The Citizen, 2015-10-01, Page 1CitizenTh
e
$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, October 1, 2015
Volume 31 No. 38
FAIR - Pg. 16
Results continue from
the Brussels Fall Fair
FIREFIGHTERS - Pg. 13
‘The Citizen’ recognizes
community fire departments
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INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
One last encore
Walton’s Graeme Craig, who has been known in the community for years thanks to his singing
voice that often made an appearance at Duff’s United Church services, sang for the
congregation one last time on Sunday as Duff’s closed its doors after generations of history.
For the final service, Craig performed “How Great Thou Art” while Gloria Wilbee looks on. (Jim
Brown photo)
Blyth’s Lucas Townsend wins class at IPM
Church closes doors after 150 years of history
In his fourth year attending the
International Plowing Match (IPM),
Blyth’s Lucas Townsend managed to
catch first place in his class.
Lucas earned the top spot in the
Class 2 Group 1 10-16 year-old with
two-furrow competition equipment
division at the event near the village
of Finch and said it was a challenge,
but fun and something he is proud
of.
“I’m pretty happy about it,” he
said. “They said it on the
announcements at school [Monday
morning]. Most of the kids in my
class were giving Jake [Gulutzen] a
hard time though.”
Townsend’s father Matt explained
that Jake had placed fifth overall and
was sure the ribbing was good-
natured.
Matt also said that Jake had
trouble with his equipment, which
was understandable due to the rough
conditions that those competing
were facing. Most notable was the
heavy clay they ran into in the
Township of North Stormont fields.
“Everyone was spinning their
tires,” Lucas said.
Time was also a problem, though
it didn’t have much to do with the
clay.
“Time can kind of slip away from
you when you’re ploughing,” Matt
said, with Lucas saying that one of
his runs was a mere two minutes
under the time limit.
Lucas has been competing locally
for years and going to the IPM since
he was nine years old, five years ago,
and this marks a continued
improvement for the young
champion who came in third two
years ago and second last year.
His love of ploughing, however
goes even further back than his time
at the IPM and his time on a tractor.
One might say it was coded into his
blood.
His grandfather George
Townsend, as well as all of George’s
children, have a rich history with the
pastime. Matt, George’s son, said
that he and his two siblings all
earned scholarships through
competition with his brother Murray
winning Reserve Champ for Canada
in the Junior division in his youth.
“My uncle Murray and my dad did
it,” Lucas said. “I heard about them
and I saw them and I saw my
buddies doing it and I got hooked.”
George played a strong part in
Lucas getting hooked according to
the young champion.
“It’s fun to do and I started with
my grandpa,” he said. “I get to hang
out with everyone I’ve met and it’s
great.”
Lucas has been a member of the 4-
H Sodbuster club for five years and
has grown up alongside “pretty
much the same kids” every year,
It was a very sad day for the
members and friends of Duff’s
United Church, in Walton as the final
service was held and the
membership in the United Church of
Canada was closed. It was also a day
of celebration as a wonderful final
service was attended by nearly 200
members, former members and
friends of the Duff’s family. The
worship and program committee
prepared a wonderful service that
reflected memories of years gone by
and the importance of what made
Duff’s members family. The
committee consisted of Heidi
McClure, Patty Banks, Gloria
Wilbee, Glenda Morrison, Marion
Godkin, Karen Hoegy and
supervisor Pastor Sandra Cable.
Those attending the service were
greeted by the strains of music and
many of the old favourite songs
played by the Duff’s band. Members
of the band included Glenda
Morrison on the organ, Marie
McGavin on the piano, Marion
Godkin on the trumpet, Keith Wilbee
on the saxophone, Gloria Wilbee on
the guitar, Graeme Craig on guitar,
Pearl McCallum with mouth organ
and Sean Mitchell, violin.
Pastor Cable opened the service
with a welcome and announcements.
She thanked the band for their music
and energy in preparing for the day’s
service. A full church of uplifting
voices echoed with the singing of the
familiar song “Holy, Holy, Holy”. It
was so wonderful to hear and
reminded me of days long ago when
a full house was more common.
Following the call to worship, prayer
and the joyful singing of “Come In
and Sit Down”, memories of Duff’s
were shared.
The first to share his memories of
Duff’s was Rev. Derwyn Docken
who served as minister from 1967 to
1975. When he asked the
congregation who had been part of
the congregation during his time,
about 50 raised their hands.
He said his remembrance of
Duff’s was all about family. His
story of family began with his
acceptance into the family of God
and the folks of Duff’s became his
second family. He and his family
were welcomed into their homes and
hearts and became a part of open
house, choirs, youth groups,
concerts and meetings. The second
family was the joy of starting their
own family. They had two children
and they were royally spoiled by
folks in Walton. The manse was a
great place to raise children. The
third part of family was how they
were accepted into the community.
The Walton folks found out he loved
to play ball and he became part of
the Walton intermediate men’s team,
they went dancing and he even
helped at Huron County Junior
Farmers. He said he would never
forget the people of Walton as a
loving family.
A short note was received from
Rev. Charles A. Swan thanking
everyone for his time at Walton and
wishing everyone the best.
The next to share his memories of
Duff’s was Neil McDonald of
Vancouver. He recalled celebrating
the 150th anniversary of Duff’s back
in June. Over the years, six
generations of the McDonald family
have been part of the congregation
and the fourth generation being
baptized in the church only a month
ago. It has been a strong community
congregation, with many among us,
and those no longer with us, who
have given and received guidance,
wisdom, encouragement and help.
We can all be thankful for our
experiences here at Duff’s. He ended
Monday, September 28 at 2 p.m.
was the deadline for individuals
wishing to register for the upcoming
Federal election on Oct. 19, 2015
and four candidates have done so.
Locally, the four major parties
have candidates running and that
makes up the entirety of the ballot
for Huron-Bruce.
Incumbent Ben Lobb will be
running and representing the
Conservative Party of Canada under
current Prime Minister Stephen
Harper. Lobb first ran in 2006 and
was defeated. He was first elected in
2008 and re-elected in 2011.
Representing Justin Trudeau’s
Liberal Party in the riding is Allan
Thompson. Born and raised near
Glammis in Bruce County,
Thompson was a journalist for 17
years with the Toronto Star, 10 of
which he spent as a correspondent
covering Parliament Hill.
Thomas Mulcair’s NDP is
represented by Gerard Creces.
Creces was a reporter for the
Goderich Signal Star and Clinton
News Record and has spent time all
The Citizen
Celebrating 30 Years
1985~2015
By Jo-Ann McDonald
Special to The Citizen
Continued on page 26
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Huron-Bruce ballot now set
Continued on page 8
Continued on page 28