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ALL STAR TOURS
PIONEERS OF ESCORTED MOTOR COACH TOURS ,
"OUR BUSINESS IS GOING PLACES"
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SOX Mt SEAFORD! ONTARIO 519 627- * •
BUILDING CENTRE
IIITIES
Minnie Vock
Courier retires after 20 years
After 20 years and six weeks as
-mail courier out of the Bornholm
post office, Mrs. Minnie Vock has
retired.
Tuesday, November 30 was her
last day and it was a dilly. "I
should have quit one day
sooner," the spry 73 year old says
with a laugh. On her last day on
the 17 mile mail route that takes
her as far west as the McKitlop-
Logan boundary. Mrs. Vock -got
stranded for a time ,wIten the gas
tine on her Toyota froze.
•
Visibility was very poor but
after her car was tpwed into
Brodhagen and thawe d out.
Mrs Vock and her replacement
Joe Morrison, started out again.
It was 'all in a day's work 'for
Mrs. Vock, although a more
difficult day than usual, "regrand
finale", she laughs. Mrs. Vock.,
who took over her husband's mail
delivery contract when 'he died 20
years ago, says she can't count
the number of times she's been
stuck in her years of winter
SORTING THE MAIL — Every morning for 20 years
and six weeks Minnie Vock has sorted the mail for
patrons on her route in Logan Township. Mrs. Vock,
above in the Bornholm Post. Office with Postmistress
Margaret Morrison, who has served since 1943,
retired last week. (Expositor Photo)
Cold water car; be a killer.
Water, a better conductor than
air, conducts heat away from the
body. If exposed for extended
periods of time to temperatures
below 10'C. the body's.inner core
temperature will drop consider-
ably: resulting in a 'condition
known a HYPOTHERMIA.
Hypothermia is caused by a
drastic reduction in body
temperature. As the body loses
heat, from the normal 37°C to
approxmately 32°C. the condition
is characterized by violent
'shivering. stiffening and loss of
co-ordination. Speech is slurred
and the in:hid lacks perception. A
continued temperature will
result in drowsiness a IIY,
unconsciousness. At approxi-
mately 30°C or lover, the heart
will stop.
• Tests determining the average
rate of heat loss predict that death
will occur anywhere from one half
hour to 2 hours after exposure: In
some cases, the victim will die of
sudden shock, due to a heart
attack.
Scientists. studying
hypothermia. are beginning to
find means to increase survival'
time. The difference between ti fe
or death could mean a slight
maintainence of body heat.
A large proportion of fatalities
are caused each year by cold
water and inclement weather. It
has• been proven in the last four
years. that 29% of all drownings
f in Ontario happened during the
winter months.
The majority . of ice.
snowmobile. hunting. fishing and
boating accidents. involve people
between the ages of 13 and 46.
So what do you do if you end up
in the cold brink?
Unless' you shave a short
distance. to swim, (less than a
mile). remain still. Vigorous
movement uses energy and heat:
reducing' chances of survival. If
not wearaing a floatation device.
tuck the body as much as
possible, tread water. and keep
the head out of the water. The
body loses heat very'quickly when
the head is submerged.
With a floatation device the
• method is different.
Assuming that everyone is
wearing a PFD or a lifejacket,
scientists at the University of
Victoria. British Columbia, have
devised two • techniques to
conserve body heat. Based on the
principel of protecting' area of
greater heat loss, namely, the
head, the neck. the sides of the
cheit, the groin and behind the
. MAKE WlifITER
measur es, such as those listed
below, would help the active
hunter or fisherman haVe a safe
yet enjoyable Winter this year:
1. USE THE RIGHT BOAT
FOR YOUR 'PURPOSES.
A small boat. a canoe for
[example will qtrequently capsize
on a large lake. Canoes have their
use in the hands of an expert. but
for a novice canoeist, it can he a
potential hazard.
2. MAINTAIN A LIGHT LOAD
Overloading your boat wilt
Make it unstable. Several trips
transporting supplies may take
longer: but remember it could
save your life.
,,3. PLAN STORM SHELTERS
IN ADVANCE. ,
Because winter weather is
unpredictable. storms can erupt
quickly. Inform the camp or
-others in your pariv where you
are going. as well as expected
time of arrival and return. -
4. USE GOOD BOATING
SENSE.
Boats should be properly
equipped and carry. extra gas.
oars, a tool kit. spare spark plugs.
and flares. Everyone, good
swimmers included, should wear
Personal Floatation Devices.
PFD's are more comfortable than
life-jackets. and do not inhibit
manoeuvreability.
S. DO NOT STAND WHEN
CASTING A OR STARING
THE MOTOR.
If changing positions is
necessary. hold on, to tie
gunwales with both hands. •
6. STAY SOBER. "BOATING
AND ALCHOHOL IS A DEADLY
MIX".
Another word about alcohol.
Some people uphold that a good
stiff drink will warm the body.
Not so. Studies have proven that
alcohol will actually increase the
cooling rate from exposure by
20%. So remember. you may go
happier, but you'll go sooner.
It is essential for everyone -
hunters. boaters. fishermen,
snowmobilers. and even ice
skaters. to be "aware of the
dangers of cold. -So , Staydry. use
common, sense, understand
survival techniques, and have a
safe. enjoyable winter outdoors.
ITE !FRAME 'IL to
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with Automatic Temperature Sensor
Power Chart
Dual Power
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knees,„... the scientists have
developed two cold-water survival
positions: H.E.L.P. (Heat Escape
Lessening Posture) and the
HUDDLE.
If alone, . the H.E.L.P.
position is the hest method.
Simply. tuck the body into a fetal
position. keeping the head out of
the water. hold the arms tightly
to the sides with the hands over
the PFD grasping the knees. The
legs can be crossed to 'further
protect the groin.
When 2 to 4 people are
together. again wearing PFD's,
"HUDDLE -. Facing inwards.
grasp ' each other across the
shoulders,. crossing the legs.
Researchers have predicted that
these 2 positions will' increase
survival time by 50% to 75%,
With a floatation device. a
person could survive for 2 hours if
swimming and .2% hours
remaining inert. But using the
H.E.L.P. or Huddle position,
survival time can be increased to
4 hours, thus insuring the
chances of successful rescue.
A few simple preventative
driving. She doesn't dwell on the
problems of being a mail Courier,
but on the happy times. "I have
happy memories. I like to think of
the nice things," the 73 year old
grandmother. says.
She has lots of praise for the
patrons. on her route, mote of
them now, than *re were 20
Years ago. Some old empty farm
houses have been fixed up and
there have been some new houses
built.
A mail courier's job is easier
now than it used to be, Mrs Wick,
an enthusiastic, youthful person
says. The roads she travels are
much improved. They are
ploughed better and earli er and
there's more pavement and less
gravel to drive on. She now
finishes her stint every morning
before noon while in the early
days she'd go over the noon hour
and often people weren't out on
the road yet to help her if she had
problems.
There's a lot more mail now
delivered on Mrs Vock's route
than when she first started. eople
subscribe•to more magazines and
everybody gets some circulars.
But "human natOe has stayed
much the same"'*etteing Mrs.
Vock's 20 years as a courier and
her patrons have always been
co-operative, she says.
She's enjoyed working with
Bornholm post mistress Margaret
Morrison and Mrs."Vock-says her
neighbours in Bornholm have
been very helpful. Sometimes 'in
bad weather she'd ask a
neighbour to keep her company
on her route, at short notice, and
they always helped her out.
Mrs. Vock's two daughters,
Ruth. Mrs. Frank Eickmeyer and
Grace, Mrs. Ken Riehl have taken
over Mrs. Vock's six day a week
job during the few times she was
ill: But that hasn't been often.
"I'm very thanklful that I've been
granted .good health," their
mother says. Mrs. Vock also has a
son. Milton, who lives in
Mitchell.,
Mrs,. Vock learned to drive for
the first time ever just before she
started the mail route and at first
she drove the large truck that= ker._
husband had used.
Then she got a Volkswagon,
..,.,one of the first in this area, and
• her first day says she felt "just
li ke a kid with a new toy ." She
droe it by herself-TO-thee; her
son-in-law who had Offered to
accompany her on her route until
she got used to the new car. He
was going to come' to her place
"but I just said to myself, 'I'm
going to see if I can drive this car
myself' , Mrs. Vock says.
She remembers one day driving
her new car up to the old
Brodhagen store to deliv,er a bag
of mail. "Oh Minnie," an old
man said to her, "you took a lot
better in that little car than you
did in. that big truck". The little
car was an awful lot easier to
handle, Mrs. Vock says, and so is
her Toyota. an automatic, which
she's used for the past few years,
Mrs. York's contract was to
come uO'fOr renewal in June and
"I thought if I'm going to quit, I'
might as well quit before the
winter," she says. Mr. Morrison ,
retired from Ontario Hydro whose
wife is the post mistress, will take
over fOr her until contract time.
But winter got a jump on Mrs.
Vock this year. "1 kept saying
'November isn't over yet. We're
going to have some good
weather yet' ", 'she says. For the
first time in many years, Mrs.
Vock got caught without any salt
in h er car, when she was stuck on
the .ice earlier this fall. But a
patron helped her on her way,
If this winter continues the way
it's started, Mrs Vock agrees that
she's picked a good time to
retire. And she isn't at all worried'
about having nothing to do.
Her brother is visiting her right
now. She has a couple of crib
quilts on the go that she wants to
finish. And she'll have more time
to Visit friends, and she loves to
read.
there are no holidays for a mail
courier and Mr. Vock will enjoy
having her mornings free.
Besides her six mornings a week
on the mail route, for many years
she 's gotten up early on Sunday
mornings too. She's a Sunday
School teacher at St. peter's
Lutheran Church down the road
and she's going to continue
teaching her classes there.
Mrs. Vock didn't want any fuss
made about her retirement, but
she admits that she was surprised
'and honoured that sever al
patrons .marked her last day on
the route. The peo' pie on those
75 stops she made.every morning
at the mail boxes know taht she'll
be missed. . ,„
Correspondent
Vincent Lane
If you live at a distance.and are
planning to return to visit friends
or relatives here in the near
future, perhaps you would'be well
advised to check with someone
regarding the road and weather
conditions before hand. While
there is not that much snow, it
has been hard going both on
highways as well as country
reads. It's especially hard for
anyone not familiar with it.
Anyone who was reading my
last week's column will perhaps
say "Let's wait for that _green
Christmas." Boy! Did I ever stick
my neck out with that long range
forecast. I'm going to have a
"Merry Xmas" around here if I
am proven wrong' again.
Personals
Miss Nellie Doyle of London
visited with her brothers Ted and
Mike and other relatives over the
weekend.
Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Mailloux,
Toronto spent the weekend with
Mr. and Mrs. V.J. Lane. Bro.
Joseph McQuaid of St. John's
School, Uxbridge is presently
•
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THE LAST MAIL RUN — Retiring postal courier,
Minnie Vock of Bornholm had her lastday,on her 17
mile route a week ago-. She laughs that she should
haVe retired a day sooner because the gas line of her
car froze up in the middle of herlast day's run. Mrs.
Vock has been deliver ing the mail-, 'through winter
storms and summer heat waves for 20 years.
(Expositor Photo)
Take extra care
around water in
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New: Year'
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$1 40.00
INCLUDED IN COST
- 2 Nights accommodations at the
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- Gala New Years Eve Party with non
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- Tour of 'Music City, U.S.A.
- Country Music Hall of frame
Hotel & Motel Taxes
"JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING, RELAXING
HOLIDAY IN THE SUN THIS WINTER"
St. Coiumban
Check the reads
before you go
spending a few days with his
sister in OndericIa.
Mr..and Mrs. Zack Ryan were
in London Monday and visited her
mother Mrs. Eliz. Murray in
Marion Villa.
Dublin Pee Wee hockey team
continues their winning ways. On
Wed., December 2 in Milverton,
the home team had to come from
behind to tie the score at 4 all in
the dying minutes of the final
period.
Brendan Lane, John Hicknell,
Mike Van Drunerr and Mike
Kelly, collected a goal each for
Dublin, Sunday, Dec. 5 in
Seaforth, they took a 4-1 decision
from Brussels. John Hicknell
scored 2 goals with single goals
going to Mike Kelly, Louis Looby.
They play again in Zurich,
December 8.
P.S. - Don't forget the "Old
Timers" card party Thursday,
December 9, 2-4.
Every week more and more
people discover what mighty jobs
arc accomplished by low cost
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