Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1970-08-06, Page 20tt• 8A OODERICH SIGNAL-STAlt, TITURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1970 <I • M . isi Ire Clare McGowan honored at dinner party; with gold' watch on 'golden' anniversary .pres00 te1 About 40 friends and associates of Miss Clare. McGowan gathered at The Littfla Inn in Bayfield TueSday evening for a dinner to honbr ' the director of Huron County Children's Aid Society who will retire this fall. • ' During the evening, Miss McGowan was presented with a •gold watch suitably inscribed. Master of ceremonies was Bert Corbett and the address was given by Mrs. Esther Ross. BY MRS. ESTHER ROSS .,1 was- not ASKED to be the one to address the gathering 4 tonight, but I REQUESTED that I might have the privilege of doing so. My rationalization re this ° -request was that,though 1 am probably the least -gifted on the Staff as a public speaker, I haye been on the Staff or connected with the C.A.S. about as long as • . — ge, has anyone, datingoway back to 1950. During these 20 years working with Clare, I could not help but come to realize of what\ genuine material she, was made. As a teacher in Social work, a Mrs. Dymond who had known Clare, commented to me when I identified myself as working in the Huron County agency and therefore with Clare, "She is a RARE personality." _During these 20 years, I have never had a real fire -and--' 'brimstone ,clisagreernent with Clare. I" Point out that this is more to her credit than to mine. Due to the fact that the age of compulsory retirement in -the service of the County of' Huron has almost been. reached, Miss Clare. McGowan is officially vacating her position as Local Director of the Children's Aid Society of the ,County, a position she . has held since August of 1961. Prior to that, she served on the staff , of our C.A.S. continigously from Sept. 1, 1946, in the advisory capacity •of Assistant Local. Director and Supervisor. Therefore, on Sept. 1, 1970, Miss McGowan completes a 24 -year term in the service of the County of Huron and its children. There is a GAME, somewhat psychological in nature, known as °WORD -ASSOCIATION. I found .myself thinking of certain descriptive ., words. when I thought of Clare and her years with us. They were such lovely words, like "HAPPINESS" and "FRIENDSHIP"; like "CHEERFULNESS"' • and "THOUGHTFULNESS" and "DEDICATION." They were ail pure -gold words; and I kept thinking of the word "GOLD" itself. I mentioned "HAPPINESS." Tonight is a very happy ' • . • • Two very special guests were...i.nyited„ to enjoy the evening with Miss Clare McGowan last Tuesday at The Little Inn when a dinner was held in honor of the retiring local director of the Children's Aid Society in Huron County. Miss Ida McGowan (TettrGoderich, sister to the honored guest and Mrs. E. C. Wilford, Toronto, admire .Miss McGowan's gold wrist watch, a gift from her associates at CAS. Mrs. Wilford who lived for 40 years in China, was the lady with whom Miss McGov6an made her home while she was working in China during the early part of her career. —staff phOto. —„_ occasion, because it gives us so much .pleasure to be able to gather together. to honor one Who, for so .many years, has been an outstandingly faithful servant ' to the realm of CHILDHOOD in this County. A quotation from Rupert Brooks reads: "He who helps a child helps humanity with an immediateness which no other help given to hnman creatures in any other stage of human life can possibly give again." • Clare has brought much happiness into the lives of many children, and ' has seemed so happy in doing it. FRIENDSHIP: Clare always wanted to go further than mere professionalism: she wanted to friends,With her staff, with the personnel from other agencies; -with the children and their families who came to her for help. To her, all these people weren't just business associates and clients: they were, to her, real 'people, real friends. During I the next several years these friendships will continue, and retirement will mean iore time ,?to.enjort.heTZ, goes. If you've been ill....if your. family has had a death....if you've been engaged in a particularly trying bit of work....she shows her 'thoughtfulness in, some little way. As we travel through the 'bounty on our work, We hear so Many friendly enquiries • for "Miss McGOWAN." DEDICATION: Perhaps the word is going out of style in the field of social' work, but it has been good to work with someone who was really dedicated to the service of, people in trouble. The word GOLD needs some CHEERFULNESS: My very first impression of Clare 21 years .ago was that she had 'a big friendly .srnile. I remember,Mrs. Chaffee always wanting Cie to go to County' Council with her. She said, "The councillors like Clare; they like her smile." We anre going to Miss that wonderful, spirit of cheerfulness which has been an inspiration for so long. THOUGHTFULNESS: I am not going to go into detail, but those of us who -have been or art -staff members are aware that she scatters- little acts of friendship and thoughtfulness wherever she 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111N1 6airrtril f§ignal-'tar NEWS PICTORIAL explaining: . For 24 years Clare has Served with the Children's Aid Society. If the hours of overtime, of evenings spent addressing meeting, of night and weekend calls, of not taking any holidays during her first year ag Local Director, of assuming the responsibility when former local directors were away or ill, were all added Op, Mere would be. another year forsure. This would be 25 years, and 25 signifies a SILVER ANNIVERSARY. • But I still think of GOLD instead. • I am sure that Clare; at age of 15, was likely serving the public in some way through children's. groups"or in the church; then she became a • teacher and 'spent several years , in China as a teacher; then she went to the School of Social Work and entered the field and has been with it ever_since. Now she is retiring, so I have spanned a period of 50 years in public service . of one kind or another, and 50 means a GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY. We, congratulate you, Miss McGowan., as you near the end of a very successful career, and we wish you many, more happy and healthy years in which to enjoy your well-earned. retirement. iiv FRIENPI Ii9NOInolifesos. 4tC01/01 /8 ViVE710/0 nor WRY OPTEN Purr THE WRECOVRICREATION • • • ..• .•••••"6, Wren-. • JOE'S BP Service Station and Coffee Shop 411 Huron Rd., Godetich: 524-6871 t _ 11111111111111111.111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111,11111 • Miss Clare McGowan (centre) is flanked by some of her associates during a social hour at The Little Inn last Tuesday evening. Here Mrs. Esther Ross (left), Bert Corbett (standing) and Miss. Gertrude . Wilkes browse through a book entitled "Friendship" which was presented to Miss McGowan as a token of 'affection by her staff and friends. Mrg:' Ross gave the address to Miss • McGowan and Mr. Corbett 'made thepresentationof a wrist watch on behalf of the CAS staff. —staff photo. WELCOME • SERVICE would like to call on you with -'housewarming gifts" and, information about your new location. The Hostess will be glad to arrange your, subscription to the SIGNAL -STAR. Call her at 524-9525 unimuninuminuniniuninnumninumnionnin • 4 POPULAR COLORS Colorlok Prefinished SIDING Ft 49.90 4 POPULAR COLORS—Per 100 Sq. MIRROR SALE There were many out-of-town guestg at the dinner at The Little Inn inBayfieldlast Tuesday- evening to honor Miss Clare, McGowan prior to her ,retirement. Seen here with the local_ director are, (left to rieht) H.H. Scotty Dymond, executive OF EVERY KIND • CLIFFORD 1111.0.0114. 2/6:. 410:1161/C ROAD V' ° t10641#01f.. 620170 secretary of the Association of Children's Aid Societies; Cliff Taylor, Perth CAS; Mrs. Britt.Inger Jones, Bruce CAS; Mrs. I.B. MacDonald, Dufferin CAS; and James „.Deneau, Regional adMinistrator of social and.family services. JADE QUALITY PLYWOOD 1 PANELLING Attractively -priced, distinctive beauty for , dens, rec..reoms, halls, liVing rooms. x 8 Custorh Rrefinished Mahogany 3.99 2 PRICE GREAT FR FOR GIFTS' OR ON. YOUR' OWN' WALLS . 3/8” Bevel Masonite Back24 x-3H6a2ngs1.00 Like A Picture . 24x48 38,00 24 x 48 29.00 Patios, Privacit Fences, Carports G? E immammin, REZ • STAIN 4 Popular dolors, 888 Per Gai'lon TOP QUALITY MOORTONE No Obligation CAMPBELL'S-GODERICH THURSDAY, AUGUST •13 3 P.M. Itatterifs. aceessoFies:'4.efiairs .t.i; most makes R.,-,THEDE Hearlh4 Aid erite 88 Queen St. Kitchener ." , '•••'• • GLASS. PANEL, • • • A , 4 c.i 4 • S.244382' ICH :BUILDING. CENTRE 0 IY