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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-05-11, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, May 11, 2005 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 maker by trade, passed away in 1919. Jennie, Ward's mother, then moved back to Grand Bend, Ontario, with her two children Retta and Ward. Two weeks after the Pfaff family returned, another baby was born, a girl named Joyce on November 22, 1919. Jennie met a man named Mansel Mason and they decided to get married sometime in 1923. As Jennie was adjusting to Grand Bend life and raising her family she became a prominent member of the Grand Bend United Church. She not only sang in the choir but also sang solos and she played the organ in the church for many years. Ward Pfaff attended Grand Bend Public School where he received his education, then started work- ing for his stepfather, Mansel Mason. He was in the ice business, which meant delivering ice around to houses and cottages in Grand Bend, and also selling ice from the storage facilities on his stepfather's home property. Then in 1934, Pfaff left Grand Bend and travelled to Toronto, Ontario where he acquired a job with a trucking company. It is known that Pfaff was able to play the banjo and mouth organ and put a small band together and did some entertaining in some parts of Toronto. It was while working for the trucking company Pfaff met Muriel Perrin from Perth, Ontario. They were married in the People's Church in Toronto on March 16, 1939. Pfaff then joined the Canadian Army in Toronto and enlisted in the Queen's Own Rifles. His service number was #B/64842. From Toronto he was posted to Camp Borden where he continued to receive his training. He also received a regimental N.C.O.'s course that qualified him to be an instructor. Pfaff wanted to go overseas and transferred to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, R.C.I.C. Then he was posted at the Petawawa Army Camp, where he received more advanced training before being posted overseas. After his advanced training he was shipped overseas with thousands of soldiers. Pfaff landed at Graye-sur-Mer in France on July 4, 1944 and went into action on July 11, 1944 at Eterville France and a few days later on July 18, 1944 his company went on the attack at Louvigny, France. The object of this last attack was to capture the Verriers Ridge, which was a hard-fought battle which lasted from July 18, through August 3, 1944. The ridge was located three miles from the city of Caen, which was necessary for the forces to take before they could advance further. On August 3, 1944, Pfaff was with the Essex Scottish Regiment #3 Company. In the above battle for Verriers Ridge, the shelling and bombing was extremely heavy causing many homes to be destroyed. In Pfaff's letter home to his wife Muriel, he said at that time they were sit- ting in the slit trenches, subjected to a great short- age of water. On August 8, Pfaff was back with the Hamilton Light Infantry and four days later while fighting for the city of Caen itself, was killed in action on August 12, 1944. He was buried in the Bretteville-sur-Laize, Canadian War Cemetery, Cavados, France. Besides his mother and stepfather he was survived by his wife Muriel and their daughter Sharon who was born on January 17, 1943—a daughter whom he had never seen. He was also survived by sisters Retta and Joyce. Pfaff was survived by his two half- brothers Graham Mason and Mansel Junior Mason and one half-sister Pauline Mason. Pfaff's daughter is presently living in Toronto. Wisdom from Grandpa Whether a man winds up with a nest egg, or a goose egg, depends a lot on the kind of chick he marries. Trouble in marriage often starts when a man gets so busy earnin' his salt that he forgets his sugar. Too many couples marry for better, or for worse, but not for good. When a man marries a woman, they become one; but the trouble starts when they try to decide which one. If a man has enough horse sense to treat his wife like a thoroughbred, she will never turn into an old nag. On anniversaries, the wise husband always forgets the past - but never the present. A foolish husband says to his wife, "Honey, you stick to the washin' ironin', cookin' and scrubbin'. No wife of mine is gonna work." The bonds of matrimony are a good investment only when the interest is kept up. Many girls like to marry a military man - he can cook, sew, and make beds and is in good health, and he's already used to taking orders. Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it. The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to now "why" I look this way. I've travelled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are? You know you are getting old, when everything either dries up or leaks. I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top. One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young. Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable. Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald, they don't recognize you. If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old. Have a GREAT day and keep laughing! Once there was... Once there was a millionaire, who collected live alligators. He kept them in the pool in back of his mansion. The millionaire also had a beautiful daughter who was single. One day he decided to throw a huge party and during the party he announced, "My dear guests... I have a proposition to every man here. I will give $1 million or my daughter to the man who can swim across this pool full of alligators and emerge unharmed!" As soon a he finished his last word, there was the sound of a large splash. There was one guy in the pool swimming with all he could... the crowd cheered him on as he kept stroking. Finally he made it to the other side unharmed. The millionaire was impressed. He said, "My boy that was incredible! Fantastic! I didn't think it could be done! Well, I must keep my end of the bargain... Which do you want, my daughter or the $1 million?" The guy said, "Listen, I don't want your money! And I don't want your daughter! I want the person who pushed me in that pool!" Zurich's medical needs ignored Dear Editor: Our provincial government keeps telling us (which we all too well know) that we need more medical staff in rural Ontario. Yet somewhere along the line funding for the Zurich Medical Clinic has been withdrawn. Apparently our last MPP Helen Johns promised that funding for the Zurich clinic would continue. What has happened since? Provincial funding to the Grand Bend CHC is going to continue paying our (ex)nurse practitioner and office manager's salaries, although at a different location. Does this make sense? The Zurich office manager told me that between 3000 and 3500 patients use the Zurich clinic, which was serviced by one part-time doctor and a nurse practitioner. Compare these with Grand Bend/Hensall figures of 9700 patients, which is less than 2000 per doctor. It is very apparent that we need the nurse practitioner that worked in Zurich. She was highly regarded and very knowl- edgeable, a real loss and a shame to lose her. We want Annie back. She is needed to reduce our doctor's workload. I ask, have some of our bureaucrats and elected officials lost all com- mon sense? Do they lack the courage and conviction to stand up and fight for and voice the electorate's concerns and opinions, to their own party, ministers, bureau- crats and the media? The public has been kept in the dark regarding this issue. This is just another government/bureaucratic issue that these rocket scientists must think makes sense, but it doesn't. Help save Zurich Medical Centre Dear Editor: In regards to April 27, 2005 cover story in Lakeshore Advance, "Our nurse practi- tioner will have to go," I'm simply devastated to say the least. Since last July 2004 and the response from Carol Mitchell MPP to the people of Zurich and surround- ing area, saying she was fully aware of the situation of the services of our nurse practitioner and look for a long term solution that will meet the needs of our community. Now, 10 months have passed and no one has been informed of any new developments until we read Grand Bend Health Centre no longer can find funding for our Zurich Medical Centre, but they have just hired three new doctors for Grand Bend Centre. I guess they found funding for that and I am happy for the people in that area waiting and hoping for a doctor to see. With nearly 3000 patients in Zurich and area we need our nurse practitioner and office secretary to aid Dr. Hurley who has -Vieworked beyond the call of duty. I strongly suggest we work together and write or call our elected officials, firstly our reeve Mr. Dowson and council of Bluewater and also write to Carol Mitchell our MPP at Box 49 Clinton, Ontario NOM 1L0 or phone her at 1-800-668- 9320. They are the people to apply for funding. Please help save our Zurich Medical Office. Letters l* to the Editor BOB FISHER Zurich, Ontario Long-time patient of Zurich Medical Centre, DELORES SCHILBE Zurich, Ontario AMANDA ZEHR PANTHER PROFILE Panther Profile EXETER — Summer is right around the corner, and the poor teenagers of Exeter are stuck inside stuffy classrooms. How depressing. Oh well, what can you do about it? This week was South Huron's production of "Return to Eden 2048," written and directed by Ms. Burrell, head of the drama department. Opening night went beautifully, without too many crazy things happening. I, however, ran into my friend in one of the dances, but no one except my Mom noticed, as all Moms should. Thursday night was when things got interesting. Our "Green Lady of Hay Swamp," Ally Macgregor, twisted her knee in one of the dances and had to go to the hospital. This made the Friday night performance a bit of a challenge as Ally per- formed in a wheelchair. It was random, but if you see Ally, give her a high five for performing despite the pain in her knee. The entire cast was spectacular, with several students using talents other than drama, such as dancing, singing and guitar playing. Congratulations, cast and crew! This week at South Huron... Wed., May 11 •Huron -Perth Track meet in Goderich, all day Thurs., May 12 •Grad meeting in the cafeteria, 10:20 a.m. *Boys rugby at London Cup Tournament •Boys soccer in Goderich, bus leaves at 7:30 a.m. Fri., May 13 •Discovery Days at UWO Mon. May 16 • Boys and girls rugby at South Huron vs. Stratford Northwestern, girls at 1:30 p.m., jr. boys at 2:30 p.m. and sr. boys at 3:30 p.m. Tues., May 17 • Peer Mentors to Vanastra, leave at 12:15 p.m., return at 4:30 p.m. Wed., May 18 •OSAID Assembly, 1 p.m. A reminder to all graduating students that tick- ets to see "The Tempest" are available in the office.