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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-02-15, Page 3An evenin with the tars THE HURON EXPOSITOR, FEBRUARY 15. 1989 3A THE ANNUAL CELEBRITY DINNER had no shortage of Hildebrand, Dennis Hull, Michelle Cameron, Rob Thomson, Glen celebrities this year. (From left) Pat Murray, Walt Tkazcak, Dan Weir, Lance Chomyc, Scott Driscoll and Mark White were the Ferrone, Bob Gilson, George Hildebrand, Jerry Howarth, Hazel head table guests. Corbett photo. Celebrity dinner guests are well received Area residents expecting a good return on their investment in Seaforth's Second An- nual Celebrity Dinner, were not disap- pointed Wednesday night. Despite drawing a reduced crowd this year, the dinner, and the special celebrities it boasted, was a huge success. Keynote speaker Dennis Hull, a former NHL Alistar, had the crowd in stitches from start to finish with a series of one liners directed at himself, local dignitaries, area residents, other head table guests, and big brother brother Bobby. The only time Mr, Hull presented a serious side was when he congratulated the people of Seaforth and district for the effort they are putting forth in support of the Seaforth Community Hospital - and even those comments carried a comic air. "I want to congratulate everybody on the great work you're doing for the hospital. We took a tour of it earlier, and everything look- ed so great, I was sorry I wasn't sick," he said. Master of Ceremonies Jerry Howarth was equally entertaining, and equally impressed bythe fundraising efforts of the Seaforth area people. • "A lot of people can certainly use help in the way you've helped your hospital," he said. "Hospitals are overcrowded and there's certainly a need for fundraising for expan- sion of hospitals. Your work is certainly go- ing to benefit a lot of people in your com- munity and those surrounding it." Olympic synchronized swimming gold medalist Michelle Cameron painted a pic- ture for dinner guests of the days and hours leading up to her receipt of the gold, and also commented on the-Seaforth Community Hospital. "Seaforth - I had this picture in, my mind of something like Little House on the Prairie. The hospital is not. Little House on. the Prairie style at all," she said. "Everything is high-tech and I was quite impressed. You guys are an amazing com- munity. If I could pack you up and take you around the country, I could show people what teamwork is all about." Miss Cameron noted that most successes, including hers with Carolyn Waldo at the 1988 Olympics, can be attributed to teamwork. "It takes a lot of teamwork, but I think you know what that is all about. It takes that in everyday life. If you persevere and work together you can reach goals - if you set your mind to it," she said. Former New York Ranger Walt Tkazcuk, now coach of the St. Mary's Lincolns, also had some words of praise for the Seaforth Community Hospital fundraising. "I was with the New York Rangers for 13 years, and in those 13 years I had the oppor- tunity to visit a number of hospitals across North America," he said. "I've had a repaired ankle, knee and shoulder, a broken wrist and cheekbone. I've had my jaw wired and my nose moved around a couple of times, until finally the last time I told them I liked it there...You don't realize how important a hospital is un- til you are injured and need one. I wish you ' all success with your future fundraising events." Argonaut kicker Lance Chomyc express- ed similar wishes. "You have a lot to be proud of in terms of supporting yourselves and supporting your community," he said. Other celebrities who entertained guests with stories of their athletic pursuits and/ or experiences included Toronto Argonaut lineman Dan • Ferrone, former CFL star Glen Weir, Canadian Youth baseball team member Mark White, London Tigers "AA" Baseball Club President and Coach Bob Gilson and Rob, Thomson, and local hockey successes Pat Murray and Scott Driscoll. Speaking on behalf of the Seaforth Com- munity Hospital Fundraising Committee, chairperson Marlen Vincent expressed en- couragement for the fundraising effort. "We've got the biggest team here," he said about the fundraisers themselves. "We have six managers and advisors, over 60 coaches, 350 players who are the canvassers - and the pay may be poor, but the rewards will be great. The official kick-off of the hospital fun- draising will be March 28. CELEBRITY DINNER co-chairman Graham Nesbitt leads in the sports celebrities. He is followed by Mark White of the Canadian Youth Baseball Team, Seaforth's Scott Driscoll of the St. Marys Lincolns, Toronto Argonaut kicker Lance Chomyc, former CFL all-star Glen Weir, and others. Corbett photo. AUTOGRAPHS - Toronto Blue Jays radio broadcaster Jerry Howarth, M.C. at the Seaforth Celebrity dinner. signs autographs for some of Seaforth's younger sports fans. Corbett photo. INTERVIEW - Olympic gold medalist Michell Cameron grabbed the CKNX microphone from TV man Glenn Creamer to interview Blue Jays broadcaster Jerry Howarth at the Celebrity Dinner's press conference on Wednesday. Corbett photo. Olympic gold medalist Before she came to Seaforth as a head table guest at the Celebrity Dinner, many people in Seaforth didn't know who Michell Cameron is. But those who heard her speech or talked to her in person realized what she has accomplished, and what she has done for the new sport of synchronized swimming in Canada. Michelle and her partner Carolyn Waldo gained fame when they took the gold in syn- chronized swimming at the Seoul Olympics. But since they teamed up in 1985 they have been winning all the major competitions, and have held the world title for the past three years. They triumphed again at the pre-olympic meet and many expected them to take the gold, but Michelle says it wasn't that simple. In the pre-olympic meet they had been followed closely by their American competi- tion, and Michelle says she and her partner knew they had to swim their best to beat them again. Further pressure was added after Ben Johnson was stripped of his world record and his gold medal. The olympic athletes were a closely knit group, and their spirits were tested by Johnson's fall from grace. Michelle says when she thinks back to competing and then winning the gold it is like she is back in Seoul. She and Carolyn Cameron a key speaker MICHELLE CAMERON 1988 Olympic gold medalist in synchronized swimming.' competed last, and while they streieUtand prepared to swim they generally watched portions of the routine of the swimmers ahead of them. She knew she was nervous in that her warmup wasa,lot more active than it usually is, and when their main com- petitors from the U.S. swam, both Carolyn and Michelle stood and watched the entire routine. The Canadian swimmers walked into a hushed pool for their routine. When they struck their first pose Michelle looked into the audience, and among the thousands of faces she saw her mother's. She doesn't remember the routine other than that it went quickly, and then they were gold medal winners. "It's just like I'm right there again. If you can imagine the anxiety of the olympics... so many emotions were going through me I felt numb," says Michelle. But there were 12 years of competition before Michelle got the gold medal. "I used to hate the water," she says, "I took my pre -beginners three times." • Michelle got started in synchronized swimming by responding to an ad in the paper for tryouts for the local swim club, the Aquabells. She was then 13 years old, and had no idea she would get involved in swim- ming the way she has. Michelle found she really had to work at synchronized swimming, and that it is a sport which requires speed, strength, en - Turn to page ISA • Local hockey players part of celebrity dinner The audience at the Second Annual State University for the celebrity dinner, Celebrity Dinner were entertained by many Pat was drafted into the National Hockey athletes who have proven themselves at the League in the second round by the highest level of competition, but the dinner Philedalphia Flyers last year. was also a chance for Seaforthto celebrate Pat is currently playing out a four year its own athletic talent. While some of scholarship at MSU. He has 41 points in 26 Seaforth's greatest athletes, such as Dave games, and is second in team scoring and McLdwain and Lloyd -Eisler, could not .be fourth in the conference scoring race. MSU present at the dinner, two local hockey has a 21-4 record so far this season. platyersm.ho;have.distinguished themselves Scott Driscoll is in his fourth year on the intheir game, were there. blue line with the St. Marys Lincolns Junior Pat 'Murray, son of Bon and Teresa of B club, .and. is a biology student at Wilfred Dublin,. returned to:Seaforth from Michigan Laurier University. This year he played in d the annual all-star game for the second time. Injuries however, may have held Scott back this year. He missed seven games with a separated shoulder, another two games from an ankle injury, and two more due to school commitments. He has, however, played:30 games this season, and has tallied up 21 points. This year the Lincolns don't have the of- fence they have had in past years, and Scott says they've had to rely on the hard working turn to. page 16A AUCTION - Former CFL all-star with Montreal Glen Weir (left) and Toronto Argonaut's, kicker Lance Chomyc were the auctioneers at the celebrity dinner, and are seen here selling a Pittsburgh Penguins t -shirt. The auction raised $1,850 for the hospital building fund this year. Corbett photo. C MMr1TN;fl'' 'CALENDAR 11 you're organlzing.a non�,prriltantNnhpf I terest.to other $eaforth area •residents, phone the rectaetion ollkie, 27)B 1,hbt hha esitorat:527 2,40, oro g ttteintottnetton to Cam- -Inanity Calender, Tkte tiers►ItgglftiPiilttlteena tikletottirth, tinted°, NOK11NA xlett to advance of the scheduteddatett rdorthe OKIWattyrretsndarte4011 0 by The HuronExpoatter. 1 Wed., Feb. 15 1-3 p.m. — Parents & Tote Skating 1:30-4 p.m. — Senior Shuffleboard 4:30-5:30 p.m. — Pee Wee 11 5:30-6:30 p.m. — Pee Wee 1 6:30-8 p.m. — Minor Broomball 8-10:30 p.m. — Ladies' Broomball 7:30 p.m. — Special Ringette Meeting to plan the Eric Nagler Concert Thurs., Feb. 16 4:30-5:30 p.m. -- 5:30-6:30 5:30-6:30 p.m. — 6:30-7:30 p.m. — 7:30-12 Midnight Fri., Feb Pee Wee 11 Pee Wee 1 Minor Broomball — Men's Broomball .17 1:30 p.m. — Story Hour at the Library 4-5 p.m. — Junior Ringette practice 5-6 p,m. — Junior Houseleague practice 6-7 p.m. — Senior Houseleague practice 7-8 p.m. — Petite Ringette practice 8-9 p.m. — Novice Houseleague 9 p.m. — Wellesley ve. Seahawks Sat., Feb. 18 9 a.m. — Kings ve. Oilers 10 a.m. — Canadians vs. North Stars 11 a.m. — Leafs vs. Flames 12 noon — Whalers vs. Penguins 1-2 p.m. — Mites hockey 1:30 p.m. — Story Hour et the Library 2-3 pan. — Novice/Bunny Ringette s-q.au p.m, — PUBLIC SKATING 4:30-5:30 p.m. — Novice vs. Palmerston - hockey Sun., Feb. 19 12-1 p.m. — Novice/Bunny Ringette 1 p.m. — Lucan vs. Centenaires 1 p.m. — Cross Roads Equestrian Club Meeting. Guest speaker: Dr. Reg Reid on Equine Confirmation. For location call: 482-5068 or 348-9189 4-5 p.m. — Novice hockey practice 5-6 p.m. 6-7 p.m. Ringette 7-8 p.m. 8 p.m. — Rangers vs. Penguins 9:30 p.m. — Hawks vs. Bruins Mon., Feb. 20 4:30-8:30 p.m. — Figure Skating 8:30 p.m. — Beavers Oldtimers vs. Road Apple Tues., Feb. 21 5:30-6:30 — Atoms 6:30-8 p.m. — Bantams 8-10 p.m. — Midgets 7:30 p.m. — Rlnaette Meeting - Arena Hockey Wed., Feb. 22 1-3 p.m. — Parente & Tots Skating 1:30-4 p:m, — Senior Shuffleboard 6:30-8 p.m. — Minor Broomball 8-10:30 p.m. — Ladies' Broomball 1