The Times Advocate, 2008-11-26, Page 88
Times -Advocate
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Beijing, the Olympics, and the art of winning and losing
By Ben Forrest
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
There is an art to winning and an art to
losing. Perhaps venerated Canadian kay-
aker Adam van Koeverden demonstrated
the importance of the latter at the Beijing
Olympics.
This is how Wilma Lagerwerf, a Brins-
ley resident and friend of Adam s father
Joe, sees it.
Lagerwerf was in the stands near Bei-
jing as van Koeverden finished eighth in
the 1,000-m K1 kayak a race in which
he was a medal favourite then re-
deemed himself with a world record in
his 500-m heat and a silver medal in the
same event.
Everybody looks at someone like
Adam as a real icon, and he was, said
Lagerwerf from her home recently.
In her mind, however, this is not only
because of his kayaking.
He was poised and he was supportive,
very supportive of his teammates, she
said. (He) loves what he does and does
it for his country.
He does it for all the right reasons, and
he got a chance to really show what he
was made of when he lost in the 1,000-m.
He was just amazing in how he handled
that disappointment.
He certainly learned how to lose grace-
fully and without excuses, at a time when
the whole world was watching and ex-
pecting him to win. That was something
that everybody was so proud of him
for.
Lagerwerf s trip to China lasted nine
days, and was amazing, she says.
It included a trip to the Great Wall, Ti-
ananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven,
and trips to stadiums like The Bird s Nest
(for track and field) and the Water Cube
(for diving).
It included shopping at a silk market,
traversing underground malls, and bar-
gaining for all purchases, she said.
It also involved glimpses of another
China one that was sometimes, but not
always, hidden from view.
The pictures in Lagerwerf s collection
from the trip include run-down buildings
hidden by brick walls or large posters.
China was a place of contrasts, she
learned, and the ultra -modern image the
country sought to project was not the
whole story.
China's beautiful, Lagerwerf said.
It's very modern in parts of Beijing while
in other areas it was incredibly poor but
beautiful. You knew you were experienc-
ing something centuries old.
There were also reports of entire sub-
divisions being moved out of the way
during the Games, and the presence of
military and police was constant.
We were disturbed a little by things we
heard, Lagerwerf said. You certainly
wouldn't want to have an active con-
versation about what you were thinking
about in those terms, because there was
always presence whether they were
obvious like the army and police or not
so obvious.
Still, the Games were beautifully ex-
ecuted.
On the other side, we realized that
everything was executed perfectly and
that how much they had put into it was
phenomenal, she said. How they orga-
nized it, how it was pulled off, that kind
of thing was like clockwork. Nobody
could fault any of that.
The Chinese people, too, were welcom-
ing, though perhaps unaccustomed to
having so many foreigners so close by.
When we got into the subway for the
first time, we had a little one reach out
and touch my hair, said Lagerwerf, who
is blonde. We decided that blonde hair
is a novelty in China, and it turned out
it was.
But they were so friendly, she said.
They came up with cameras to have
their pictures taken together with us,
even though they often could not speak
English
All told, the trip had many highlights:
seeing athletes compete, experiencing the
Olympics as both a spectator and a friend,
and seeing van Koeverden and teammate
Thomas Hall win medals.
The general energy and excitement of
the Games also stand out.
Another highlight also was just to be
Great Wall Wilma Lagerwerf of Brinsley is shown above at the GreatWall
of China during a trip to the 2008 Olympic Games. Lagerwerf is a friend of Joe
van Koeverden (below left), father of venerated kayaker Adam (below right).
(Photos/submitted)
in China and to see China and to see how
it's quite a country of contrasts, Lager-
werf said.
(There was) amazing culture, but also
huge capitalism. You could see a lot of
that. The majority of the population
seemed poor and tightly controlled by
their government.
You certainly came away with an ap-
preciation of the democracy we live in,
and our freedoms here in Canada.
But overall, a fabulous trip.
Probus group learns about Community Living South Huron
By Yvonne Reynolds
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
DASHWOOD If the definition of
jewel is something to be treasured and
valued, then Community Living South
Huron fits that criteria.
Members of the Exeter and Area Probus
Club were treated recently to an eye-open-
ing tour of the Dashwood headquarters by
executive director Bruce Shaw and his as-
sistant Trevor McGregor. It s a busy, happy
place.
Three buses transport between 50 and 55
clients to the Resource Centre daily from
South Huron, North Lambton and North
Middlesex to work, play, participate in
sports, socialize and develop indepen-
dence -enhancing skills.
The large woodworking shop is impres-
sive. Clients begin by stacking lumber, then
Carpet bowling
Nov 17 - Mary DeBoer, 3w-36;
Gloria McFalls, 3w-33; Don Over-
holt 3w-31; Peter McFalls, 2w-30;
Helen Patterson, 3w-28; John Bat-
ten, 2w-25; Marg Deichert,2w-25;
Marion Maguire, 2w-24;Leona
Elliott, 2w-23; Marshall Dearing,
gradually move on to the machines. Soon
they are skillfully operating power saws
and nail guns to put together crates that
are shipped world-wide. A steady custom-
er is Dunline, who moved to South Caro-
lina but still wants the Dashwood product.
Dashwood Wood Products safety record
is better than 90 per cent of construction
sites. There has never been a serious acci-
dent.
In other areas of the centre, clients stuff
envelopes, prepare mass mail -outs, sort
stickers and labels and make beehive trays
for Ferguson Apiaries.
Community Living South Huron has
experienced phenomenal growth since its
founding in September 1968. A staff of 85
now serves 115 clients.
The agency owns seven homes and man-
ages six. The four group homes in Exeter
and two in Seaforth are staffed 24 hours a
2w-22; Rick Elliott, 2w-20; Bob
Patterson, 2w-13
Nov 21 - Marshall Dearing,
2w-38; Doris Cantelon, 3w-37;
Wilmer Adkins, 2w-34; Lucy
Sage, 2w-27; Audrey MacGregor,
2w-20; Cathy Bell, 2w-22; Marion
Dearing, 2w-19
Pool scores
Mens - John Hayter 514, Bob
Jones 450, Ken Kadey 431, Chris
Macdonald 426, Craig Hebert 414,
Lee Seymour 412, Gary Deichert
409, John Burdon 402, Tyler Scott
365, Bill Crump 361, Yvon Lauren
357, Ben Hoogenboom 319, Phil
Turner 316, Howard Jones 280,
day. (Shaw has had more than one call to a
group home in the wee hours of the night,
but accepts that as part of his responsibili-
ties.)
The provincial government was so im-
pressed with the frugality and efficiency of
the Community Living South Huron oper-
ation, when a 10 -year mortgage obtained
in 2003 for a $450,000 addition to the Dash-
wood Resource Centre was paid off in 26
months, that the agency was asked to build
and take ownership of a similar facility in
Lucknow, managed by Wingham and Dis-
trict Community Living.
Fifty clients are accommodated at day
programs. Support workers assist 35 cli-
ents living in apartments with finances,
budgeting, and grocery shopping.
Our philosophy is to encourage inde-
pendence. We only help with what a client
can t do, Shaw said.
Derek Tiller 257, Matt Muller 221,
Jim Hayter 217, Jerry Elmquist
205, Tom Triebner 196, Jason Tow-
er 149 Ladies - Vicki Scott 482, Au-
drey Haugh 464, Shannon Green
329, Helen Kadey 237, Helen
Vincent 142 Juniors - Jordan Hill
449, Zach Kadey 437, Adam Foran
Costain 431, Adam wmdsor 172,
Jeffery McNutt 154
Shuffleboard
The Ministry of Community and Social
Services funds 95 per cent of Community
Living South Huron s budget. The $800,000
revenue generated at the Resource Centre
is offset by a $3,000,000 payroll.
The Flowers of Hope Campaign pays for
unfunded needs such as dentures, walkers,
assistive devices, hoists and other items not
covered by the ministry. All money raised
is spent on clients.
The people of South Huron have been
generous in donations of time and money,
Shaw remarked.
Our tour ended in the cafeteria with la-
sagna, Caesar salad and cake prepared by
the clients. Contemplating the importance
of Community Living South Huron to cli-
ents, their families, the employees and the
community at large provided a veritable
smorgasbord of food for thought.
Nov 12 - Three wins: Don Overholt 331,
Jeanene Hayter 255, Constance Kernick 244,
Jerry Mathers 244, Irene Dyck 242, Clare
Hayter 215, Bernice Boogemans 181, Two
wins: Pat Wheeler 212, Bob Boogemans 199,
Wilmer Adkins 192, Mary Horn 137, Geral-
dine Smith 111
Nov. 13 - Four wins: Jean Crerar 500,
Three wins: Marge McCurdy 452, Clare
Hayter 349, Don Overholt 343, Leona Hay-
ter 310, Jeanene Hayter 299, Bob Boogemans
373, Two wins: Wilmer Adkins 294, Phyllis
Mathers 264, Marg Prout 252, Jerry Mathers
237, Mary Brintnell 195