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S unday, J u n e 11, 2 0 0 0 O a k v ille B e a v e r W ee ke nd 3 Joyce Burnell -- Oakville Senior Citizen of th e Year By Wilma Biokhuis OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF akville's Senior of the year is Joyce Burnell, author of `Ghosts of Oakville.' She received the M illennium Year senior award at a ceremony held at the O akville Seniors Recreation Centre on Kerr Street, Thursday afternoon. "I finally got a gold watch," she said of the pen dent she received along with the plaque. The watch bears the inscription: `Joyce Burnell, Senior of the Year 2000.' It was B urnell's third nomination as Senior of the Year. She was first nominat ed in 1985 and again in 1997. "I was surprised and over whelmed to win." A retired teacher, Burnell, 79, has devoted herself to volunteering. She retired from teaching in 1985, having worked in alm ost every school in Oakville as a speech and lan guage specialist. She also conducted a number of school choirs. After her retirement, until two years ago, she was a vol unteer tutor at Fern Hill School, assisting children who required help in the O speech program. "I've taught all my life. I entered a teacher training program at age 17, and taught until two years ago, the last 13 years as a volun teer at Fern Hill." The year Burnell retired, she attended a meeting of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario in Mississauga, and noticed very few members attending from Oakville. Undaunted, she started the organization's Oakville chapter, with six other retired women teachers, at her home, in 1985. Bumell has served as that organization's vice-presi dent, president and program convenor, and was instru mental in keeping the mem bers up-to-date on issues of the day and local concerns, supporting charitable causes, visiting the sick and shut-ins, and assisting those who require transportation. "We are very much a sup port organization, helping people who are in need," she says o f the group's local charity work. She is a past director and volunteer co-ordinator of the Oakville Historical Society, and was responsible for interviewing and scheduling volunteers for the Thomas House Museum. Photo by Peter C. McCusker Joyce Burnell receives her Senior of the Year plaque from Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale. All proceeds from her recently published `Ghosts of Oakville' are being donat ed to the Oakville Historical Society. Of the 1,500 copies printed, about 1,100 have been sold. An active member of St. John's United Church, she has taken a leadership role in the Church School, and served on the board as an elder, and past-president of its United Church Women. Of her church involvement, Bumell said "I believe you should bloom where you're planted," adding, "if you join a church, you should be active." For more than 40 years, she has supported World Vision Canada and the Christian Children's Fund. Bumell has been attend ing St. John's since moving to Oakville from Montreal in 1951. She came to Montreal from her native Ireland, via England, in 1949, and taught at a private girls school for two years. A volunteer at Trafalgar Lodge, Bumell looked after the late Sadie Smith, who died in February at age 104. However, she continues to visit with a number of other residents there. As a member of Amnesty International's Oakville chapter since its inception more than 20 years ago, Bumell has written letters to release countless prisoners of conscience. She has also can vassed businesses and indi viduals for donations for its annual Amnesty Super Sale and Auction, "a job I don't really enjoy, but if I was a prisoner o f conscience, I would like somebody to fight for my rights, so I canvass." In addition, she canvasses for the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Canadian Cancer Society, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. And, as a member of the Oakville Rug Hooking Guild, Bumell contributes pictorials o f animals skunks, foxes, ducks and deer to the community, and has served as guild treasurer. "Right now, I can't do any mg hooking, I can't sew or garden, nor write letters, because I broke my arm," she allowed, "I can still read, watch TV and talk on the phone." She slipped on the steps in front of her down town Oakville home on May 1st. Bumell was nominated by Barbara Ruton o f the Retired Women Teachers, with about nine letters of support from the Oakville Historical Society, Amnesty International, the Oakville Rug Hooking Guild, and by Rev. Jim Campbell, retired pastor of St. John's United Church, among others. Also nominated were M avis Davison, Nora Groves, Joan Philpott, Willa Riffon, Isobel Scott, Verna Tardiff and Harry Tompkins. Seniors Gardening . Club By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF he Stewart Street Seniors Gardening Club may be known for their members' green thumbs but a closer look reveals that it is deep affection and caring that truly binds them all together. "It's been a wonderful three years watching the club grow, watching them take care of each other," said volunteer Irene McGeary. McGeary became involved with the residents of Rotary Centennial Towers at the suggestion of former Ward 2 councillor Kathy Graham, who manages the building. After completing a horticultural therapy course at the Royal Botanical Gardens, McGeary set about apply ing the use of "natural things" for the social, physical and mental well being of the residents. At 91, Edna Watson is the club's oldest member, but she is as active as any of them and even takes the minutes at meetings. Gladys blossoms T Stewart Street Seniors Gardening Club volunteer co-ordinator Millennium Garden on Stewart Street. Wilson, who turns 85 in June, is home from the hospital - and before thankful for all the club provides, home care kicked in - members especially since her husband looked in on her and made sure she Monroe was transferred to a nursing was comfortable. home in Stoney Creek. That, says McGeary, is really `W e both loved flowers and we what the club is all about. Elderly liked the company and being with and often in pain and all too-aware people," said Wilson, whose nick about the frailty of life, she contin name is Gladiola. "Now I see all my ued, members simply bolster one friends." another's spirit. Wilson went on to say how `Talk about courage," said much she enjoys the way club mem McGeary. "In three years they have bers pull together, not just in relation become the most wonderfully cohe to gardening, but in all aspects of sive group helping each other." their lives. One time, after she came With $2,000 in grant money Photo by Barrie Erskine Irene McGeary holds up a plaque commemorating the club's from the Ontario government for the International Year of the Older Person, the club had raised flower beds installed outside the building which will be dedicated June 1st McGeary and club members also have plans to eventually expand the garden. Members' skills transcend their proficiency at gardening, however, and embrace everything from cook ing to a variety of artistic endeavors. On May 13th, for example, the club hosted a bake and craft sale which , jetted them $743 T thaipks to dona tions by everyone from building res idents to the baked goods given by the superintendent. Hand-painted bags were created by an 85-year old member. "It's very family-like in here," said McGeary, who had garden club t-shirts made. Proceeds from last year's sale bought outdoor benches for the building, garden tools, a wheelbar row, a hose reel and more. "Everything we make in these sales goes back into beautifying the J *aJ