The Times Advocate, 2004-04-14, Page 5Wednesday,April 14 2004
Exeter Times—Advocate
5
Opinion Forum News
ROSS
HAUGH
BACK IN TIME
I OYEARS AGO
April 13, 1994 - The new
Zurich Ambulance Service
opened its doors Monday morn-
ing to show people what they are
all about. The service is owned
and operated by Brad Lucas who
also owns the ambulance ser-
vices in Clinton and Seaforth.
The Centralia Faith Tabernacle
congregation officially turned the
sod on their new church building
Sunday afternoon.
The Stephen township bantams have won the
OMHA "E" championship defeating Otonabee in
straight games. Most of the same players won the
pee wee title two years ago. Bob Parsons is the
coach and captain is Jason Glavin.
20YEARS AGO
April 11, 1984 - South Huron District High School
has again won the Huron -Perth gymnastics cham-
pionship. Overall division winners were Ronalynn
Bell, Lee O'Rourke, Catherine Patterson and Starr
Jesney.
The Exeter firemen recently received more than
$800 to purchase wheel chairs. The money came
from a disbanded area gun club. Original club
members making the presentation were Russ
Brintnell, Henry Green, Doug Triebner and Irwin
Ford.
The winners of a gourmet dinner in a draw spon-
sored by the Kirkton fair board were Gerald and
Norma Paul. Chefs were Mike O'Shea and Jim
Hodgins.
25 YEARS AGO
April 11, 1979 - One of Dashwood's most famous
landmarks was completely destroyed by fire late
Thursday night. Zion Lutheran Church and its dis-
tinguishing steeple was apparently hit by lightning
sometiime before the fire was spotted at 11.50 p.m.
The church was built in 1907 at a cost of $11,383.
35YEARS AGO
April 13, 1969 - The Crediton Tigers have won
the WOAA intermediate hockey grand champi-
onship for the second consecutive year.
40YEARS AGO
April 15, 1964 - Harold Berry, son of Allen Berry
of Woodham, a graduate of SHDHS was admitted to
the bar by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
45 YEARS AGO
April 14, 1959 - Canadian Canners of Hamilton
has announced it would re -open the Exeter plant.
Corn and peas will be packed this year.
Cable tool rig on the Jul -Du -Mar well near
Crediton is being dismantled in preparation for its
replacement by a diamond drill this spring.
55YEARS AGO
April 13, 1949 - Harvey Sparling, teacher at
Winchelsea school and students motored to
Toronto in a Guenther bus and visited Maple Leaf
Gardens, Casa Loma, Parliament buildings and
Union Station.
The Huronia Male Choir presented its annual
spring concert to an audience of 600 persons.
60YEARS AGO
April 15, 1944 - A feature of the opening of the
Sixth Victory Loan campaign was the zooming of a
Mosquito bomber over Exeter Monday morning.
Citizens rushed from homes and stores to get a
glimpse of the plane.
The Exeter lawn bowling club now has a new
power roller for rolling their greens. The roller
which is a fine piece of work was built by Thomas
Coates of the Sunoco Garage.
80YEARS AGO
April 13, 1924 - Mr. Earl Guenther has pur-
chased a new Ford truck.
Mrs. Ronald Witmer we believe has caught the
first pike of the season. It was over two feet long.
Mr. William Gardiner who is in the furniture and
undertaking business with his father Mr. M.E.
Gardiner has been successful in obtaining his
undertaker's licence.
Mr. Andrew Boa of Hensall is to be congratulated
on winning the Webster prize in Old Testament his-
tory of the Wesleyan Theological College.
85YEARS AGO
April 12, 1919 - The automobile speed limit has
been increased by the Ontaro Legislature from 15
miles per hour in towns and cities to 20 miles per
hour and from 20 to 25 miles per hour in the coun-
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
ADULT ACTIVITIES CO-ORDINATOR
Upcoming Events:
Lunch AtThe Legion:
Come and enjoy a soup, sandwich, cake, and bever-
age at the Legion on Wednesday, April 14, 2004.
Hours are from 11:30-1:00 p.m.
Solo AtThe Legion:
Solo players are invited to the Legion Saturday,
April 17, 2004. Time for fun is 1:00
p.m. and lunch will be provided.
2nd Annual Trade Fair &
Information Expo:
Mark your calendar for Wednesday
June 2, 2004. In the coming weeks
more details and information about
activities and events will be
announced. Many new vendors com-
ing, good food, and entertainment to
highlight your day!
Bingo At Lucan:
In Exeter or Huron Park you are
picked up by bus every Wednesday
evening. Bingo is held in the Lucan Arena and starts
at 7:00 p.m. Good prizes and a good time for every-
one. Call Murphy's Bus Lines at (519) 235-0450 for
transportation details.
Books For Sale:
Exeter Library will be holding its annual book sale
from April 13 to April 17th during regular library
hours. Something for everyone! The library will be
closed Easter Monday.
Senior Games:
Definition of a senior is he/she must be 55 by
December 32, 2004. Contact June Hodgson at (519)
235-2194 for details and times for the following
games:
Solo, Crokinole, Darts, Shuffleboard, Bid Euchre,
5/10 Pin Bowling, Contract Bridge, Duplicate Bridge,
Pepper, Carpet Bowling, Snooker, Horse Shoes,
Cribbage, Swimming, Lawn Bowling, Walking,
Tennis, Golf, Bocci, and Triathlon.
Grand Bend Activities:
April 14th "Boating Operators License" Three
classes offered, April 19th 5:00-7:OOp.m. and April
24 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Cost $60.00 ages 12 and up.
Call 238-1155.
April 20th " Port Franks Euchreama" Port Franks
Community Centre 10:00 a.m. sharp, A good time,
prizes and lunch provided, Everyone welcome! Call
243-2297 for info.
Spring Work:
Need help with odd jobs at your home! Painting,
small outside jobs etc. please contact Bill Heather at
(519) 235-4219
April 6 Seniors Meeting at the Legion:
Exeter Senior Citizens held their April 6th meeting
at the Legion with 50 members and guests enjoying a
bountiful pot luck supper at 6 p.m. President Shirley
Kirk welcomed all and opened the meeting reading
"Everything I Need To Know I learned From the
Easter Bunny". One moment of silence was observed
in memory of past members. "Happy Birthday" was
sung to Irvine Armstrong, Mary Horn, Orville
Webber, Helen Webber, Lorraine Alexander, Mary
Fisher, Mildred Chalmers, Chris Philips and Audrey
McDonald. Correspondence was read and members
agreed to provide entertainment and lunch for the
Huronview Birthday Party May 19th. We were
reminded of the Spring Rally in Hensall on April 22.
June Hodgson reported on the upcoming senior
games and reminded us of the upcoming Euchreama
at the Legion April 30th. Jim Bearss reported on
Senior Activities and we are reminded of the Trade
Fair in June. Jim also entertained us with some
humorous stories. Special guests of the evening
were members of The Rebekah Lodge who enter-
tained us with 2 skits. "Are My Test Results Back
Yet?" and "The 7 Old Maids That Got Locked In The
Lavatory". Ruby Beaver reminisced on the past 50
years since the inauguration of The Exeter Senior
Citizens in February 1954. Bev Campbell and Ruby
Beaver cut the 50th birthday cake and all present
enjoyed a piece of the delicious desert.
Door prize winners were: Lil McLellan, Peter
Sutherland and Vera Armstrong
Share The Wealth winners were: Ervin Sillery,
Mary Webber, Joyce Morgan, Aldene Skinner, Gerald
Dearing, Berdene Morgan and Lois Armstrong. We
were pleased with the musical entertainment sup-
plied by Harvey Smith, Devon Martene, Donald
Finkbeiner and Harold Mills. A very enjoyable 50th
Birthday party meeting closed with the Seniors
Prayer
Jim Bearss
Lest We Forget:
Harold Alexander Elliott
Harold Elliott was born December 3rd 1918 in Oil
Springs Ontario. He came to Exeter with his parents
in 1928. He was educated at the Exeter Public and
High School. Harold was a member of the Exeter
Brass Band and before enlisting in the Royal
Canadian Air Force in mid summer of 1940 he
helped his father who was an owner of the Ford
Franchise in Exeter.
Warrant Officer Harold Alexander Elliott was the
son of Alexander 0 (Sandy) and Verna Elliott of
Exeter Ontario. He was survived by his parents, one
brother Howard, an Army Corporal three sisters
Hazel, a Registered Nurse, Marion and Jean at home.
After Harold enlisted with the R.C.A.F. he was sent
to Manning Pool, Brandon Manitoba. Later he
trained at Calgary, then at that point he was posted
to Prince Albert. July 1941. He received his wings at
S.F.T.S. No. 4 Saskatoon. After spending time at
home he was sent overseas.
After further training in England as a pilot Harold
left on December 3rd 1941 for the Eastern Front. He
was at Singapore for Christmas when it fell to the
Japanese. He caught the last boat out before the city
was capitulated. He seemed to keep one step ahead
of the Japanese as he was at Palenbang Sumatra
when the city fell to Java. While at Java he had a
thrilling experience that nearly cost him his life.
Harold's plane went down in the jungle and he had
to fight his way out. Suffering from thirst and
hunger, he managed to escape by boat to Ceylon.
From Ceylon he went to India, arriving at Karachi in
April 1942. Following that he spent six weeks recu-
perating in the Himalaya Mountains region.
On the day that he was reported missing, he sent a
cablegram to his mother wishing her Happy
Birthday. One of the last letters he wrote, he
acknowledged receiving a parcel from the War Time
Board, stating everything was in good shape and to
express his thanks. Excerpts from his interesting let-
ters appeared in the Exeter Times Advocate.
Mr. and Mrs. A.O. Elliott first received word that
their son Harold was missing on Monday, November
6th 1942 when they received a telegram from
Ottawa, stating that Harold was reported missing as
a result of Air Operations on 10th of November 1942.
According to information received from the
R.C.A.F. Casualty Officer overseas, stating Harold
was a member of the crew of an aircraft which failed
to return to base, after being shot down by enemy
fighters near Akyab Burma on November 10 1942.
The aircraft is believed to have fallen into the sea.
Harold is believed to have lost his life, having spent
2 years in the service. Warrant Officer Piot Harold
Elliott was killed in action on November 10th 1942 at
the age of 24 years with # 34 Squadron. Flying a
Blenheim aircraft he was shot down eight miles
north west of Akyab. Two of the crew, not Canadians
were missing and presumed dead.
Harold Elliott has no known grave, but his name is
inscribed on the Singapore War Memorial Malaya.
"Next week Isaac Laverne Harness"
Mashed and Baked by a Diet Craze:
Recently at a restaurant in Toronto a local newspa-
per correspondent ordered a steak and tried to get a
baked potato to go with it. The waitress apologized
that there were no baked potatoes. Mashed? Yes,
they had no mashed potatoes either. Would I settle
for some french fries?
It's not hard to figure out this one. This is another
restaurant in a trendy part of Hogtown trying to live
with the Atkins diet, the trendy low-carb diet hat has
pushed potatoes and bread and everything else
starchy off the plate. When you are in the business of
trendy, you go along with the flow anyway. So the
restaurant staff probably figured this was a good
way, in the short term, to get one of the more labour -
intense items off the plate. No need to bake potatoes
in advance, or mash them up. Have frozen fries at
the ready if someone insists, but otherwise, let's just
talk people out of it.
The Atkins diet is the latest craze sweeping con-
sumer markets and disrupting eating patterns. It is
one of the main reasons for a surplus of potatoes in
North America, and the driving force behind record
meat sales. People who ought to know better are
binging on the things they most crave, in the name of
losing weight. It is brilliant marketing.
What is also is plain stupid. The consuming public
seems to not have a stitch of common sense when it
comes to healthy eating. Despite nutritionists consis-
tently explaining that healthy balanced eating and
good exercise are the keys to health and appropriate
weight, we seemed destined to endure after waves of
fads.
Starch used to be bad for you, and then it became
carbohydrates. Suddenly it (or they) were good. Now
See PERSPECTIVE page 6