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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-12-31, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, December 31, 2008 Playing rugby a family affair for Exeter -area Prout sisters By Ben Forrest TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER - Siblings Carrie and Julie Prout both played rugby at South Huron District High School, and both pursued the sport after graduation. Carrie, the elder at age 24, played for the University of Guelph and Ju- lie, now 22, heads into her fifth year with the University of Waterloo varsity next year. On occasion they tion, the two tried out for rugby in its inaugural year at South Huron because it was something new and looked like it would be fun. "I guess we've both been more tomboyish, so running around and tackling peo- On occasion they played against each other in university, and at least once their parents stood on the sideline, apparently not cheering for anyone in particular. played against each other in university, and at least once their parents stood on the sideline, apparently not cheering for anyone in particular. At least once, Julie ran across the field and tackled Carrie for no particular reason. "I came out of nowhere and tackled her just because I wanted to," Julie said in a recent inter- view. "It was always a good time," said Carrie, who will not admit to doing similar things to her sister. "I tried to run away from her, I guess." To the best of Carrie's recollec- ple seemed like fun," Carrie said. "I don't think I knew too much about it when I first went out to play. It was just something new and different, I guess." Julie's motives were similar, though playing with Carrie had its appeal as well. The sport was in its infancy at South Huron, and the team had limited success while the Prouts played - they made it to the Hu- ron -Perth playoffs, Julie said, but never WOSSAA. When the two began playing the sport at university the compe- tition increased significantly. So did their success. "I think a lot of people play rug- by in high school maybe just for another sport to play, something to do," said Julie. "In university these girls are trained and they're JANUARY JANUARY 2 • The final 2007 meeting of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) board of direc- tors was held Dec. 20 and the board received a report which said staff of the ABCA attended a hearing Nov. 26-27 of the Drainage Referee for the proposed Ausable River Drain. The report said if constructed as proposed by the drainage engineer, the river through the Hay Swamp would become a municipal drain with a combination of debris removal and dredging with the potential construction of a bypass channel. JANUARY 9 • The municipality of South Huron has a new boss. Roy Hardy has been hired as South Huron's new chief administrative officer and started his new job last week. He takes over from acting CAO Don Giberson, who returns to his operations man- ager position with South Huron. Giberson was in the acting CAO position since former CAO Larry Brown left at the end of September. JANUARY 16 • The closing of CanGro Foods in Exeter is "a done deal" according to South Huron Mayor Ken Oke, but Oke said he is hoping another buyer, pos- sibly outside the processing industry can be found for the property. It was announced Jan. 8 by CanGro that the plant, which produces fruit and vegetables in cans and jars under the Aylmer, Del Monte and Ideal names, will be sold or cease operations, along with one in St. Davids in the Niagara region by March 31. January 23 • The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Author- ity's project levy budget was voted down Jan. 17 at the monthly board of directors meeting at the Morrison Dam Conservation Area office. The meeting opened with chairperson Bill We- ber finishing his term as chairperson and North Middlesex director Lawrence McLachlan being selected chairperson for 2008 in an uncontested election. January 30 • Emergency funding from the Huron United Way has enabled Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron (BBBSSH) to re -hire its caseworker on a part-time basis. This allows existing matches be- tween children and Big Brothers and Big Sisters to continue. "This is good news for the families we serve," said BBBSSH president Drew Robertson. "Without this funding, the matches would be suspended." fit, and a lot of them play for [Team] Ontario or even Canada. "So the competition is way up there." Carrie chose Guelph in part because of its reputed rugby pro- gram and found herself on the varsity team as a freshman. She saw limited playing time until her third year, "but it was still great to be part of the team," she said. "I think my game im- proved, and as you get older you get a better spot on the team." Guelph was a provincial cham- pion during Carrie's tenure, also making it to the national univer- sity tournament at least once. Julie's success as an individual is somewhat more pronounced: she is a former Waterloo rookie of the year and most improved player, and in 2007 was named to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) All-Star team. Waterloo made it to nationals in Julie's second and third year, she said, and also finished among the top three in the OUA both years. The 2008 season was a rebuild- ing year for Waterloo, and Julie was forced to sit out due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. She will be one of the old- est players on the team next year and hopes to be a leader. FEBRUARY February 6 • Mounties will paint the town red in September if a proposal to have the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride come to Exeter for three days is approved. The popular ride, performed by a full troop of 32 RCMP officers and horses, is proposed to take place on the grounds of the South Huron Rec Cen- tre Sept. 10-12, with the performances Sept. 11. Or- ganizers were hoping to get confirmation from the RCMP this week that the show in Exeter has been approved. February 13 • Albert Street residents in Exeter have some concerns about certain aspects of a proposed re- construction of the street, including the widening of the east side, which would also include the re- moval of the trees, boulevard and sidewalk on the east side. An open house was held Jan. 24 and residents attended the Feb. 4 South Huron council meeting to present their concerns to council. February 20 • "Stars of the Town," a collection of 85 black and white films depicting day-to-day life in small towns across Southwestern Ontario, features Ex- eter, Hensall, Lucan and Zurich. The films captured by the late Rev. Leroy Masse - car, who died about 20 years ago, showcase every- day life from 1947-1949. February 27 • We need direction," was the message to South Huron council Feb. 19 from Jeff Keller and John Hansen from the South Huron Hospital Associa- tion (SHHA) about the need for council to partner with the association in order to find solutions for the doctor shortage. "It's a municipal issue," said Keller. "Not a hos- pital issue. It's out of our scope." Keller added the association is concerned the doctor shortage will affect the hospital emergency room services. February 27 • A well-known Exeter volunteer has been awarded the province's highest recognition for seniors. Vera Armstrong, 83, was awarded an Ontario Se- nior Achievement Award Feb. 15 during a special ceremony at Queen's Park with Lieutenant Gover- nor David Onley and the Minister Responsible for Seniors Aileen Carroll. Accompanying Armstrong were her daughter Barbara from Owen Sound, her son George and daughter-in-law Debbie from Whitby and South Huron Mayor Ken Oke. She would like to make it to the finals in the OUA and perhaps back to national competition, she said. Carrie is now a Guelph gradu- ate and furthering her education at Ridgetown College, where she is studying to be a veterinary technician. She is not playing rugby at the moment but hopes to return to the game this summer, and said she thinks the sport will continue to be a big part of her life. "It's a great sport," she said. "I'd like to play in the summer if I can. Not competitively, though. I don't think I have the skills to bring it to that level." Julie, who is in Waterloo's co-op kinesiology program, would also like to continue with the sport when her university days are through. She will likely not try out for the Canadian national team, she said, but she might consider trying out for Team Ontario. ""Maybe after school, it might be something to look forward to," she said. Carrie and Julie are the daugh- ters of Tom and Bev Prout. There are two other siblings in the clan: sisters Melissa and Rebekah. Sisters in arms South Huron District High School gradu- ates Carrie (above left) and Julie Prout both played rugby in high school before moving on to play at separate universities. (photo/ submitted) MARCH March 5 • South Huron council passed a bylaw repealing the deeming se- lected lots in an Exeter subdivision. Council carried a bylaw allowing lots 27 to 38 inclusive and lots 63 to 70 inclusive on Darling Boulevard and Eastern Avenue to be developed as single detached dwellings, under the Registered Plan 383. • The final report of the 'Business Retention and Expansion' proj- ect was unveiled before the public for the first time Feb. 27 at the Ex- eter Legion. Called the 'South Huron Alliance for Retention and Ex- pansion (SHARE), the project was spearheaded by the South Huron Chamber of Commerce and its president Hugh McMaster. McMaster and Fred Simmons acted as co-chairmen of the project. An 11 -mem- ber task force was formed and divided to look after the following economic sectors: agriculture, industry, retail and tourism. March 12 • "Flooding is infrequent but when it does happen it causes emer- gencies," ABCA water and planning manager Alec Scott said March 4 at the annual Flood Emergency Planning meeting in Exeter. Representatives of Emergency Management Ontario (EMO), the Huron OPP, Lambton, Huron and Perth counties, the Huron, Middlesex and Perth Health Units and the Municipalities of North Middlesex, South Huron and Huron East met Ausable Bayfield Con- servation Authority (ABCA) staff and board members at the Exeter Masonic hall at the meeting sponsored by the ABCA. March 19 • South Huron Hospital has reached its fundraising goal of $1.6 million and renovations to the emergency department are proceed- ing on schedule. "It's been an overwhelming success," hospital CEO Deb Hunt told the Times -Advocate last week. Fundraising for the $1.6 million capital campaign began in May and Hunt and fundraising co-ordinator Sandra Faber both say they were surprised at how well fundraising went. March 26 • Bluewater council recently released its council remuneration num- bers for 2007 with council expenses costing a total of $158,270.15. Honorariums cost a total of $55,986.72 with Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson receiving $7,464.84, Deputy Mayor Dave Johnston receiving $5,865.24 and each councillor receiving $5,332.08. Per diems for council totalled $78,154.72 with Dowson receiving $20,608.82 and Johnston being paid $9,566.66.