Loading...
Times Advocate, 1999-09-08, Page 1212 Wednesday, September 8, 1999 `Age is stite �f mina' t� arPa seni Sy Katherine Harding TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER --- The United Nations has deemed 1999 the International Year of the Older Persons (IYOP). The purpose of the IYOP is to foster interna- ;,lonal awareness of the importance of seniors DOROTHEA KNIGHTS in our society and the need for intergenera- Like so many cher seniors in their communi- tional respect and support. The T -A would like to recognize and praise the significant contributions seniors continuously make by showcasing four women who are exemplary members of their communities. GRAND -BEND -- The world needs more people like Dorothea Knights. This spry Grand Bend resident has spent a great deal of her life pioneering and fostering the growth and development of senior centres and programs in Canada. Knights become a trailblazer almost by accident. Originally from St. Marys, in 1943 Knights settled in Windsor with her husband Cecil. In 1962 she came across an employment a Windsor newspaper looking to till an executive director position at a ne - - + struggling local senior citizens centre. Armed with a registered nurse certific . e and experience running a pri- vate hospital, Knights decided to pursue the ad and soon landed the position. "It was just a job to make money in the beginning, but I've always been a humanitarian. My nursing taught me that," said Knights with a grin. Soon the position developed into something Knights now admits she could never imagine teras possible at the time. Knights held the executive position from 1962-77 and luring her term she helped develop important pro- gramming for its clients. It was simple. We just encouraged seniors to get away from their home and involved in doing things themselves because they are very capable people," Knights said. When Knights made the decision to install a kitchen at the centre it was then when she found some seniors weren't eating properly. To meet the needs of providing a healthy diet to ieniors, Knights soon imported the Meals on Wheels program from the U.S. and brought it to Windsor. While the program was already in Carleton, Ont., Knights was instrumental in helping its growth in Canada. "When we first began the program the response was great," said Knights. "We always had more requests than we could serve." Besides her efforts at the seniors centre, she was involved with countless com- mittees and ,groups including helping organize the Older Adults Centres Association of Ontario and being a member of the provincial Advisory Council on Senior Citizens. "1 learned over the years that seniors weren't looking for help,, they were look- ing for help to learn how to help other people. They wanted to. be useful and independent," Knights said as shereflected on what she learned over the years. Knights hasn't rested on her laurels since she moved to Grand Bend once she retired. Besides belonging to the village's horticultural society and United Church the is the incoming president for the Grand Bend Golden- Agers Club. Knights swears by the motto: `Don't expect the next Joe to get the job done' and the advice that your standard of life all boils down to your attitude. "You can sit and sulk and feel sorry for yourself or you can get out there and live," she said. HENSALL -- Marg Cole doesn't like to sit still. Even while interviewing Cole in her Nelson St. home she had to get up several Imes to attend to some of her many endeavours. There isn't much this woman can't do. From quilting to cooking 1n organizing -- she's always willing to lend a helping hand. "I was brought up to help anyone I could," Cole explained. Cole attributes part of her "don't stop" attitude to keeping her knees in working .order, (she broke both of them in 1978) but mostly she ust i es to help wherever she's needed. "When that phone rings I just come," she said. "I like see things getting done and accomplished." Originally from Staffa, Cole moved to a farm on the 12th Line of Hibbert after she married her husband Alvin. After raising three children, the couple moved to -iensall in 1979. Her husband died 11 years ago. Since arriving in Hensall, Cole has made quite an mpression. "I've always been happy-go-lucky," she said. "I like naking people happy." She volunteers two to three times a week at the lueensway Nursing Home. "I can't even tell you how long I've been doing that," ;he said. She also volunteer drives for Town and Country. Cole's also an active member of the Hensall United :hurch. She helps out the church by serving on the Worship Committee, offering ler soprano singing voice to the church choir or assisting with events like vacs- ion bible school. Cole isn't planning on slowing down anytime soon. "I've got five quilts to do before then anyway," she said with a hearty chuckle. tight now she's working on a quilt for the church that will be sold at the nternational Plowing Match in Dashwood. "Anyway, I'm far happier busy," she said. ties, these, women tirelessly give so much agtf. so others have more. • These particular seniors are glowing examples of the saying: 'Age is a state of mind' and we hope you find them just as inspiring. VERA ARMSTRONG EXETER -- Since moving to Exeter in 1959, Vera Armstrong hasn't stopped making this a better place to live. Her list of volunteer commitments through the years is impressive. She has held many positions, including president, with both the Exeter Legion and South Huron Hospital Auxiliary. She is also the legion's secretary and the auxiliary's treasurer. She also volunteers with Meals on Wheels, has served on the Scout House Council and held positions with the Girl Guide organi- zation just to name a few. "I'm always ready to help a neighbour in need," she said with a warm grin. "I also like helping out because I enjoy my community and I like people." "You don' t gain anything by grumbling. Everything has a bright side if you look for it." She said her involvement in the community increased when she retired from working at Centralia College as a residence counsellor at 65. "I just had more time to help when I was retired," explained the mother of three. Hailing from Mervin, Sask., Armstrong says she inherited her "helping attitude" from her father. When Armstrong was in her 20s she served her country by joiningthe air force. During the Second World War she worked as a wireless operator in Vancouver and North Battleford, Sask. In 1951, she rejoined the air force and was trained: as a meteorology observer. It was during this stint in the air force that Armstrong was posted to R.C.A.F. Centralia where she worked in the weather office. She also was posted to Soellinger, Germany. After leaving the air force in 1954, Armstrong met her husband George while working in Stratford. The couple settled in Exeter after buying their house on Sanders Street in 1959. Armstrong lost her husband in 1993, but she continues to livein their home with: her son George. While she isn't a native of this community she has managed to leave, and will continue to leave, an indelible mark on Exeter's its' residents. JEAN HODGINS LICAN Jean Hodgins' fridge magnet describes her attitude in a nutshell: Vid age is for sissies'. She even has a t -shirt that reads: `Elderberries have more fun than younger- berries' to help cheer her on. Hodgins likes keeping busy and her four year involvement with the Lucan Area Heritage Committee has helped to marry two of her greatestinterests: local history and volunteering. - • Ever, since Hodgins was a little girl growing up in Usborne Twp.,near•Whalen Corners she's been a history buff. "I'm not interested in genealogy which is just names and dates. I like com- munity history," she explained. Hodgins has a closet full of scrapbooks she's put together which detail different areas of her commu- nity's history. From the history of Clandeboye to information on Lucan United Churchto her family's personal history -- Hodgins has been reverently weaving snippets of the past together. "I write down, everything that happens," she skid. Hodgins has also contributed her knowledge to th recently published "Pioneers to the Present" which chronicles Biddulph Twp.'s history. In 1996, she put together a large display titled "Lucan & Area Harness Horsemen -- Past and Present." The project is now on display at the Lucan Area Heritage Museum. Hodgins has also been known to help students in the area working on school history projects.. "I've had a lot of different people at my door ask- ing for information," she said... What's next for Hodgins? She'd: really like to complete a book about the history of Clandeboye.. Hodgins lived on a farm called Shadyside Farm near Clandeboye for 42 years. Hodgins and her husband Art raised three children there and she has. fond memories of the hamlet. While her husband died in 1984, their farm -- which celebrated its' 150th year in 1990 -- is now operated by the couple's son. "'Five generations of Hodgins have farmed on that farm," said Hodgins proudly. Since moving to Lucan with her daughter Pat, Hodgins hasn't slowed down. Besides volunteering with the Meals on Wheels program and Canadian Cancer Society, she also helps with events the Lucan United Church puts on. "It's much better to give then to receive," she said simply. In 1996, Lucan recognized her unwavering commitment to the community by awarding her the honour as the village's Senior of the Year.