My memory takes me back to the early fifties when I was in a Brownie pack in the old Boy Scout hut on Randall St. I was very enthusiastic and went for every badge I could get, much to my mother's dismay, who had to sew them on my uniform. Being left handed, I had a lot of difficulty trying to knit a square to get that particular badge. No one seemed able to help me. Finally, the Commissioner, Mrs. Broadbent, whose husband owned a furniture store on Colborne St., took me under her wing and the mission was accomplished. Then I flew up to Girl Guides and the badges started all over again, poor Mom. God bless all the mom's who sewed on the badges.

I went from a two room school, St. Mary's on King St. to Oakville Trafalgar High School on Reynolds St. This was wonderful, so many students, so many sports that I excelled in. Volleyball, basket ball, track and field, so many boys (now how did that thought get in there). I did enjoy those weekend dances at Teen Town held in Victoria Hall on Reynolds St.

I finished high school with a one year commercial course. This was for me! I excelled in shorthand and typing and went to the Ford Motor Co. to do secretarial work in the Customs Dept., then computer dept. and finally Receptionist at the Trucking Plant. I left there to be a stay at home mom (with twins on the way and two younger children I didn't have much choice).

When I was still living at home near Lorne Skuce public school, I was conscripted into Brownie leadership. They had a small pack of fifteen little girls at the school and no leader. As Brownie Owl, I quickly got Shirley Chwaluk to be Tawny Owl. News of the splendid programme we had spread fast and in short order we were up to thirty-five. Jean Dunn as Snowy Owl and Isabel Watters, Gray Owl. Our big event was working on a musical all winter under the direction of Noel Gospell and my sister Marilyn came to help us. We had a wonderful time getting ready for the big show in the spring, played before a full house and the girls all earned their "dance badge".

When my family had graduated from needing a baby sitter, I went to work as a school secretary. My Brownie work and home family care were a great asset in the duties a secretary is called upon to do, like comforting the sick children, applying band aids plus other duties too numerous to mention. After 10 years retired I can only say, I have no regrets. Oakville with its beautiful parks, which my grandchildren like me to take them to, and all the sports facilities, who could ask for anything more?

- Dianne Collier-Shalton (July 2010)