In this very special edition of Prime Time, our first ever summer issue, we have gathered the stories and photos of those celebrating 25 years of membership with RTOERO. Over the years we have celebrated with luncheons and an audio-visual tribute. Sadly, because of Covid 19 restrictions, we have not been able to do this for the last two years. Instead we feature and honour our 2020 and 2021 25-year members in these pages.

Summer 2021 Issue 65

Prime TimeCelebrating our 25 year Members

RTOERO 25 Year Emblem

Prime Time

2

Keith Ashley When Fred phoned and told me about the award and asked if could write a brief synopsis of my twenty-five years since retirement, I felt honoured to do so. Then he added, "Make it about 250 words.” In my mind I rapidly calculated, that allows me 10 words per year. This is going to be a tough assignment. I smiled on my last day of school in 1995 and left knowing that the future would be full of adventures. The bucket list has been waiting for Kay and myself to put a large dent in it. Travelling became part of the list and we have managed to see many parts of the world. I looked up new found relatives in England, explored the Emerald Isle, chased Nessy in Loch Lomand, visited the battlefields of the first world war, hung out in Paris and crossed the channel from England to France several times. On this side of the ocean we walked the glaciers in Banff, explored Old Dan Tucket's grave scene in Georgia, visited the slave auction site in Washington and South Carolina. PEI and Nova Scotia are favourites. Generally we enjoyed the off-beaten track wherever we journeyed. One of our favourite trips every autumn was the back roads of southern Ontario, bundled up for the weather and the top down in our British Racing Green Spitfire. I have headed up the Outreach Team at Trinity Anglican Church for many years since retirement and lead five medical missions into

the hills of Guatemala and Nicaragua - a most rewarding experience of a life time and highly recommended for everyone. I co-chaired, with my best man Jeff Greenfield, the Annual Norfolk General Hospital Golf Tournament and in the seven years as chairs we raised over 1.5 million dollars. In my spare time I have organized many golf trips to Ireland, Scotland, Prince Edward Island, Pinehurst North Carolina, Hilton Head South Carolina and Bloomsburg. My involvement with the Simcoe Lions as Community Services and Youth Chair has allowed our committee to help many people in need and youth organizations in this community.

Our 2020 25-Year Members

BRITISH RACING GREEN SPITFIRE

Summer 2021

  3

I have checked off many things on the bucket list but not all. I want to return to Ireland and England to track down some relatives I have found in my genealogy research. I connected and visited with two cousins in Portsmouth, England a few years back and want to find more. I want to visit Daniel Brown's home in Armagh, Northern Ireland, who apparently is a distant relative and Mary Barrett Winter's (my petite grandmother) home in the Cork area of Ireland. I bought a clarinet, have taken piano lessons and now having fun with my guitar. Not good but who cares. I enjoy writing my column every other week in the Simcoe Reformer and will continue that as long as it is still fun to do. I also try to be creative every once in a while.

Always There I am like no other, My clothing is stripped from me To bare me to the raging storms. My life's blood is drained And I am left alone. My woodland friends are dry and warm And they care not but only for themselves. Each year I grow and shelter them But for what. I ask. The treatment I receive is not just. My future is assured, And I will last beyond them all. But through my plight, I wish That one would step forth and say Thank-you friend for sheltering me.

It has been an adventure these past 25 years and there is so much more to do. By the time you read this I will have poked another hole in the bucket as my friend Iain and I are visiting the Highlands of Scotland in April.

Prime Time

4

Adrienna Elliott Like many other new retirees, I spent time doing the things my husband and I liked to do together. He wanted to travel even though I am really more of a “stay at home and sleep in my own bed” type of person. Some highlights include: Canadian trips to Prince Edward Island, Surrey, British Columbia, riding the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Calgary. Trips in the USA to Mackinaw Island, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, Washington State, lakeland, Naples and Kissimmee in Florida, Savannah Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi (Orange Beach, Biloxi and Mobile) and New Orleans, Louisiana. Trips to Europe including Scotland and the Isle of Skye, Belgium and Holland. These travel adventures were spread over the course of about twenty years so the majority of my time was spent at home, well within the confines of my comfort level. I enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbours, tending my flowerbeds and country property, planting and harvesting my garden, reading Amish books and countless unpaid hours of dog-sitting. I thrive on routine and the comforts of home, where family and community are important parts of my day.

Unfortunately, with age comes the “not so golden years.” Mine have included some unwelcome health scares such as a serious car accident in 2008, ongoing battles with osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and a misdiagnosis of cancer. That same awful disease changed everything for me when it took away my best friend, partner and husband of 55 years, but I am thankful I could keep him at home and care for him myself until the end.

Summer 2021

  5

Margaret Gill    When I retired I had very little idea of what I'd do. When asked, I’d reply, “If something interesting comes along, I’ll try it.”  Who knew where that would lead?  

Late in August of the year I retired, I phoned the library in Waterford to see if they would like my picture collection,

which filled two drawers in a filing cabinet. This call led to volunteering weekly mostly with the children’s program. The words, “I’d like to volunteer,” have led to helping with the Norfolk County Fair on judging day, making muffins for school nutrition programs, serving at church suppers and funerals etc.  Currently, a group of us, led by Bob Stevenson, are working on organizing and recording the Waterford United Church Archives.  The first winter I retired, and many more since, I spent in Florida in a campground. Here I learned new skills in an enjoyable and fun atmosphere. These included shuffleboard, card-making and calligraphy. I even did some quilting. I now make all my own Christmas cards from fabric with a form of calligraphy on the message page. 

Travel has always been part of my life since my first trip at nine or ten to Manitoulin Island. After retiring a group of us took a tour to Amish country and Lancaster Pennsylvania. What fun! The group next went to Newfoundland and Labrador. Wonderful! I would easily go back. Other trips included British Columbia, Branson, Nashville and Dollywood in the pouring rain and heat.  This last March, with passport and visa in hand, I flew with a trusted tour group to Fiji, Australia and we had hope to cruise around New Zealand. Fiji was a lush paradise. Australia was a delight I’ll not soon forget. Due to Coronavirus, the cruise was cancelled. In travel you meet new and interesting people, learn about, and experience our wonderful planet. 

Prime Time

6

Patricia Harvey I can’t believe it has been 25 years since I retired! Christmas of 1994 feels like it was yesterday. The relief of retiring before the snowy, winter drives began was something that I still remember from that time. The years have passed so quickly. Having more time to spend with family and friends has been the biggest blessing of my retirement. Time with my husband, son and daughter and their families and with my four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren has been a joy. Enjoying activities with my three sisters and their families has also kept me active. As my daughter is retiring from her teaching career this June of 2020, I am looking forward to being able to spend even more time with her. As they say, “Now that I am retired, I don’t know how I had time to work,” keeping busy with activities such as camping, volunteering at the Salvation Army, going to swimming and exercise classes, enjoying country music jams, leisurely lunches, coffee dates and travelling has made the years fly by. I have been blessed with good health and the opportunity to travel. Trips to Northern Ontario, multiple trips to both the east and west coasts of Canada, Florida, Nashville, Australia and New Zealand have allowed me to appreciate many parts of the world. Australia became a “must-do” trip as my son has lived there since 2010. The Rocky Mountains are a special favourite of mine as I have been awed with their beauty through rain, smoke and brilliant sun.

The world has changed so much since I retired. I have learned how to use the computer and am now addicted to email and the electronic jokes passed between family and friends. I do my banking online and Google any question that occurs to me. I am looking forward to seeing what developments come next in our fast-changing world. As I appreciatively reflect on my teaching career and the wonderful retirement that has resulted, I wish everyone the same pleasures that I have enjoyed both as a teacher and as a retiree.

Summer 2021

  7

Thomas Harvey  I officially retired on June 30, 1995 from the position of Principal at West Lynn Public School in Simcoe but at once took the position of Acting Vice Principal for a short time at Elgin Public School.  Our first vacation was with our son to an IG convention in Alberta. After witnessing the marriage of our three children and the addition of five grandchildren, many of our early retirement days were devoted to looking after our twin granddaughters. We baby sat five days a week until the girls started school. We breathed a sigh of relief but it was short-lived when it was announced that another was on its way – another five years, but we enjoyed every minute of it.  During the early years of retirement Liz and I were in the real estate business. We also spent a lot of time remodelling homes. It started with my son, supervising the construction of his new home. We also completely renovated our own home, my daughter’s first home and the home she presently lives in. One of the highlights was transforming a garage into a sound-proof music room. We were not carpenters, but we learned as we worked together. 

Traveling to Florida each winter was something we always looked forward to. We enjoy traveling, especially on cruise ships. We have travelled to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, and Alaska. We would still like to take a Mediterranean cruise but major health issues have put a hold on this endeavour. We were fortunate enough to travel to Texas and Ottawa recently to see the twins graduate.   I have enjoyed being a Lion for over 30 years and play mellophone with the United Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps.  We still live at home and enjoy puttering around the yard although each year we get a little slower. If we are not at the arena, we keep busy visiting family as they still all live in Simcoe. 

Prime Time

8

Barbara Kilpatrick After teaching for 38 and a half years, retirement was not a natural way of thinking for me. Learning to relax did not come easy and it wasn’t until my husband Dave retired one year later that I really started to embrace all the extra time on my hands.  Having built such a successful career in the teaching profession has allowed me such freedoms in my retirement. The sky has been the limit as to what adventures we would embark on next. Some of those memories include:  • Keeping in touch with former colleagues

by having monthly meetings at the Erie Beach 

• Cruising on our sailboat Indigo from one end of Lake Erie to the other 

• Shifting interests from sailing to the purchase of a land yacht. Camping here we come with much time spent around the bonfire at Hidden valley campgrounds with family and friends 

• Three trips to Australia where our daughter Patrice lives. We sailed the Indian Ocean, travelled to the far Northwest pearling town of Broome, and experienced Australian wildlife in the natural habitat in the Outback of the Pilbara. 

• Attended a reunion from my first teaching assignment at a Charlotteville school and ran into one of my first students who wasn’t much younger than me having started at the age of 19 

Sadly, last year marked the end of an era with my beloved husband, Dave passing away. I’m blessed with family and friends to watch over me. I look forward to my next adventure, but at 86, it will be closer to home. 

I’m not sure where the last 25 years have gone but they do say … Time flies when

you’re having fun! 

INDIGO

Summer 2021

  9

Martin Kowanetz I retired in 1995 which seems like yesterday. Perhaps most important, I have kept my health with no medications needed. I believe that exercise has been a major reason for this fact. As an example, each of us has 650 muscles which atrophy in our later years if not used. I follow an activity named Essentrics which keeps these muscles sound and flexible. I also walk, bike, strength train and do yoga.  Our two children are in the teaching and information technology professions and have blessed us with five grandchildren. In the early years of my retirement I completed a family ancestry album. Around the same time three of us authored and published a book entitled Our Second Home which is a history of the Delhi German Home.I still enjoy the challenge of a good chess game and reading history and health books. Travel was an important part of our retirement until the pandemic struck. The Galapagos Islands were a nature paradise with penguins, sea lions, blue footed boobies, penguins and 100 year old tortoises, all without predators, except for sharks and hawks. Charles Darwin found this garden of Eden a researcher’s delight. The highlight of our travels was our cruise of the Hawaiian Islands.Our 3 chihuahuas Molly, Meg and presently Maggie have been a great joy and comfort to us. Mary and I will be celebrating our fifty-seventh anniversary this December.

As retirees let us all continue to aim for an active, healthy future.

MARTIN OF ARABIA !

Prime Time

10

Sandra Sime These twenty-five years have flown by so fast! My biggest and most satisfying commitment has been being a caregiver for my mother who died at age ninety-six. She always had more energy than me. Mom was a wonderful cook and I was the “cleaner-upper.” I love to travel, enjoy going to local theatres, eating out with friends, gardening and being a backyard birdwatcher with yearly visits to view the Tundra Swans in Aylmer. My volunteer work has included the RTOERO District 12 Membership Committee, the Delhi Legion, the Delhi Horticultural Society and supporting causes in my community.

My neighbours call me a handy girl. My father’s many tools continue to be put to good use. My friends say I am aging gracefully. A sense of humour really helps … LOL!

 

Summer 2021

  11

Marg Stephen There was NO and there still is NO retirement for Marg Stephen - my choice. I retired from teaching at Port Dover Composite School in June 1995, and by the middle of July, I was cutting lawns for sixty customers a week. Today I am still in business, running my own gardening service with the help of two part-time employees. We work from the middle of March to the middle of December - spring cleanup, gardens ready for planting, planting flowers, fertilizing, weeding, pruning, fall gardens, fall cleanup and eavestroughs. On top of the items above, there are quite a few spin offs that I fit in, one being I have a wholesaler who supplies me with annual flowers. I deliver, plant and weed. A Second Spin-off - Hosta. A customer gave me some hosta plants quite early after I started in business. Now I have 1200 in the field. A Third Spin-off - Perennials. Once again, a customer gave me some day lilies and I now have an assortment of perennials in the field. Now Glads! I organize glads for Decoration Days in Waterford and Simcoe. I have also refereed volleyball in the late afternoon and evenings from 1995 to 2017. I still fill in once in a while and help with the playoffs and finals.

I live on a farm and this keeps me busy weekends cutting and trimming grass, weeding, pruning etc.

 I like to keep busy and that is what I have done for the past twenty-five years, putting in fifty to sixty-hour weeks outside, working with people who are friendly and polite. In fact, that’s where I should be right now, instead of sitting here enjoying myself!

A RARE OCCURRENCE …MARG AT REST!

Prime Time

12

Helen Sysiuk In retirement, my husband Winston and I so appreciated hiking and biking on the many trails available here in Waterford. We canoed and enjoyed boating day trips and travelling. I enjoyed many trips with my sisters. Our sister reunions (six of us) were especially entertaining. Family reunions, weddings, baby showers and parties were a big part of our life as I come from a family of ten and Winston from a family of four. My mom and dad were able to celebrate their sixty-ninth anniversary! One of my favourite trips was to Provence where my sister and I stayed for a month. Winston and I are lucky to have three wonderful children, three wonderful grandchildren and one wonderful great-grandson, not to mention our favourite daughter-in-law and friend, Jan. I have appreciated all of the wonderful people I’ve worked with and all the friends I have made along the way. I hope that we can soon resume our St. Bernard’s monthly get togethers.

SHARON

GRANDSON JAMES

GRANDDAUGHTERS KATEY AND EMMA

JAMESROB

50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Summer 2021

  13

George Wright I retired from teaching in 1995 after thirty-four years. My career started in Prince Edward Island, then to Shawinigan, Quebec and finally Ontario at Cayuga Secondary School. After I retired, I took a course from H&R Block in preparing personal income tax. I had hoped to make a business at that, but it didn’t work out. I did, however, do taxes for my family and friends for free. I also did some Math tutoring. I worked in security with the Commissionaires at the ESSO Refinery in Nanticoke for four years. I enjoyed some travelling, visiting my family in Prince Edward Island almost every year. I went to Western Canada with my daughter and her family as well as to Boston and the New York City area. I sold my home in Simcoe and currently reside in Waterford at Wellings Retirement Community.

GEORGE IN PEI

REMINISCING WITH FRIENDS

SIR JOHN A AND GEORGE

Prime Time

14

Community Grants and Scholarship

RTOERO has recently changed the name of this Committee from Project: Service to Others, while the mandate remains. Along with Liz Whiton-McPherson, this Committee will to continue awarding scholarships to each of our Norfolk elementary and secondary schools.

Project Completed! Despite the many hurdles presented by COVID 19 restrictions and lock downs, the Norfolk Quilters' Guild successfully met the deadline to complete the Quilts for Those in Need Project. This major task required the Guild's Past President Mary Weber to become a master at contact-free porch drop offs as well as pick ups at members' homes and at the long-arm quilters. Thanks to the perseverance and dedication of the Guild, they were able to complete 29 quilts in twin, double and queen sizes. Our RTOERO donation helped them make the much needed larger quilts for the Women's Shelter, Union House and Family and Children's Services. They were also able to purchase four rolls of batting to complete and continue their projects. The quilts will be presented to various organizations in December.

COVID 19 could not deter the Norfolk Quilters Guild from continuing their major contribution to making Norfolk a caring and nurturing community.

Peter Scovil Marie VanDamme

In 2021, we are seeking RTOERO funding for a commercial cooler/freezer for Riversyde 83 Community Kitchen.

Summer 2021

  15

This special Summer Issue of Prime Time features our members celebrating 25 years with RTOERO from 2020 and 2021.

Be sure to visit our website https://district12.rto-ero.org

and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RTOERODistrict12Norfolk

Prime Time is printed by

Mail Services provided by

Alfred Guidolin, Editor 36 Melody Drive, Delhi ON N4B 3E1

519 582 2945 president12@districts.rtoero.ca

29 QUILTS COMPLETED FOR THOSE IN NEED

Prime Time

16

Hazel Andrews Hazel Andrews has dedicated her life to people, through her career with educators, children and parents, through her community service and through her church. The summer of 2021 marks 25 years of retirement after 36 years of teaching, and 62 years of marriage. Her focus in retirement remained as in her career, on women and children. Her motto is that good things happen when people and groups work together. She volunteered for 27 years with the Norfolk Arts Centre as committee member, board member and chair. Hazel served as president of the St. James United Church U.C.W. for decades and 12 years on the Church Council and Board of Trustees. She convened the church bazaar, bake, book, and plant sales, banquets and funeral teas. As a member of RTOERO District 12, Hazel’s focus remained on the needs of children with her work as Chair of Project Service to Others which supported educational needs in countries such as Rwanda, Haiti and Tanzania. In retirement, Hazel continued her support of women on the Support Women Project in Kenya. In addition to these activities, she found time to canvass year after year for many foundations. In 1998 the Older Women’s Network of Toronto recognized her for outstanding leadership within women’s organizations, the

church and community. In 2001 she received the Ontario Volunteer Services Award for her dedication to the arts through decades of volunteering for the Norfolk Arts Centre.

In 2015 Hazel received the Norfolk County Dogwood Lifetime Achievement Award for making a difference to the local heritage and cultural landscape. RTOERO gave her the June Szeman Memorial Award for years of selfless dedication. Finally, in 2017, Hazel received the Canada 150 Medal.

Aside from community service, Hazel finds time to connect with family and friends. Hazel and Bruce have taken trips across Canada, to Alaska and to Ireland. Hazel attributes her ability to work so hard for the community because of the unwavering support from Bruce. Last year they found a listing of over 150 cemeteries hidden, sometimes quite obscured around Norfolk and spent the summer finding and exploring each one.

Our 2021 25-Year Members

Summer 2021

  17

Margaret Ruth Barry 25 Years of Retirement - Quite A Blessing

My first thought when asked to provide a summary of these years was that they’ve been quite quiet. I’m very much OK with that. Just prior to retirement, we purchased 15 acres west of Port Rowan. We built a retirement home, a pole barn and planted over 100 fruit trees. We were going to be hobby farmers. Each summer we were able to spend quality time with our grandsons when their parents were working. I think many would refer to that as babysitting but we thought of it as a privilege. Other than a couple of trips to the western United States and several Orillia weekends with our sisters, most of our travel was on lawnmowers. In fact, my retirement gift from my husband was a new 54-inch cut Kubota mower. As our mothers aged, we stayed closer to home and before we knew it, we were the aging parents. After losing my husband, I joined a small group of ladies who met weekly to knit prayer shawls. Since then, I’ve knitted countless shawls, mitts, toques, baby hats and car seat blankets. It keeps me out of mischief and provides some comfort to those in need. I’ve enjoyed several March vacations to Florida with my sons and their families but I’m still content on my 15 acres - cutting grass, picking apples and pears, shovelling snow - each according to the season.

A ROMANTIC RETIREMENT GIFT ?

Prime Time

18

Thelma Beal

In Conversation with Thelma

I had several opportunities to speak with Thelma about an article for this issue and she shared many sparkling moments in her 25 years of retirement. She was happy to converse about her many wonderful retirement years and especially her vacation trips in and out of Canada. These all made for excellent adventures. Though memorable, Thelma made it clear that she did not deem these events to be worthy of mention here. Furthermore she expressed her complete satisfaction with staying at home with her faithful dog and watching the world go by from her window. While this may seem boring to some, Thelma reiterated the point that she is currently in a very happy place in life and quite contented. She is very grateful that she has been well cared for by her family during these Covid times. They have been able to visit safely and supply anything she has needed. Thelma is looking forward to the day when she can polka again! She is awaiting hip replacement surgery, but is quite patient and understanding of the current health care situation. It was delightful speaking with Thelma. One could tell from the cheery inflection in her voice that she was content, tranquil and serene! AG

TYING TOBACCO DEMONSTRATION - HUNGARIAN HALL MAY 2017

Summer 2021

  19

Maureen Bartlett After retiring from the Peel Board of Education in June 1996, my husband and I sold our house in Brampton and moved to Hastings to our retirement home on the Trent River. The building of this home was a labour of love for my husband who was an avid woodworker. Our children and grandchildren spent many summers there swimming, fishing, boating and generally enjoying cottage life. We lived there happily from 1996 until 2013 when we moved to Port Dover. Winter 1997 was spent in a mobile home in Doral Village, Clearwater, Florida. Enjoying our winters there, we continued our winter sojourn for the next twenty-three years buying our own home in 2010. Sadly my husband of sixty-one years passed away in July 2019. We moved to Port Dover to be closer to our family and that proved to be an excellent decision. I am very happy to call Port Dover home. I have joined some interesting groups including bridge and Newcomers Book Club which I enjoy very much. I hope to return to Florida next winter. In July 2021, my granddaughter and her husband are expecting a child, my first great grandchild. What an exciting time for our family. I have a wonderful family, very supportive during these difficult times. JUMP IN, THE WATER’S WET!

Prime Time

20

Ezekiel Gulabsingh In June 1996 I acquired the best job I have ever held - a Retiree. I now had the freedom to do whatever I wanted to do and whenever I wanted to do it. I had the option to say “No!” The only times I said “No!” were to the organizations that wanted me to serve in administrative capacities such as President or Treasurer or Secretary. The one occasion that I did not say “No!” to an administrative task was to serve a two-year stint as Chair of the Church Council at St. James United Church. For too many years in my working life, I was organizing, directing and running things. I concluded that I would volunteer as a lowly menial. An administrative role in an organization would seriously restrict quality time that I could spend with my grandsons and also hinder opportunities for travel. Barbara and I have visited over thirty countries since we have retired. Consequently, I volunteered as a driver for the Cancer Society and Senior Support Services to transport patients for chemotherapy, radiation-therapy or dialysis treatments. I also volunteered as a Meals on Wheels driver delivering hot meals to shut-in seniors. I continue to participate in serving the community as an active member of the Simcoe Lions Club.

Of all the volunteer tasks, I felt the most rewarding one was as a tutor for the Haldimand-Norfolk Literacy Council. I have had the pleasure of working with very highly qualified and talented immigrants from around the world who were working to obtain Canadian Qualifications and to improve their skills in English. I had the privilege of working with a husband and wife physician team from Egypt who are now practicing in St. Catharines, an Iranian pharmacist who is now

employed with a major department store, a veterinarian from Serbia, who is now in private practice, several engineers, an ornithologist, a talented Fine Arts graduate from Kiev, an international Chinese banker

who at one time was banished to Mongolia from Beijing. The stories of how they arrived in Canada were most fascinating and would make excellent reading material for all. The down side for all these “students” is that they end up speaking the language with a “Trini” accent while employing some British usage. In March 2021, Barbara and I sold our house on 33 Warren Road, and moved into a condo at 44 Serviceberry Lane in Simcoe, thus reducing house upkeep and yard-work, giving us more leisure time, which the craziness of Covid 19 has considerably curtailed.

MARY ANTONIOLLI, BARBARA AND ZEKE

Summer 2021

  21

Gary Hunt After the last bell rang, June 1996, at Ada B. Massecar, Waterford we had all of our own children in post secondary education. Working in tobacco and supply teaching along with Alida supply teaching, we were able to see our children graduate debt free. In 2000, Alida and I built our dream home just outside Tillsonburg. Summers are spent at our trailer with family and friends at a Christian camp north of Lakefield. Having travelled to Europe since 1971 every 2-3 years, we continued to go a couple of times with the family and a couple of years with some grandkids. In 2007 we visited Israel with our church family . Alida and I flew to China in 2013, and later helped to renovate homes in Bolivia, with our church mission team, to protect people from the deadly Chagas disease caused by the Vinchucas bug. We caught the cruise bug and cruised the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean and a couple of cruises with family. Almost every year since retirement , we have spent the winter and the spring breaks with family and friends in Florida. I work regularly at Oneida Baptist Camp at Nanticoke on maintenance, Wednesdays with a couple of men. Serving on the Oneida Camp Committee as chair seeing the new dining hall open in 2002 was a thrill after more than 10 years of planning. Currently, at our church, First Baptist Tillsonburg, I am serving on the board of directors and on the building committee for our new building, which opened December 2020. Another milestone, after 10 years!

Within, the last year Alida and I have had some health issues. And the pension dollars keep coming ! We are blessed!

RENOVATING HOMES IN BOLIVIA

Prime Time

22

William Newman WOW! I can’t believe it, 37 years teaching - Meaford High School 4 years, Delhi District Secondary School 8 years, and Valley Heights Secondary School 25 years, and now 25 years in retirement. Where did all the time go!?

My Dad said to me that the best years of your life are when you have your kids. Dad was right! Elizabeth and I had three sons and we didn’t realize the love, energy and time to see them through university until I retired. I have the same feeling about the students I taught and coached. Those were the days! “Are you enjoying retirement?” Yes, but there are no holidays. I believe health is the most important factor to enjoying retirement! I asked my doctor if there were any side effects taking these pills and drugs. His answer- “Longevity!” I had both knees replaced and I can still enjoy the things I love to do. The surgeon who did my second knee four years ago said to me, “Bill, that knee will last you 10-15 years. You are a new man.” “Doctor, that’s my name!” As a coach, I wasn’t always happy with referee calls so I joined the Norfolk/Brantford Referees Association and refereed basketball games. I thought I made good calls but there were coaches who didn’t think so. It’s part of the game. I had fun playing slo-pitch in Delhi and bowling at the German Home, but Table Tennis was my first love.

Liz and I have travelled some. We joined son David in Denmark and Taiwan and son Andrew in Australia. We spent part of several winters visiting with family in Orlando, Florida. More recently, we have visited with son David and wife in New York State and with Andrew and our grandson, Josh in Toronto. We are active at Delhi United Church and we have a cottage at Long Point that keeps us busy. We have so much to be thankful for, because we live in Delhi and Canada is our home.

VALLEY HEIGHTS STAFF

Summer 2021

  23

Saundra Rodgers My retirement has gifted me with many fulfilling experiences during the past 25 years. Most of this has revolved around four central themes… family, friends, leisure, and volunteering. Family gatherings have been a priority. We love to celebrate special days and milestones together, however, the opportunities to get together with family members "just because we can" are a cherished bonus of retired life! Since my retirement began, my husband and I have watched our three grandchildren grow from toddlers to full grown adults! We began a yearly tradition of spending a whole week of every summer with them at various locations in cottage country.  Time spent with friends has been abundant. Social gatherings have included such a wide variety of outings, adventures and parties over the years. Immediately after I retired I began organizing monthly luncheon dates with other retired teaching colleagues from Doverwood Public School. We continue to meet occasionally and call ourselves the Doverwood Dillies. My husband and I had our yard landscaped for many people to gather comfortably… and so our Luau parties became an annual tradition and expectation.

I knew the first September after retiring might be difficult so my husband and I took a long trip that month...several other trips have taken place over the years as well. Our preference to spend time with family and friends eventually led us to the purchase of a cottage in the Kawarthas in 2009. We so love the opportunities to relax together by the lake! My husband continued to work for 12 years after my own retirement began. I was motivated to spend some of my free time in ways that were meaningful and fulfilling. I became a volunteer for Norfolk General Hospital, Meals on Wheels, the Canadian Cancer Society (driving cancer patients to appointments in Hamilton). My husband and I continue to be involved with the Simcoe Lions Club/Lady Lions and enjoy the opportunities it provides in helping to support our community. I enjoy the privilege of retirement and never take for granted the freedom it allows me to do the things I love!

THAT’S A BIG KAWARTHA CHAIR

Prime Time

24

Robert Stevenson In 1996, after spending many years as History Head at Waterford District High School, it was time to retire. What volunteer activities were available that I would enjoy? I soon re-discovered my interest in archives, and took a series of weekend courses to become an Archivist. I talked to Mr. Gerry Townsend, outgoing Director of Education with the Norfolk School Board and offered my services with school records. I toured all Norfolk Schools doing an inventory of records. The archives grew to include all Norfolk Haldimand, Brant and Brantford records, for the public and the separate Boards. The collection is now housed next to the Grand Erie Board office in Brantford. I am still involved in the Archives, working with some wonderful people. Archives has become a passion for me. I work on the records of Waterford United Church and the higher levels of United Church. For six years, I chaired the National Committee for Archives and History for the Canadian United Church. Our Committee made archival policy. There were several professional archivists providing advice to the Committee, and each operating one of the UC archival collections spread across the country. I sat on the Heritage Committee for the City of Nanticoke and Norfolk County. My interest in old houses and buildings, goes back to my childhood when the family would go for a drive and enjoy looking at old houses, and to my teaching days in Waterford when I did walking tours of Main Street, talking of the style of the houses and who used to live in them.

My other great interest has been Rotary. I loved working with young people at school and knew that I would miss this when I retired. I was invited to join the Simcoe Rotary Club, and was given the opportunity to work on the Club Youth Exchange Committee. I chaired that committee, helping to select students to go to a foreign country for a year, and working with inbound foreign students. Soon, I had the opportunity to take a position at the District level. I worked with Latin America for a while and later with the Far East and Australia. Recently, I was asked to take charge of the summer exchanges for our Rotary District, with European countries. It was fun to see this programme grow, as students became aware of it. Rotary has been wonderful for me. I have learned new skills and made new friends. I have been very active in the Club. I was invited to be President of the Simcoe Rotary Club a few years ago, and presently am fortunate to be able to serve as one the Assistant Governors of our District life immeasurably.

Summer 2021

  25

Family continues to be very important. Sue and I have taken quite a few trips. Our family has enjoyed holidays together. We are fortunate to have our grandchildren, Lukas and Owen, living nearby. I would thank my wife Sue and my family for their full support of everything I did in teaching and in retirement. Without them, I could not have done what I was able to do.

It is always a pleasure to serve our members in District 12 Norfolk and beyond! Our team of sixteen Executive Board members are dedicated to doing our best to inform, guide and advocate for you. We plan social events to engage our members and have fun. We celebrate important life moments. We attend workshops/webinars to keep you informed about our Benefits. We advocate for a National Seniors Strategy. We deepen our understanding about equity, diversity and inclusion issues. Would you like to join this dynamic group? Do you have a skill or talent that can benefit our members? We’ll be happy to share how we serve our members. See our Directory on the last page and contact us! Let’s make it a better future, together!

Prime Time

26

Don Stewart Thursday, February 29, 1996 kicked off a new chapter in my life. Initially, it seemed the perfect time to retire. I watched with great pleasure as colleagues drove by the house fighting snowstorms and slippery roads. Soon it was summer then fall. When the Simcoe Reformer gave me a job as a part-time freelance sports reporter, I realized I loved researching, attending games, taking and developing my own photos and writing “people in sports” stories. Approximately 200 of my stories were published. I was asked to write a couple of articles about a local golf course. Those stories appeared in Tee To Green magazine. A story about a single ride-on golf cart was published in Abilities magazine. I wrote profiles of some young European hockey players for a local NHL player rep. Those profiles got me to the NHL draft in Raleigh, North Carolina and Buffalo, New York. Years later, I wrote stories highlighting Annaleise Carr’s swim across Lake Erie. They were published in Conquering Lake Erie. I wrote numerous profiles of athletes and builders who were inducted into the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition and Stanley Cup Champions. Volunteering at Norfolk County Fair became a constant pleasure. I was a councillor for the last term of the Town of Simcoe Council. I chaired the Haldimand-Norfolk Best Start/Early Years Network planning committee for 12 years. You have probably seen some of the

Early Years Centres, The Charter of Rights for Children and Youth and Ride Norfolk. A 23-day family trip to Ireland was a highlight and I got to play three rounds of golf there. That was the beginning of several golf trips to Hilton Head Island, Myrtle Beach, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Mexico and Cuba as well as courses in Ontario.

I have always enjoyed playing, coaching or watching hockey and had the opportunity to watch Dwayne Roloson play for the New York Islanders. A 2019 highlight was coaching my grandson to a gold medal in a World Hockey Tournament for players with type 1 diabetes. And to top that, I was a dancer at the Sanderson Centre with my granddaughter and four generations of Stewarts!

DON AND GRANDSON TREVOR

THE DANCING STEWARTS

Summer 2021

  27

Norma Stucker

Retirement has been a happy, fulfilling journey involving my biological family, my church family and others. There is truth in: “It is better to serve than to be served”. It has been a privilege and a joy to give to my Simcoe community in some small way. I have had the time to help others, to travel, read more and to pursue my hobby: photography. Family has always been a priority for me. Our three children, their spouses and our seven grandchildren continue to be a huge blessing. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special holidays such as Christmas. It has been a bonus to attend high school and university graduations. Our two sons and their families live in the United States, and we have made many trips from Simcoe to Georgia and to Colorado. My life has been so enriched from teaching a Ladies’ Home Bible Study and Grades IV-VI Bible Class at Emmanuel Bible Church at 24 Churchill Circle. Periodically, I taught a group of homeschoolers and tutored. Another pleasure was organizing and conducting a monthly Devotional/Sing Song at the Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home. Another passion is to visit the sick, write encouraging cards and deliver a home cooked meal to a new mother, a bereaved family, or to those in need. It has been wonderful to have the time to travel to my homeland where my family and friends spoil me with Bermudian hospitality.

My camera goes wherever I go. I truly enjoy photography. When I retired in 1996 from Port Dover Public School, the students had made me a banner - Happy Retirement Mrs. Kodak. My husband Alfred, also an RTOERO member, and I celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary on July 2nd, 2020. Even though there were only 10 people present (due to COVID-19), we embraced the occasion with thanks to the Lord. My daughter, Kathleen Sorensen, is a French teacher at James Hiller School in Brantford. Her daughter, Kataliya Sorensen, my granddaughter is a recent recipient of an RTOERO Scholarship. Teaching is a family profession and we say thanks to the Grand Erie District School Board. I am grateful! I am blessed! If I have helped someone along the way, then my living has

Prime Time

28

Executive President Alfred Guidolin 519 582 2945 president12@districts.rtoero.ca Past President Margaret Payne 519 428 3489 margaret.payne@live.com 1st Vice President Doug Thompson 519 426 1063 gunner@kwic.com 2nd Vice President Rosey Guidolin 519 582 2945 rmtguidolin@gmail.com Secretary Janie Forsythe 519 428 3158 janeforsythe@sympatico.ca Treasurer Ginger Pullen 519 582 2661 gingerpullen46@yahoo.com

Committee Chairs Goodwill/Foundation Carol DeFields 519 586 3745 cjdefields@hotmail.com Benefits Margaret Payne 519 428 3489 margaret.payne@live.com Membership Lorie Dertinger 519 582 3385 lderty@execulink.com Deb Hillner 519 718 3007 debhillner@gmail.com Local School Rep. Carolynne Paton 519 428 3636 capaton@hotmail.com Political Advocacy Sandy Reid 519 429 0244 sandrar@nipissingu.ca Community Grants and Peter Scovil 519 443 7297 peterandalma@gmail.com Scholarships Marie VanDamme 519 443 7555 marivand@sympatico.ca Liz Whiton 519 209 6563 lizwhiton@gmail.com Member at Large Catharine Reed 519 426 7859 cathreed@hotmail.com

RTOERO District 12 Norfolk website www.district12.rto-ero.org

https://www.facebook.com/RTOdistrict12