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"Honorable Earl Rowe, former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, was guest speaker at the Fisher's Corners Womens Institute Meeting January 20. A great supporter of women's institutes, Mr. Rowe spoke to the women and their husbands for about 45 minutes on current issues like the Quebec problem and reminsced about politicking in the area in horse and buggy das. He expressed the need for multi-lingualism in Canada, rather than just bilingualism, explaining that Canada was a land of many nationalities and not just French and English. Well qualified to discuss national affairs, Mr. Rowe said he had personally known and worked with eight of Canada's prime ministers, including Pierre Trudeau. Described as a very warm and down-to-earth person by the women, Mr. Rowe is currently in retirement at his farm near Newton Robinson. He told the group he spends much of his time exercising his horses and reading."

"The Tee-We-Gwill chapter of the Women's Institute held their first meeting with this year's officers last Monday night at the home of Mrs. Barbara Wilcox on Beeton Road. The Women's Institute was originally founded in Ontario to educate women in rural areas in the homemaking field. Since then it has become a world-wide community services oriented organization. The Tec-We-Gwill chapter sponsors a Can-Save Child in Austria, as well as sponsoring the Tec-Gwill 4-H Club for young women."

Back Row: Mary Orr, Marguerite Ramsay, Margaret Jessop
Front Row: Lois West, Jean Calder, Barbara Wilcox

"The officers of Simcoe South Women's Institute posed for a picture following installation ceremonies May 6 at the district annual meeting held at Bond Head. Front row: [left to right] Mrs. Keith Kneeshaw, Mrs. Paul Tipping, Mrs. Everett McVety, Mrs. Cecil Reynolds, Mrs. Donald Monkman, Mrs. Wilbert Trotter, Mrs. William Sutherland. Second row: Mrs. Merven Jessop, Mrs. Irwin Hounsome, Mrs. Albert Woodcock, Mrs. James Church, Mrs. Al Tizzard, Mrs. James Crosbie, Mrs. Douglas Montgomery, Mrs. Owen Bell, Mrs. Allan Orr and Mrs. John Rumble."

"Bradford Women's Institute last Wednesday celebrated 50 years "For Home and Country", the motto of the world-wide organization. Long time member Mrs. H.L. Blackwell cuts the anniversary cake fashioned in the shape of the figure 50, as Bradford W.I. President Mrs. Dan Clements looks on."

"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.'"

"A surprise party was held in Bond Head Community Hall on Saturday afternoon for Amy Young of Bond Head, formerly of Beeton, on the occasion of her eightieth birthday. Many of her family, neighbours, and friends from near and far, including members of two local bowling clubs, the Women's Institute of Bond Head, the Ladies Orange Lodge of Beeton and members of the local churches, gathered to spend a pleasant social interlude with her and partake of a buffet lunch. She served her guests a piece of delicious birthday cake with George McCague, our local Member of Parliament assisting her. An address was read by Margaret Westlake, a cousin. Shelley Bishop, a niece on behalf of the friends, presented her with an engraved wrist watch as a token of respect and appreciation, and a momentum of the party. George McCague presented her with an emblem pin on behalf of the Ontario government. Mrs. Young thanked her friends for coming and for her gift and expressed her appreciation to the convenors of the party. All departed with happy memories of a pleasant afternoon."

"Women in the community of Lefroy got together last week for an old-fashioned quilting bee. Some of them took part in the annual meeting of the South Simcoe district Women's Institute, held in Alliston."

"Mrs. Austin Zoeller, vice president of the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada, speaking last Wednesday night at the 50th anniversary of Bradford Women's Institute said, 'There is no other organization like the W.I. in the whole wide world.' She recalled the W.I. was born on tragedy--the death of a child from drinking impure milk. Mrs. Adelaide Hoodless, the founder of the W.I. was the mother of the child. Mrs. Zoeller told how the secretary of the Farmer's Institute, Erland Lee at Stoney Creek, Ontario, promoted hearing a woman speaker against the wishes of his all-men organization. Mrs. Hoodless, that speaker, made a dynamic speech. Lee told the men after if they believed it important to have an organization to learn how to feed their animals, then it was equally important their wives had an organization to educate themselves on how to feed their families."

"The Fisher's Corners Women's Institute plans to buy rolls and serve them at the Bradford Salad Festival in July. At the May meeting, the group discussed a bus tour to Stoney Creek on June 16. Several plan to attend a short course September 16. Happy anniversary wishes were sung for Mr. and Mrs. Ben Steers and Mr. and Mrs. Sid Gapp, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wychopen was given a cup and saucer. Mrs. Donald Couture gave a report on the area convention at Waterloo. There will be no meeting in June."

"If you've ever driven through the intersection of the 9th line and the 5th sideroad in West Gwillimbury and wondered just exactly where you were, there's no need to worry any more. On Monday the members of the Women's Institute of Fisher's Corners just west of Highway 400, saw their sign go up on the northwest corner of the intersection, simply reading "Welcome to Fisher's Corners." To most of the community's residents, the area has always been known as Fisher's Corners. Now, with a little help from the Women's Institute and Judy Rupke, who painted the sign, anyone travelling through will be reminded of where they are. A story, which dates back several years, tells of residents named Fisher living on the four corners of the intersection. Over the years, the name of Fisher's Corners caught on."