The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Pace 6 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, November 18, 1998 Volunteer Faced Mosquitos, Fleas and Cockroaches by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer Roscanne Cook doesn't doesn't even pretend she was completely brave throughout her recent experience visiting Papau, New Guinea. "There were times when all I wanted to do was get on a plane and go home to Mom and Dad," the lifelong Bowmanville resident told local Rotarians last week. Cook, a recent graduate graduate with a Masters in Health Management, just returned from a Youth Challenge International (YCI) expedition which took her first to Australia, then to New Guinea. YCI is a non-profit organization which sends young people from across Canada into developing developing countries to work on community development, development, health issues and environmental research. Originally, Cook's assignment had her working in the YCI office in Australia. But soon, she found herself in a country she said is "rated among the worst of all countries worldwide" in terms of living conditions, conditions, to help determine if YCI should start sending volunteers there. "I was often airlifted into remote areas and the only instructions were, meet back here in two weeks," she explained. The first hurdle to be cleared by Cook was a language challenge. Though the official language language of New Guinea is English, over 850 dialects arc spoken in the country, the most com mon being pidgin. "I had to learn pidgin and fast," remembered Cook. "I was probably a very good source of entertainment for people" people" while attempting to master the longue. Living conditions were, at best, poor, said Cook. For an entire month, she slept on a hare, earthen floor, completely completely clothed, with all openings in her clothing held lightly closed with clastic, under a mosquito net, in tropical temperature temperature conditions. "The nights arc filled with creepy crawlers," including malaria-carrying malaria-carrying mosquitos, rats and cockroaches, she recalled. On one occasion, when she arrived in a village, village, she was shown to a hut were she was to sleep. But it became immediately clear she would not be able to spend the night there -- unless she was willing to share her sleeping quarters quarters with a large family of rats. So, she asked villagers villagers if she could sleep outside, in a hammock, near the river. After much discussion, discussion, her request was granted. Cook said she slept well, but frequently heard voices in the night. At about 4:30 a.m„ she awakened. "I found a group of women, sitting around me in a perfect circle" ensuring protection from harm, Cook said. The Bowmanville woman did not returned from her adventure completely completely unscathed. At some point during her travels in the tropical country, she contracted fleas. She still bears scars from the infestation. "The path I've chosen isn't for everyone," she said with a laugh. Cook concluded there was plenty organizations like YCI could do in New Guinea. The life expectancy for people living in the country is 50 years. For every 100 babies born, only eight children survive. And the literacy rate among women is only about 20 percent. "There is a wealth of work that needs to be done," she said. EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME LIFETIME - Roscanne Cook cradles some art she brought back from her adventure in New Guinea. Newcastle Lions News Padre Brings Remembrance Day Message The regular meeting of the Newcastle Lions Club was held on Remembrance Day, November 11 th, in the Lions Room at the Newcastle Community Hall. The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by President Mike Swaga with 35 members present and one guest, Wayne Blodgett. After a delicious dinner of scalloped potatoes and ham, Lion Dennis Walker was chosen as this week's "Who's Who". Lion Dennis reiterated that he was born in Toronto in 1965, where he received most of his education. education. At age 13, he and his family moved to Bramalea where they lived for 2 years. At age 15 Dennis struck out on his own, returning to Toronto and spending 2 years at Humber College before entering the electrical business. After 7 years of getting shocks, in 1990 he moved to Newcastle where lie managed the Oilco Gas Bar on King St. East. In 1997, he took over the management of the Beaver Gas Bar on 115 Hwy. and is still pumping gas. Dennis is married to Deanna and they have 2 children, ages 1 and 5. He joined the Newcastle Lions Club in 1994, has served on several committees and is presently 3rd Vice President. The guest speaker was introduced by Lion Warren Tait, Reverend Canon D.R. Saunders, Rector at St. George's and St. Saviour's Anglican Churches said he considered it an extreme honour to speak to the club on Remembrance Day, Padre Saunders gave a very interesting interesting talk on the military, of which he was very qualified to do, having served as an army chaplain for 28 years, retiring only this year. He served Forces Bases, Borden, Valcarlier, Bagolville, 2 PPCLI, Kingston, Chilliwack, Toronto and with the peace keepers in Cyprus, retiring as a Major from Land Forces Central area Headquarters as the area chaplain. Padre Saunders said that the worst that has happened to the veterans, after all they went through, is that they have been forgotten. Padre Saunders was thanked by Lion Gord Jilks and presented with a token of appreciation. appreciation. In response to a request for an upright freezer from Community Care it was decided that the club would purchase purchase a freezer suitable for the requirements. Lion George Rickard volunteered to look after the purchase and delivery of a freezer. Youth Chairman, Lion Mike Carter, gave the names of the winners of the Peace Poster Contest at the local level. They are, from the Pines Sr. Public School, 1st Jen Elizabeth Lamont, 2nd Ryan Howe; Kirby Public School, 1st Kayla Fontaine, 2nd Krista Lowery; Newtonville Public School, 1st Emily Barker, 2nd Samantha Peterson. These winners will now compete at the region contest. Lion Mike commended the participants participants and as a judge at the local level reported that he was impressed with their artistry. The next regular meeting of the Newcastle Lions Club will be held in the Lions Room at the Newcastle Community Hall on November 25 with dinner served at ' 7 p.m. Guests arc welcome, please call Sicrd Delong at 987-4976 for confirmation. Board Shares Facilities The Kawarlha Pine Ridge District School Board is pleased to announce it will be sharing its facilities on D'Arcy Street in Cobourg with the Northumberland County Social Services, Ontario Works, department over the next few weeks. From November 13 for approximately two to four weeks, office areas on the first floor of the Cobourg Education Centre will be home to about 22 Social Services department employees. They arc being displaced temporarily while their offices undergo unexpected unexpected construction. "We arc pleased to be able to help our community partners," says Bryan Fisher, Superintendent of Administrative Services. "Given our desire to be good corporate neighbours and the fact that we do have space available at the D'Arcy Street offices, we have agreed to share accommodations accommodations with them temporarily." temporarily." A Helping Hand The Whitby Mental Health Centre's Spiritual and Religious Care Department got a helping hand from St. Paul's United Church recently. The $200 donation donation was presented by Rev, Naney Knox to WMHC Chaplain Markus Use. School Funding: Long-Term Solutions That Put Kids First We believe every child in this province deserves an equal chance at life. In the past, school funding was anything but fair because it was based in part on how much each school board coùld raise in local taxes. Now, thanks to student-based funding, every child in Ontario can have fair access to a high-quality education, no matter where they live. More money for classroom education, less for bureaucratic waste. For many years, parents complained about school boards spending too much on overhead and administration, and too little on classroom needs. We asked boards to find savings in overhead and administration, then apply these funds to classroom needs. Most boards responded in good faith. A few didn't. Instead, they threatened to close schools. We could not stand by and let them threaten our kids' schools. To protect children from unnecessary school closures, we came up with four different solutions. A permanent 20% top-up grant for schools with fewer students. Previously, a school built for 100 students that had only 80 students enrolled would have lost 20% of its operating budget. Now, schools operating at less than full capacity will receive a top-up grant of up to 20% to bring them closer to, or up to, full operational funding. New permanent allowances for schools with non-standard design features. Some schools have unusual design features that incur additional costs. For example, many older schools have extra-wide hallways that need to be heated and cleaned. These unique design features have now been taken into consideration when calculating school funding. More time for school boards to move money into the classroom. To prevent certain boards from unnecessarily closing schools, We're giving them more time at current funding levels to find the savings we know exist. Boards facing funding increases will receive their increases as originally scheduled. Professional third-party help to find savings in administration and overhead. In response to a request for help from the head of the Toronto District School Board, the Government will provide them, and any other board requesting it, with a team of management experts to help them find ways to save money in operations and administration. An equal chance for every child remains our goal. We're more committed than ever to raising the quality of education for all Ontario children. But we realize that it will take time for our principles to become reality. Not to mention a little give and take from everyone. Call 1-888-848-5905 and get the facts. © Ontario