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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2001-04-11, Page 7ews THE HURON EXPOSITOR, April 11, 2001-7 Egmondville author's work focuses on heroes By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff John Melady is fascinated by heroes. The Seaforth native, who's recently returned to live in Egmondville, is at work on his llth book about heroes - this time about winners of the Star of Courage, the second highest recognition of bravery in Canada. And, since his first book, published in 1980 on the explosion of a Trenton chemical company during the First World War, Melady's been writing about heroes of some kind a or another .including war veterans, hockey players and search and rescue teams. "I'm interested in people who go out of their way to help others but it wasn't a conscious theme at first. As I wrote more and more books, I noticed the interest in heroes was a constant," he says. A retired secondary school vice principal who lived in Brighton 100 miles east of Toronto, Melady says he paid the bills and put food on the table for 33 years teaching, a profession he enjoyed. But, he adds that his first love has always been writing. "They tried to promote me several times to principal but I always thought it would interfere with my writing so I asked them to let me stay in my rut," he laughs. Writing has been anything but a rut, however, as Melady :!as travelled around the world to places such as Japan and Germany, flown in almost every type of aircraft owned by the Canadian military and met many fascinating people. "I love interviewing people because you get into situations you would never encounter otherwise," he says. Sitting in a wing -backed chair in his writer's study, Melady recounts story after story. about the heroic people he's met over the years. While writing Korea: Canada's Forgotten War, a book about Canadian Korean War veterans published in 1983, Melady interviewed a man who was subjected to Chinese water torture as a prisoner of war. Guarded by a Chinese soldier aiming a burp gun at him, the man had to squat down for hours on end under a dripping water pipe, which would drop water onto the back of his neck. "The soldier wouldn't let them move and while it left no scars, he said it was devastating," says Melady. Another Korean war veteran began to weep during the interview and insisted on continuing his story despite his inability to stop crying. "On my way out, his wife told me he'd told me things he'd never told anyone before. The next day he phoned to say he felt great and to thank me for giving him the opportunity to unload all those stories," he says. The books he's written on search and rescue technicians, including Heartbreak and Heroism: Canadian Search and Rescue Stories and Search and Rescue: When Disaster Strikes, are among his favourites. He was inspired to write the books by the search planes that were constantly flying over his house near Trenton and found the stories "thrilling." "Search and rescue technicians can scuba dive and parachute and these people have done amazing things," he says. He says he was particularly impressed by the Canadian women, all of them registered nurses, who jump from planes to rescue people. "One 78 -year-old woman I interviewed for the book met me at the door with a cane and said. `I suppose you're wondering why I'm limping. It's because of this hip I broke during a jump one Egmondville author, John Melody time,— he laughs. He recounts a story of a rescue of 13 of the 18 people travelling in a Hercules transport plane that went down at Alert, the northernmost settlement on Earth. He interviewed some of the 12 search and rescue technicians who jumped out of a plane into a fierce storm with temperatures of 40 below. "It was storming dreadfully with blowing snow and 24- hour -a -day darkness and luckily none of them died doing the jump," he says. Melady, an adventurer himself, even hung out of an airplane on a safety wire to take the cover photo of parachuters for the first search and rescue book, Heartbreak and Heroism. The writer's biography at the back of one of his books says he's also flown in a fighter's jet, a Second World War bomber, parasailed, rock climbed and ridden in a hot air balloon. Mclady was also very impressed by the people he interviewed for his book Acts of Courage about 17 Canadians who won the Cross of Valour, Canada's highest award for bravery. Susan Hundertmark photo First meal delivered Ida Mcllwain receives the first Meals on Wheels delivery from Glen Carter, a Seaforth volunteer, at her Market Street home. Seven people had signed up for the program for its first week. Town and Country Support Services, which has partnered with Seaforth Manor to operate the service is still taking new clients and volunteers for the program. Susan Hundertmark photo He tells the story of Rene Jalbert, head of security of the Quebec National Assembly who talked down a gunman who shot up the legislature, killing and injuring several people in May of 1984. "This guy was the epitome of a hero, so cool and cultivated," says Melady. While interviewing Jalbert, Melady got a chance to walk in the killer's footsteps and; saw where he shot up the carpet, left holes in the elevator the size of Loonies and shot away at the premier's (then Premier Rene Levesque's) chair. "You could see how deranged he was," he says. Jalbert spent close to five hours talking the gunman into surrendering, keeping his cool despite the gunman's jumpiness every time the phone rang in his office. Once Jalbert's wife Nanette called him during the negotiation - not knowing what was going on - and when interviewed afterwards, his wife said she couldn't sense any strain in her husband's voice. Mclady says he always asks the heroes he interviews why they did what they did and generally, they don't know. "I've met a lot of them in person and they're always low key and haven't figured out why they risked their lives. They just do. I don't think any of us know what we'd do until we're faced with it," he says. Melady adds that the heroes he's interviewed are usually very modest about what they've done and can make for frustrating interviews. "Virtually all of them have been so damned reluctant to tell their stories," he says. He had to change publisher's from McLellan and Stewart to Scholastic to have Acts of Courage published because McLellan and Stewart thought Canadians wouldn't read a book about Canadian heroes. "But, it's sold like crazy. Most of my stuff is Canadian to a large extent. I like to hear what Canadians have done and to celebrate that," he says. His latest book, Star of Courage, will be released this fall. Becky Registered Massage Therapist MON., TUES., WED. 9 am to 8 pm; Fridays ' 9amto5pm Add a regular massage to your resolution for utter health in 200?! 527-2058 it only hurts, it you don't cal!' Funeral Service to be held for Jesus Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph (so people thought), was born in Bethlehem of Judea. At about the age of two he moved with his fami- ly to Egypt. At the age of four, he moved to the town of Nazareth in Galilee. He grew in wisdom and in favour with God and all humanity. His young adult years were spent applying himself in the carpenter's trade. At age thirty he was baptized in the Jordan River and began his public ministry. This ministry attracted large crowds who came to hear him preach, and to be healed. The people who gathered were witnesses to many miracles. After three years his ministry came to an abrupt end when he was accused of crimes against the state. In spite of everything Jesus loved God and us. On a Friday afternoon he humbled himself and became obedient, even to death, death upon a cross. He had attained the age of 33 years. Jesus is survived by his Mother Mary and several brothers and sis- ters. He was preceded in death by his earthly father Joseph. Funeral services will be held at Egmondville United Church on Friday, April 13th at 11 a.m. All welcome! St. Thomas Anglican Church Jarvis St. Seaforth 482-7861 Rev. Tim Connor Maundy Thurs., Apr. 12 - 7:30 pm Easter Sunday, Apr. 15 - 9:30 am Parish Assistance Call 522-0929 or 345-2023 First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W. Seaforth Rev. Vandermey WORSHIP SUNDAY 11:15 AM Sunday School during Worship St. James' Roman Catholic Church Easter Mass Schedule Holy Thursday 7:30 pm Good Friday Liturgy 4:00 pm Easter Vigil - Saturday 8:00 pm Easter Sunday 11:00 am A Happy and Blessed Easter to Everyone! • Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth Sunday Worship Hour 11 am Adventure Club for Kids & Youth Groups Wednesdays 7 p,m. Egmondville United Church Rev. Judith Springett Thumley, April 12 0 6:15 - Maundy Thursday - Potluck Dinner Good Friday 10 am - Coffee Hour 11 am - Worship 1:30 pm- Walk of Witness beginning in Egmondville United Church Easter Sunday 7:30 a.m. - Sunrise Service at Gayle & Bill Price's home 8:00 a.m. - Easter Breakfast at the church 11:00 a.m. - Easter Worship and celebration of Holy Communion SUNDAY SCHOOL Grades 2 to 8 • 10 a.m. Adults - 10 a.m. Nursery to Grade 1 - 11 a.m. NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Rev. Sheila Macgregor - Minister Cavan United Northside United Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W. 527-2635 or 527-1449 Maundy Thursday - April 12th, 7:30 p.m. at Cavan (Winthrop) with lunch Good Friday - April 13th, Walk for Witness to start at Egmondville at 1:30 p.m. Easter Sunday -April 15th: Sunrise Service: 7 a.m. at Northside with Easter Breakfast to follow Traditional Easter Service - 9:30 a.m. at Cavan Easter Cantata - 11:00 a.m. at Northside Easter Monday - April 16th at 7 p.m. at Northside: Life Learning Workshops: 'Planning Your Future', -Kids Have Stress, Too - EVERYONE WELCOMEIIII [cc:,!rWrite nin The Literacy Project helps adults learn to read and write, learn about computers and find a good job. Reach your goal. Cal 1527-0305. Ask for Heather. Lorne Rachlis Director of Education Adult Learning Centres `Goderich*Wivlgham`Exeter *Stratford * Avon M.4,' Maitland Leeraity Pr a Lifetime Wendy Anderson Chair 1 ti z3 Get $3.50 off per acre. 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