookkeeping
--Mortgage &'Amortization Schedules
306 Josephine St. Wingham, NOG 2W0 Office: 357-1522
ATTENTION LANDOWNERS
CURB Program
Grants Available
The goal of the CURB (Clean Up Rural. Beaches)
Program is to reduce bacterial and phosphorus
water pollution in rivers and at swimming beach-
es.
Grants are •available to landowners for the repair
or replacement of faulty: private septic systems.
The farm practices and structures listed • below
also qualify.
Eligible Items Grant Rate Grant Ceiling
- manure storages
- milkhouse waste systems
fencing livestock from rivers
-.private septic systems
50%
50%
75%
50%
$12,000
$5,000
$10;000
$2,000
This program is targeted at agricultural and rural resi-
dential areas located upstream of swimming beaches.
Financial assistance is limited to those applicants who
are polluting watercourses. Projects with the greatest
potential to improve water quality will be given priority
for funding.
For more information or application forms contact the
Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA). The
CURB Program is funded by -the Ontario Ministry of
Environment and Energy. and the MVCA.
s`w Maitland. Valley
Conservation Authority
Box 127,
Wroxeter, Ontario
NOG 2X0 (519) 335-3557
Ontario
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