Huron Expositor, 2006-05-24, Page 6Page 6 May 24, 2006 • The Huron
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News
Walton W.I. has 50th anniversary
Susan Hundertmark
Celebrating their 50th anniver-
sary this year, founding members of
the Walton Women's Institute say
the only thing that's changed over
the years has been their hair colour.
"It's always . been about the friends
you meet and the fellowship," says
Marjorie Humphries.
"There's a lot of white-haired peo-
ple now but we still have a good
time," adds her sister-in-law Mary
Humphries.
While Walton had a Women's
Institute for a brief time before the
First World War, it disbanded dur-
ing the war and began again 50
years ago.
Marjorie's and Mary's mother-in-
law Margaret Humphries was the
first president.
"She got us involved," says Mary.
"It was fun just to get together and
have a little fun during a night out."
"And, we learned a lot from the
speakers, the adult courses and the
workshops," adds Leona McDonald.
From its inception in 1956 to
1966, the Walton W.I. sponsored 4-H
clubs, provided adult courses,
helped at the community fall fair
and sold cookbooks for Can Save
Children's Fun.
During the next 10 years, it
helped with rhythm band school
instruments, participated in
exchanges with other institutes and
put on a Centennial year variety
revue.
From 1976 to 1986, the Walton
W.I. took on ownership and under-
writing of the Walton Hall, renovat-
ed the kitchen, bathrooms, roofing,
siding, landscaping and windows of
the hall.
During the next decade, it sup-
ported a project bringing farm ani-
mal pictures into schools, provided
talking books and school band
Susan iiundertmaik photo
Charter members Mary Humphries, Leona McDonald and Marjorie Humphries cut
the cake celebrating Walton Women's Institute's 50th anniversary last week.
instruments, participated in the
blue box project, planted trees at
Walton Public School and Walton
ballpark, sponsored a fair queen,
were involved with Agriculture in
the Classroom and participated in
Slice of Huron.
And, from 1996 until 2006, Walton
W.I. partnered with Grey in a
Household Hazardous Waste educa-
tion day, partnered with other
Huron W. I. s in a 1999 Plowing
Match cookbook, sponsored Murray
Gaunt in the Hall of Fame, and
partnered with the hall board for a
Trillium grant for the Walton Hall.
McDonald says the Walton mem-
bers have travelled all over Canada
on W.I. conventions with many par-
ticipating at higher levels in the
W.I. organization.
As well, members have voted on
resolutions that lobby various levels
of Canadian gov-
ernment on
issues such as
painting a more
visible yellow
line in the mid-
dle of highways,
slicing packaged
bread and
putting flashing
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"We were instrumental in having
the streets of Walton named with
street signs under Grey Township,"
adds McDonald.
"It makes you feel good when our
resolutions are passed," says
Humphries.
While Walton's W.I. is far from the
oldest Women's Institute in Canada
since many are over 100 years old,
FWIO (Federation of Women's
Institutes of Ontario) president-
elect Joy Trimble says she's hoping
Walton will continue for another 50
years.
"Women's Institute branches do
fold sometimes due to the age of the
members but we gained 136 mem-
bers across -Ontario last year. We
want to keep going," she says.
And, while Walton's WI. is hoping
it can still attract new members,
Mary Humphries says it's not been
easy.
"Every year takes it's toll," she
says.
"We haven't been getting new
members and we've been recycling
the old ones in all the jobs," adds
McDonald.
"But, we're still having fun," says
Marjorie Humphries.
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