The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-05-29, Page 3GODERICHSIGNAL-STAR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1985 -PAGE 3,
PEOPLE
with Lifestyle Award
" Goderich woman who established a sup -
poor ive and titre care service for the . .
terminally ill Hospital received
deserved, recognition for her dedication as a
volunteer worker on 111Iay 15 in Ottawa.
A Lifestyle Award and Certificate of
Honor was presented to Connie Osborn by
Health and Welfare Minister Jake Epp. She
and 26 other Canadians were rewarded for
making remarkable and continuing con-
tributions in promoting health and social
services in their communities on a volun-
tary basis.
The banquet held in honor of these
volunteers was an emotional event for
Osborn. She was honored to have been
nominated for the award by Goderich
Legion and thrilled to gather with Cana-
dians like her who are involved in various
volunteer organizations across the country.
Osborn is enthusiastic with all the
volunteer work that goes on and she con-
siders the Royal Canadian Legion "an ex-
ample of volunteerism at its best."
Osborn's concern for the needs of this
community and efforts to meet those needs
made her a deserving candidate for the
award. She expressed her excitement at
having been recognized nationally. "You
take one day at a time and suddenly it adds
up," she said.
Osborn's, dedication to volunteerism has
grown over the years. She first became a
volunteer on the board of directors for the
Huron County Children's Aid Society and
over the past 15 years has been involved in
various organizations, in various capacities,
focusing particularly on promoting
volunteerism in the Goderich community.
Osborn was recommended for the
prestigious Lifestyle Award by Goderich
Legion member Carolyn Holborn who for-
warded the nomination to the Department of
National Health and Welfare. Goderich
Legion commended Osborn's voluntary ef-
forts on behalf of the community with
special reference to her latest project.'
Three years ago she organized and coor-
dinated a palliative care service at Alexan-
dra Marine and General Hospital in
CONNIE OSBORN of Goderich was in Ottawa recently to receive the Lifestyle Award from
Health and Welfare Minister Jake Epp. The Lifestyle Award is given each year to in-
dividuals who have made, on a voluntary basis, a remarkable contribution in promoting
health and social services in their communiUieS.
Goderich. The volunteer program she set
up is part of a team effort to provide care for
the terminally ill ,and the long term disabl-
eidTogether with hospital staff, Osborn and
other palliative care volunteers work to
meet the needs of patients by combining the
skills of medical, nursing, volunteers, and
other disciplines as the need arises.
Osborn herself trains volunteers for the
palliative care unit through an eight-week
training program. She said the volunteers
aim to "enhance the quality of life for pa-
tients and bring the outside world to them."
The volunteer supplements the existing
quality of care that the patient is receiving
from health care professionals and Osborn
is pleased with the cooperation between
hospital staff and palliative care volunteers.
The palliative care unit works to ease the
situation for patients and families through
difficult times by providing the most relax-
ing and homelike environment possible.
The service extends to include a bereave -
Couple gets citation for bravery
GODERICH TWP. - Many people may
believe they would have second thoughts
about rescuing a man from a burning truck
but Bill Townshend of Goderich Township
didn't take time for those thoughts.
"I didn't have time to think about it. It was
after that I thought about it," he said after
he and his wife Bessie received a citation
commending them for their selfless
bravery.
The couple was travelling to Exeter on
Highway 4 on the afternoon of October 4
when they noticed a flash of dust drifting
aci oss the road.
"It was just far enough back that we
couldn't tell what happened," said Mrs.
Townshend.
Darryl Johnston, London, had just lost
control of his vehicle for an undetermined
reason, crossed the highway and smashed
into a tree.
The ntan was unconscious with a huge
gash down the middle of his forehead. The
old truck he was driving, loaded with
welding equipment, was on fire. Only the
engine had caught and Bill' had enough time
to drag out the unconscious young man out
and grab his wallet.
At the same time Bessie had run to the
nearest house and told the residents there
was a truck on fire. Russ Faber grabbed a
fire extinguisher, pushed past the Goderich
Township woman andeput the fire out. His.
wife phoned police and an ambulance.
Mr. Johnston was coming to, passing out
again and mumbling incoherently, "that
was the shock," said Bessie. They wonder
how he recovered after his accident but the
two parties -haven't been in contact since
that fall day.
Bill later talked to a police officer and
asked about the possibility of the truck
exploding. He thought about exaggerated
television car crashes and wondered if
Darryl Johnston's truck could have blown
up. The officer said some cars do go up.
The Townshend's guessed the truck didn't
explode because the older style truck has its
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1Mr. and Mrs. William Townshend of Goderich Township received an OPP Commissioner's
citation recently in recognition of life-saving efforts after an auto accident. On October 4,
1984, the car of Darryl Johnston left Highway 4, struck a tree and caught fire. William
Townshend pulled the victim from the car without regard for his own safety and his wife
went to a nearby home for help.
gas tank up high and the constant dripping
of gas kept the fire from travelling up the
• gas line to the tank.
Six months after the accident the couple
were rewarded for their part with a citation
received from the police commissioner at a
dinner honoring several civilians for
bravery and police officers for various
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reasons.
The Townshend trait for se'.fless bravery
seems to run in the family. Although he
' didn't receive the same recognition, Bill and
Bessie's grandson also pulled a woman from
a burning car.
"I hope it's a once in a lifetime thing,"
said Bessie.
nant program for the family up to a year
after the death o` a family member or
longer if the need exists.
Over the past three years Osborn believes
the the success of the program as expressed
by participants is a case for its continuing
existence. Osborn's . own full-time comrnit-
ment to piloting the project convinces her
that in order for the program to remain and
gain recognition as an integral part of
hospital care, the hospital should make the
job of coordinator a paid position.
At present the palliative carte service is on
hold. The problem Ls money.
Originally Osborn made a one-year com-
mitment to the program and continued for
three yars4okeep it going. Osborn resign-
ed her volunteer position of coordinator as
of Mar' h 31. 'If a volunteer coordinator is
not found she hopes her proposal to hospital
administrators to pay a palliative care coot=
dinator will be approved when the budget
comes through. In the meanwhile she and
the 15 other volunteers have continued to
visit the hospital informally because. of their
commitment to the patients. Osborn said,
"I will feel badly if the service is discon-
tinued because a lot of work has gone into
that program."
Osborn said support from her family and
friends has let her participate in volunteer
organizations over the years and she is
thankful that she is able to make contribu-
tions toward the .. betterment of the com-
munity.
In his speech to Lifestyle Award reci-
pients Epp commented on the ac-
complishments of each individual. Referr-
ing to Osborn's volunteer service to the ter-
minally ill in Goderich Epp said, "The im-
pact of her work is beyond measure because
of her compassion and her commitment to a
high ideal. She has helped so many who
would otherwise be dark and lonely during
certain times in their lives."
Osborn hopes Canadians will become
aware of this honor available to outstanding
citizens so that more volunteers will be
recognized for their contributions to com-
munity and society. II
CIVIC CORNER
The Utility Co-ordinating Committee will
meet on Thurs., May 30 at 11:00 a.m. in the
council chambers.
The Landfill Site Committee will meet at
Goderich Township Hall in Holmesville on
Thurs„ May 30 at 7:30 p.m.
A Recreation Board meeting will take
place Thurs., May 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ron
Feagan Memorial Grandstand.
. Goderich Town Council will meet on Mon.,
June 3 at 7:30 p.m. m the council chambers.
Huron County Council will meet Thurs.,
June 6 at 10:00 a.m. in the council
chambers.
KINCARDINE LIONESS
2nd Annual
Lobster est1
Saturday, June 1
Enjoy
2 Half Pound Lobsters
with Vegetables, Salads. New Baked
Potatoes, Dinner Rolls
From 4-8PM
Dance
to the Live Music of
M'PULSE
From 7 PM - 1 AM
at the
Kincardine Community Centre
Tickets Now Available
$13.
Call 396-7180 or 396-7412
'rickets• available: Highway Variety, Audio Shop,
Kelly's General Store, Tiverton Pro Hardware,
Kiddie Junction. Port Elgin: Brown's Guardian
Drugs. Walkerton: Ron Ower's Office Outfitters.
Hanover: Thomas Cook Travel. Goderich: Tourist
Booth, Highway 9 & 21.
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