"Alliston - South Simcoe District Women's Institute held its 75th annual meeting in Alliston last week, with 116 delegates attending from 11 branches. District president Mrs. Paul Tipping of Tottenham and secretary treasurer Mrs. Everett McVety of Bradford were in charge.

The theme, 'What's 75 Years Between Friends?' set the tone of the meeting held at St. John's United Church. Displays showing accomplishments, projects, and history of each branch were outstanding, and discussion groups led by district conveners replaced oral reports.

Visits to Simcoe Manor will not be a district project from now on but the decision to entertain there is at each branch's discretion after conferring with the manor superintendent.

Delegates voted to hold a Tweedsmuir History workshop in November, with Cookstown being a possible location.

Mrs. Gordon Mallion of Tottenham judged the log book competition of home histories and presented prizes to: first, Mrs. Russel Browning; second, Mrs. W. Ingram, both from Churchill branch; and third, Mrs. Norman Baker, Everett.

Federated Women's Institute of Ontario board members, Mrs. Don Hennessy of Duntroon, said Simcoe County leads the province in interest in log books. County books were on display at the officers' conference at the University of Waterloo in May.

After the noon luncheon, Tweedsmuir History curator Mrs. William Sutherland of Bond Head reviewed district history. The first meeting was held in Jebb's Hall, Cookstown, on July 9, 1902, with 50 in attendance. In 1906 only four attended and for some years district meetings were held in homes.

Today there are 321 active members in Simcoe South and 46 life members. A birthday cake was cut by Mrs. Joseph Hancey of Alliston, a WI member for 61 years.

Ted Whitworth, a farm safety consultant for eight counties, told delegates there are too many accidents in agriculture. He said 'farmers must recognize hazards and he placed the responsibility on 'mother' to continue to remind her family of safety practices. Farm safety booklets brought home by school children should be reviewed by the parents with the children so both will benefit, he said.'"

"There weren't many empty parking spots in Cookstown this weekend when 6,000 people came to see the annual display of steam and antique gas machines. Tim Smith of Maple, said his father's steam powered car was "not hard to drive if you've never driven anything else". The extra pedals confuse experienced gas car drivers. Brian Burns, director of the show, says steam power went out of style in 1928. Gas tractors were introduced in 1900 but they weren't very reliable. When the wrinkles were taken out of the gas tractor, farmers began to give up their steam machines. Gas was much more convenient."

"The Trans-Canada Pipeline-snakes its way across a field near Cookstown as workers for the gas company put sections of the line through hydro static tests. The work has been going on in the area for several works and officials say it will be finished shortly."

January 8, 1992
Obituary
Faith and charity - this was Pat Andrews. . . . Patricia Ann was born September 29, 1935, the daughter of the late William Bygrove and the late Elizabeth Hunt. She was raised in Toronto's east end and attended St. John's Elementary School and St. Joseph's College and, later, gradated from St. Michael's College, University of Toronto in 1067 with an honour degree in Latin and English. She taught at West Hill Collegiate, Oakwood Collegiate and Sir Sandford Fleming Secondary School. Thirty-two years ago she married Jack Andrews in St. John's Catholic Church on Kingston Rd. In 1970, Pat and Jack moved to Cookston and Pat gave up teaching to raise her family. . . .Sons Martin, Lawrence, Vincent and daughter Catherine Ann and her dear husband Jack.