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8 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 28, 2000 "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" Blackstock's ONO Club marks 50th anniversary By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star It was back in 1949 when Gwen Ballingall Mulholland decided a club for young women should be established in Blackstock. "We already had church groups and the Women's Institute, but I thought it would be fun to have a group made up of young women," she said. After she got together with six others - Eileen Snooks, Florence Collins (deceased), Marion Rahm, Noreen Malcolm, Gwenyth Thompson and Kathleen Dorrell - the group was formed in 1950. With Mrs. Ballingall Mulholland as the charter president, the group was named Our Night Out, or ONO. "It was a night out for us young women, an evening where we could leave our children and husbands behind," Mrs. Ballingall Mulholland says. In late October of this year ONO celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Blackstock United Church; 53 members were present. Soon after ONO started in 1950 the group earned a name for catering at com- munity functions. To buy dishes they had to do Recently the Our Night Out women's group of Blackstock celebrated its 50th anniversary. Reminiscing about the 50 years of fun are Elaine Bailey (left, front ), charter president Gwen Ballingall Mulholland, Joan Graham and (back) Aileen Van Camp. some fundraising. That's when the seven charter members took to the stage and toured surrounding communities with their first play, "Sweet Sally Brown." OA n exclusive facility y o fering ; tem, set to music that muscles while burning body fat Under New Own Open House Friday December 15th 2-5pm. Christmas Gift Certificates For 2 Months (no membership fees required) 2 CAN JOIN for 1 - Membership Fee- Must be purchased by December 31/2000 FITNESS 126 Water St., FAST, Fun, EFFecTive! Port Perry (905) 985-8333 "It was the first thing we did to raise money," said Mrs. Ballingall Mulholland. In years gone by, ONO members have catered all functions, manner of including weddings, anniversaries, dances, Christmas and New Year's Eve dances, and more. Over time, others joined ONO. At one time the club had 46 members. Currently there are over 20 members. During a recent inter- view Mrs. Ballingall Mulholland, Joan Graham, Aileen Van Camp and Elaine Bailey recently reminisced about the past half-century. They recall the night Hurricane Hazel struck in the mid-50s. "We were holding a black and white minstrel show at the rec centre... when the hydro went off," said Mrs. Bailey. "The men shone the lights from their vehicles through the open doors so everyone could see." Once a year the women reserved a night for their husbands, and took them out for dinner. "That was our payment to them for babysitting the kids all year," said Mrs. Ballingall Mulholland. Much of the club's fundraising has gone toward improvements for the Blackstock recreation centre, where they meet. "Through our fundrais- ing we have outfitted the whole place, including the drapes, dishes, chandelier and kitchen appliances," said Mrs. Graham. The group also bought chairs, tables and tablecloths, too. Every year the women have also donated to the Blackstock fair. Other orga- nizations receiving funding have been the Scouting and Guiding movements, the hospital, Operation Scugog, graduates from area elementary and sec- ondary schools, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and others. The signs at each end of the village were also donated by ONO. Over the years the club has held skating parties and summer picnics for the kids, and often held family dances. "We've had a lot of fun," Ms Van Camp says. "Gwen deserves all the credit. We would have missed out on all the fun if she hadn't started ONO." When ONO held its 50th anniversary celebrations in October, they didn't cater to the meal; instead, they had the luxury of being catered to. Now going into their 5Ist year, the women say they will continue with a few fundraising projects. But their focus will now be fun, fun and more fun. _Loxr DERRY SIAR | 4 ¥ od t hs f or fd § £ A 4 A ! Your Gift Will Make a Difference! * Unwrapped New Toys * Canned Goods or a donation Proceeds to be administered through Operation Scugog for local Families run in conjunction with the Port Perry Star & Canadian Tire Family Foundation Please drop off at Canadian Tire (Port Perry Plaza) or The Port Perry Star Office 188 Mary St. CANADIAN TIRE with Santa GIS UR ITT BET Sat. Dec Haugen's AWARD WINNING { Breakfast Buffet Adults $1095 + tax Children 10 and under $6.95 + tax Order your tully cooked, freshly frozen Haugen's chickens just $8.50 (12 or more for only $8.00) Haugen's Very Own Chicken Pot Pies $3.95 each also our own Christmas Cakes and puddings fresh from our ovens Ocala Ore? 2, 10-5 pm. * Sun. Dec Christtnas is for Kids at Havgeri's Happy Holidays from all of us at Haugen 's Closing 8PM, Sunday, December 3rd/2000 Re-Opening Mid March a EIVIS TTA @ a 11d TTA I 41 ST 21 210 "3 y= Sat., Dec.2 Sun., Dec 3 9 am-1 pm irds Farm Winery for Weekend 3, 12-5 pm 2K SRR: S\N Hwy 7A & 12, Manchester 905-985-2402 The Front Porch presents dil RRIE TRIO Nov. 24, Dec. |, Dec. 8 - 7-1 1pm. Dinner 5 to 10 pm. * Fresh Mussels * Seafood Larger Dinner Menu - + Pork Tenderloin * Roast Beef * Fresh Sea Scallops * Chicken Marsala 187 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY Call for reservations 985-7224