HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-10-23, Page 14•
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• What'Wenta You do it YOu gave a reunionnd nobody
Clyne? .fust what the Oft:agnate organizer okour Class
Minden did this weekend - ariaPplair•
The idea that it was time for a reepion of the two 1974
UWO journalism classes was the brainchild of a London
sPortsWrItet. He obviously, and very wronglyas it turned
opt, assumed journalists possess tkat same old team spirit
that athletes do. They doo't,
The sportswriter 'voluAteered, le round ilp his class: if
one of our claSs weuldackie the chore of theating Out 17
survivors. Now we assumed everyone would love to get
together and talk about old times, the changes in their
lives and loves and to assure each other that we're all
successes. Besides, in .our year of, enferced.togetherness•
e class had learned more about 0404:Aber than many of
us know about our own families, A blackmailer would have
been delighted. The class, trapped in motual agOny in
front of typewriters and video Machines, developed
camarad erie and spirit - formed deep and abiding
friendships, fell in and citit of love with each Other and even
produced one marriagt„Surely. the reunion organizers
reasoned. all that passion rouldn't be forgotten.
it -turned out it could.' Theietters of acceptance didn't
pour in. Now we excused the VancOuver andSaskatchewan
branch attie class for not making the effort, but 'surely the
Toronto contingent would turn up in full force. Little did
we realize they believed. like many other metropolitian
inhabitants, that the world ends at Mississauga. Just '
when all seemed lost, and cancellation seemed imminent,
one classmate phoned - she and her _husband were going to
the Mustangs football game anyway, so they'd try and fit
the reunion in as well:
The three of us, Mary, Norma and myself, plus Norma's
long-suffering husband, a biologist who has been forced to
hang aroung journalists for some years, arrived at opt
appointed reunion headquarter, the London Caitty__BpeSs
Club, at the same time. Surprisingly, asid' the few.
regulars leaning unsteadily against the bar, the place
seemed rather empty of anyone resembling Our cohorts of
half a decade ago. The reason became obvious - our eager
sportswriter, in Harold "Ballard -fashion, had arbitrarily
cancelled the entire event, neglecting in the process to let -
us know.
The f f
Serendipity
Alice Gibb
sportswriter in particular ; retired in a 'Cuff to the nearby
Holiday Inn Lounge, We decided to try and salvage what--
we could of "auld lang syne "
, In the years since 4975, ,our ,classmates have had -their
ups and downs. One of our number, who gave up a
promising teaching career to try writing, has spent
two -and -a -half- years In and out of psychiatric hospitals,
Two others who have written full length novels, were
really frustrated creative, artists, but .both books have
ended up stored in closets. A fourth classmate, who failed
the M.A. program, is now show0g all the signs of being,
the class success story. He's been struggling along as
freelancer, poor but proad, but may soon see his byline in
Toronto Life. The class has produced one feature writer for
the Toronto Star, two editors for the Globe and Mail and
two—elass---members—_have- —disappeared-- frdm- -sight
completely. The one advantage of only three of us actually
in attendance at the reunion was that we could discuss the
missing members' lives in great detail.
REAL ESTATE
Norma, in theyears since graduation, has foresaken the
world of broadcast journalism completely for the more
lucrative life of a Hamilton real estate agent. Her tales of
her years in radio might explain why.
. One of her first interviews was with a small station in
southwestern Ontario. She dutifully took in demo tapes of
shows she'd done at school, sat through one of tho'se long
nerve-racking interviews with the station maiiiiger; and
came home generally feeling good about her chances. It
seemed certain her new life on the airwaves was just a
phone call away. A few days later, the station manager did
call, praised Norma's abilities, assured her she was by far
the best applicant for the position and then added
apologetically. "But I can't hire you, we already have one
woman reporter working at the station."
Undaunted, still bursting with the tackle -the -world
attitude created in us by the former Toronto Telegram
staffers who taught in the department, she was hired at a
our o us, muttering uncomplimentary phrases Simcoe station.
about the sportswriting profession in general, and one The interview was held with
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the prograni director. a
kindly sort who asked the ,lob hunter to carefully =Oder
the felfowing scenario. Now suppose you were coveritig a
WII domicil meeting, and at the Meeting cOuncil passed
the annual budget and they also increased the parking fee
on town meters by five cents. What story do you think
.should be the lead story in your newscast?
A TRICK?
startled by,•the obvious nature of the test,
decided thco
cre had to be -trick. Of course the budget was -
more impOrtant, but ‘sh e speculated perhaps cars and
parking held some mystical significance in the town, so
she stammered out ,a long and convoluted reply. The
program director, pleased at actually having discovered
someone who realized budgets do menet., hired her on the
spot.•
The three of us recalled when we were slogging it out at
school, in our pretend newsroom, our teachers, jaded
former reporters and broadcasters, , warned us at great
length about the "real world" - a far tougher place that the
_ classroom.
On mv first lob, where I was paid the princely sum of
$100 weekly, and sometimes worked 50 to 60 hours, I
agreed the "real world" was a less sympathetic place. As
salesman on the paper -came and went with 'startling
regularity and my editor was fired's° quickly he had time
only to salvage his typewriter, I decided it was time to
leave the sinking ship, real world or not.
Since leaving the classroom behind, we found we've all
worked long hours, all been criticized by irate sources, and
have discovered the romance of reporting portrayed in
movies was, largely fiction. Sooner or later, we've
ail wondered why we chose this trade.
Some of the class,Oke Norma, have jumped off the
bandwagon. Others, like Mary, are still taking chances
with new challenges. Some of us still dream of the day
we'll have our own column, our own magazine, or even,
our own newspaper chain.
The "real world" in the end, in many cases, hasn't been
any tougher than that *tend world in the j -school
classrooms. Five years down the road, we'll likely foolishly
attempt another reunion - somewhere inside the
boundaries of the metropolis that has swallowed up so
many of the class.
After all, we still have to -prove we've survived!
250
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HESSNhe
At the
Restaurant
Main St., Seaforth
We are featuring
SHAVED HAM
OR
BEEF SANDWICHES
with pickles, cole-slaw And
your favourite beverage
In our cosy
Hideaway Lounge
In rear.
AmemOY
141.11.1-manam—
People
Weekend guests at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Hank Van Rooijen were Mr. and Mrs.
Arie Verhoef and sons, Mr. and Mrs. John
Van Rooijen and Kris. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Van
Rooijen and Mr. and Mrs, Jim Murray and
girls. They all gather together to wish Joe and
Ruth well on their move to Kingston which is
planned for this weekend. Joe has been
transferred from head office in Toronto and
will now be manager of the Toronto Dominion
Bank in Kingston.
Peter and Janice Bisback along with their
children, Victoria and Peter Owen have
returned from a two week holiday with their
parents. Dr. Rodger and Mrs. Whitman and
Darlene in Gilmore, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Stinnissen have
returned from Wawa. Ontario, where thcy
visited members of their family.
• Mr. and Mrs. Ed Andrews have returned
home after visiting with the latter's brother
Duncan and Mrs. Mae Milian Mishawoka,
India na. also relatives in South Bend and
Elkhart.
Mr. and Mrs. Garry Dykstra and Sonia -Ann
visited over the weekend with Mr. and Mrs.
Ed Andrews, Harpurhey.
Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Bannerman, Miss
Becky Bannerman of Egmondville. and Mr.
and Mrs. Dale Bannerman and son Derek of
Port Elgin spent thc Thanksgiving weekend
with M/Cpl and Mrs. Douglas Bannerman
and datighter Robin -Marie. at Camp Pete-
.
wawa.
Seaforth native and SDHS grad Joan
Roberton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Roberton of town,has been elected president
of London Credit Wilmen International. Miss
Roberton is an employee of Skinner Develop-
ments in London.
MAKING A SALE—Grace Scott is busy at the bake table at the Northside
'United Church bazaar tin Saturday, as she sells some homemade baking
to Rev. Jarnm VIMSlyke. • (Photo by Oke)
GYMNASTICS
at the
Seoforth Public School •
•
Starts Thurs. Oct. 23rd
6.S30 - 7:30 & 7:30 - 8:30
$10.00 per child
For Boys & Girls Kindergarten to Grade 8
Seaforth Figure Skating
REGISTRATION
MON.00T. 27 to FRI. OCT. 31
8:30 to 5:00 p.m.
at the
Recreation Office
Beginners - $25
Juniors intermediates - $30,
Seniors - $35
plus $3.00 for C. F.S. A. registration
2 , •
Steve Hoak, principal of
,Seaforth District iiikh.Sehool
Night School, said the pro-
gram is Oft te.One-ef its most
successful fall starts in the
schoOrs six-year history, Mr.
Hook said 111 ' people are
regist ered in the 11 courses
being offered at the school.
The most • popular. class
- this year has been crocheting
taught by Bessie Broome .of
• Egmondifille. 'There are 22
people registered in • the
course, making it the second
largesiclass ever at the night
school. The class has been
divided into two sections.
'Another course which has
proved popular is Elaine Got-
fschall's attrition program
are -what-you—eat' -
which has 18 'students.
' Other courses at the night
......
An Expositor Classified
will pay you dividends. Have
you tried one? Dial 527-0240.
1
WHITE
CARNATION
HohnesvIlle
Presents
Atk Shulman
SAT., NOV. IST
Dancing 9:30 - 1:00 a.m.
Buffet 1:00 a.m.
$5.00 per person
482-9228
After hatirs S24,41.33
Full course hot
smorgasbord available
until 8 p.m.
Help Optimists
support minor sports
by buying
our bags
of -
Hallowe'en
candy
OPTIMIST CLUB OF SEAFORTH
JOitV classes:at SDHS
school are furniture refiniSh, arranging, sewing, the clas,
ing, photography, volleyball, sic film society and 1,119/1141
ceramics, badminton -; flower basketball.
Myth Lionftlab
•
DANCE
Sat., Oct. 25
Blyth District Community Centre
Dancing 9-1:00
Prizes for best costumes
514.00 per couple
Oktoberfest food
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22 -OCT. 25
SHOWTIMESf WED.-THURS.-8:00 P.M '
FRI. 8. SAT.: Big Brawl - 7:00
FU MANCHU-8:45
THE
amBRAINL
0 Meddlers in_
thelienclithplotAf thlyttandfu
•
SUNDAY, OCT. 26 -OCT. 30
Sun.-Thurs. one Showing 8:00 P.M.
The Latest Fashion...In Murder.
MICHAEL CAINE
ANGIE DICKINSON
NANCY ALLEN
A Brian De Palma Film
DRESSED
TO KILL
• .411:2-
T H 0A
PHONE 524 7811
AIR ONDMONED
PROGRAM SUSJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
Seaforthis second....
OLD TYME FIDDLE
JAMBOREE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 1p.m. - 8 p.m.
Seaforth District High School
•
A large number of champion,
novelty, and open class fiddlers
will be performing!
EVERYONE WELCOME!
Supper & Refreshments
available to
, oil spectators
'KING THE
WHOLE
FAMILY! -
PROCEEDS
TO THE
VAN EGMOND
.HERITAGE
RESTORATION
PROJECT
Sponsored by the Van Egmond Foundation
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