HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-12-18, Page 18Page 2A—Crossroads—Dec. 18, 1985
PROVIDERS FOR 11 YEARS—Murray Hamilton of London (centre), regional director
of Community and Social Services, presents a certificate of appreciation to OdiIIia
and Herman Holterman of Listowel, Familyhome providers since 19 74. (Staff Photo)
Minister pays tribute to
`Familyhome' providers
An impressed provincial
minister recently paid tri-
bute to nine couples from
this area for their work with
developmentally handicap-
ped adults.
At an appreciation dinner,
hosted by the Midwestern
Regional Centre (MRC), the
Hon. John Sweeney, minister
of Community and Social
Services (MCSS), told the
men and women, "•You are a
very special group of people,
I hope you realize that. I
hope you realize the, very
special job you do."
The nine couples are
"Fam.ilyhome" providers
for 17 of the MRC's develop-
mentally handicapped cli-
ents.
The Familyhome program
is an extension of the ser-
vices provided by MRC
which houses 163 adults and
children in -residence at the
faciity which is located on
Hwy. 23 ;between Listowel
and Palmerston.
Midwestern has .operated
an approved home program
since 1972, although it was
limited to two or three fami-
lies until recently.
The, program expanded
following the Oct. 28, 1982 an-
nouncement of the MCSS
"Five-year Plan" which re-
newed emphasis on cotnmu-
nity-based care for the de-
velopmenta lly.handicapped.
Arriving at the Centre at
6:30 p.m., Mr. Sweeney who.
had told MRC officials he
had to be away by 9 p.m., did
not leave until 9:40 p.m.
"A minister of government
gets a great number of invi-
tations," Mr. Sweeney said.
• "It just isn't possible to ac-
cept all of them, so once a
week I sit down with my staff
and we decide what invi-
tations to accept.'
"When your request came
up; there was no hesitation. I
wanted to be here and all of
my staff agreed."
The appreciation dinner
for Familyhome providers
was the first such event held
by the Centre.
COMMUNITY
Before becoming . ,the
minister of Community and
Social Services, said Mr.
Sweeney, "I thought the so-
cial services part of the title
was the important one."
Now, he said, he realizes
_'.the_community ..part_of our.
mandate is far more impor-
tant".
Famillyhome providers,
the ministersaid, "exempli-
fy the concept of what com-
munity is all about".
The community concept,
according to the minister,
"says all of the public with
special needs are part of our
community. We are respon-
sible for them. We have no
night to send those people.
away; we have no right to
say no to them ... We are our
brothers' and sisters'
keepers. "
Mr. Sweeney compliment-
ed the Familyhome pro-
viders for "responding in
actions not in words".
By becoming actively in-
volved, Familyhome pro-
viders, he said, have given
the developmentally handi-
capped confidence.
"In a very special way you
have reached out to help
someone else. You have said,
'Come and be one of us; join
this family; share with us,
share with this family in the
good times and the bad.'
' Sharing is. what life is all
about; it is what this pro-
gram is all about, and we
4
couldn't iinake it work with-
out, people like you.'°
NEED FACILITY
In paying tribute to the
Familyhome providers, Mr.
Sweeney noted facilities
such as MRC"one of our bet-
ter ones", will continue to be
an important part ofcare for
developmentally handicapp-
ed people.
"We know we also need fa-
cilities like this one ... and
when people need oris kind of
institutionalized care, we're
glad it's here — and it's
going to be here for a long
time. If anyone has been tell-
ing youotherwise, they are
wrong."
Complimenting Barbara
Barton -McMillan, the co-
ordinator of the MRC
Familyhome program, for
choosing this time of the
year for the dinner, Mr.
Sweeney said, "It is the per-
fect time. You people ex-
emplify the true spirit of
Christmas."
Murray Hamilton, MCSS
regional director, presented
certificates of appreciation
to the Familyhome pro-
viders.
Mr. Hamilton, according
to Ms. Barton -McMillan,
"really went to bat for us
when it looked as though
funding for this program
would no longer be forth-
coming. " -
Receiving certificates
were:
Odillia and Herman
Holterman of Listowel who
have been in the program
since 1974 and now care for
three young women, one of
whom has been with them
since 1974;
Linda and Larry Williams
of Palmerston who joined the
program in 1981 and now
have four young boys in their
home;
Alfhild and Ron Neabel of
Newry who joined the pro-
gram in 1983 and now pro-
vide care for both a young
girl and boy; .
Iona and Ray Gibbings
who invited two young wo-
men to live in their London
home in 1984 when Mrs. Gib-
bings retired from a position
as residential supervisor at
MRC;
Terry and Doug Bramhill
of Palmerston who joined the
program in 1984 and have
two young women living in
their rural home;
Nadine and Jim Rhodes of
Listowel who joined the pro-
gram in 1984 and provide
care for one young man;
Marilyn and John Vander -
Hyden •of Monkton who join-
ed in 1985 and have a young
man living with their family;
Tracy . a'n'd. Clarke
Richardson of Harriston who
joined in' 1985 and who also
have a young man living
with their family.
Unable to attend the din-
ner were' Mary Ann and
Marcus Frei of the Moore-
field area who joined the
program in 1985 and who
provide care for one young
man.
Head table guests for the
appreciation dinner along
with Mr. Sweeney, Mr.
Hamilton and Ms. Barton -
McMillan were: George
McArthur, MRC administra-
tor who welcomed guests;
Robert Pilon, chief social
worker; Peter Stewart,
senior program director;
and Joan Shellnut, program
co-ordinator.
Following the dinner and.
presentations, a slide pre-
sentation of the MRC
Familyhome program was
narrated by Mrs. Barton -
McMillan.
LYNX SCOUT
A unique, restored Lynx
Scout' car, used by Canadian
forces during the 1940 Italian
campaign, was donated to
the Canadian War Museum.
It was given to the Greek
governmentwhichused-it far ---
33 years and then returned it
to Canada. The Ferret Club
of the Ontario Regiment at
Oshawa restored the vehicle
before it donated it to the
museum.
crossroads
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The Listowel Banner 291-1660. The Wingham Advance Times 357-2320.
FAMILY HOME PROVIDERS—Familyhome providers, honored at an
appreciation dinner held at Midwestern Regional Centre, pose with
the Hon. John Sweeney, minister of Community and Social Services
(standing on extreme left). From left are: seated, Linda Williams of
Palmerston, Odillia Holterman of Listowel, Alfhild Neabel of RR 2, At-
wood; Nadine Rhodes of RR 3, Listowel, and Tracy Richardson of
Harriston; standing, Mr. Sweeney, Herman Holterman of Listowel,
Doug Bramhill of RR 3, Palmerston, Ray and Iona Gibbings of London,
Terry Bramhill of RR 3, Palmerston, Ron Neabel of RR 2, Atwood;
Marilyn VanderHyden of RR 3, Monkton; Jim Rhodes of RR 3,
Listowel; Larry Williams of Palmerston, John VanderHyden of RR 3,
Monkton; and Clarke Richardson of Harriston. Absent for photo were
Mary Ann and Marcus Frei of RR 1, Moorefield. (Staff Photo)
THANK -YOU GIFT—The Hon. John Sweeney, minister of Community and Social
Services, was caught off guard when Barb Barton -McMillan, co-ordinator for the
MRC Familyhome program, presented him .with a gift from the Centre. George McAr-
thur, MRC administrator (seated centre), also enjoyed the moment. (Staff Photo)
HAND-CRAFTED GIFT— A wooden truck with blocks,
made by patients at the Midwestern Regional Centre,
was presented to the Hon. John Sweeney, minister of
Community and Social Services, when he visited the
Centre,
•••••••
• • • • • •
• i • • •
o6erati-t4e/Edirdif.
••••••••••••••
Dear Editor:
I read with great interest
the splendid report about the
return trip by Perth Vet-
erans to Sneek, Holland. The
details, pictures, names of
speakers, they made one feel
one was there!
I had a very good friend in
Sneek, and got to know the
small city very well. During
the war years Sneek was in
the middle of an agricultural
area„ -and food waa.not,the
problem it was in the cities in
••••• • • • • • • • • •
the West of Holland.
It seems to me that my
friendship grew stronger as
the food shortage in the West
became more noticeable.
Many times I undertook the
long train journey to Sneek,
in order to revitalize friend-
ships and "my inner body"!
Your good article is already
on its way to . . . Sneek,.
where, no doubt, many will
look at it!
K. Teddy Smits.
Atwood. Ont.
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