HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-03-19, Page 131'hl 11.4, it YID 1 t:UriL`1i
Second Section - March 19 1997
Three members share their expertise in curling with youth
Melissa Prout, left, and Graham Smith practice sweeping during a game. Members of
the Exeter Curling Club began a Junior Program this season to introduce the sport of
curling to youngsters. The program wrapped up on. March 9 with a bonspiel.
By the end of the program Michelle
Hunter, 9, (above) and Garret
Redegeld, 8, (at right) were throwing
rocks with confidence and accuracy.
The program is designed to teach
youngsters the basic techniques and
etiquette involved with the sport.
By Chris Skalkos
T -A Reponer
EXETER - Thanks to three members
of the Exeter Curling Club, the sport of
curling in this community will be alive
and well in the future.
Avid curlers Susan Brintnell, Les Hills
and Harry Jacobi were concerned about
the lack of youth entering the club and
decided to do something about it by
starting a Junior Curling program
designed to introduce the sport to
youngsters in the community.
The program, which
began in November, was
an instant hit attracting
about 30 kids from eight
to 16 years -old. '
"We tried to teach the
kids some of the basics and develop it to.
the stage where they have some
intermediate skills," said Brintnell
adding this year was'an experiment to
see if the program was successful.
Judging by the turn -out she said they
will run another program next year and
perhaps start a league.
With the help of parent volunteers,
every Sunday, Brintnell and Hills tried
-to teach the youngsters how to sweep,
throw rocks and how to keep score. Last
Sunday, the program wrapped up by
hosting a fun day, where the kids
played off in a bonspiel-imitation.
"We wanted them to understand
what a bonspiel was all about but they
don't know how to skip or vice yet,"
said Brintnell.
Having a junior curling league in
Exeter would boost the High School
curling program since it would give
kids the chance to curl on a regular basis
before grade nine.
Jacobi, who volunteered periodically
at the junior program on Sunday has
dedicated his time to coach the South
Huron District High School curling
teams.
-�1f Where Are They Now?
-\Janice NaytarOKar
Hills said the junior
program will give the
your - curlers and edge if
they :,Lick with it and
become club members.
"The younger you start the
better. Kids learn the proper techniques
quickly. Adults bring bad habits in
when they learn," said Hills adding the
program appeals to kidswho's'parents
may not be club members. He feels the
most important aspect of the program is
the social atmosphere and etiquette they
tried to foster, these two things, he
emphasized, are very much a part of the
sport of curling. ,
"We teach them to shake hands before
and after the game. A lot of other sports
don't even do that," said Hills.
VON
Are They Now? is an extended series on South Huron
District High School graduates and their career choices
yf VON district nurse
HENSALL - "The work has always seemed so varied," said Janice Hayter -
Oke of her job as a district nurse with the. Victorian Order of Nurses.
She likes the independence and variety of commuting around Grand Bend,
Bayfield, Hensall and Dashwood to provide VON on-call services for between
45 and 60 clients in their homes. Many need post surgery care or help with
handling medical conditions such as diabetes and stroke. District nurses supply
clients with medication, support, treatment and education.
"The emphasis is teaching the families to do treatment," she explained.
During the past year, Hayter -Oke has noticed many changes in the health care
system. For example, hospitals are sending patients home earlier.
"People are going to have to be more responsible for their own health care,"
she said.
Challenges her work presents includes travelling through all types of
weather conditions.
"Sometimes the weather catches us totally by surprise," she noted, recalling
an incident when one Exeter client was isolated in his home due to closed
oads and VON nurses gave the family treatment instructions by telephone.
The biggest challenge for Hayter -Oke is the VON palliative care program.
"A big part of our job is palliative care, people (who) are terminally ill," she
added. "It's really a privilege to work with them at this difficult time."
In an effort "to provide some other support," Hayter -Oke initiated the
palliative care program at the Hensall VON office in 1992. It has since grown
from eight to 40 volunteers.
Hayter -Oke began working as a VON district nurse in 1985 and five years
later became senior nurse, supervising the Hensall office. Due to
family responsibilities, she has recently resumed district nurse
duties. She lives in Grand Bend with her husband,
Brad, and three sons,
Christopher,
13,
Jeffrey, 11 and Andrew, eight. Her hobbies include music, reading, walking
and watching hockey.
"When I'm not working, I'm a chauffeur," she explained of travelling to
her sons' hockey games.
Originally from Dashwood, the 1975 South Huron District High School
grad notes being student council secretary and remembers fun classes taught
by Mr. Elliot.
Following high school, Hayter -Oke earned a Bachelor of Science in
nursing and Bachelor of Arts in psychology. The double course load helped
her develop "the ability to take a catnap" and survive on Kraft Dinner.
She then worked in the coronary care unit at London's University
Hospital.
"That was exciting," she recalled. "I had a lot to learn."
After 18 months at University Hospital, Hayter -Oke travelled to Saudi
Arabia where her husband was
offered a job. For three years she
worked on a hospital medical floor
with a multi -national staff. She
quickly learned to brush up on her
language skills and adhere to a
dress code. She then became head
nurse at another hospital in the area
where she helped set up a medical
and surgical ward.
In 1983, Hayter -Oke returned to
Canada when she was expecting
her first child. She worked again at
University Hospital, this time in the
intensive care unit. Two years later,
her family moved to Grand Bend
where her husband began a
business.
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Janice hi -oh,`