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| | PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, February 19, 1991 -- 7 i Viewpoint THE SMOKE-EATERS Officially, they are firefighters. But sometimes people call them "Smoke-eaters," an obvious refer- ence to their often hazardous occupation. In Scugog To vnship, our "Smokies" are all volun- teers. Fighting fires is not their main occupation. They come from all walks of life and backgrounds. They work in factories, local stores, operate their own businesses. And the work they do as volunteer firefighters has evolved over the years. They still fight fires, of course. But these days, you'll find them at the scene of any major accident putting their skills and training to work to get trapped victims out of the twisted wreckage. In some cases, the minutes saved in get- ting badly injured victims out of the wreckage has meant the difference between life and death. Fighting fires is a tough job and can be danger- ous to the health. Likewise, when they are called upon to repond to any emergency situation where the life of another human being is on the line. On at least three occasions this winter, local vol- unteer firefighters have been asked to put themselves at serious risk to rescue people from . Lake Scugog; people who have gone through thin ice into the frigid waters. The most dangerous times are just after freeze- up and just before break-up. In my opinion, an ice rescue, especially at night, is every bit as dangerous as getting somebody out of a burning building, perhaps more so. Anyone who has ever been involved in a rescue of this sort knows the danger: Thin ice, open water, lack of visibility, the cries for help from the victim(s) floundering in the water. It is a frightening scenario because frigid water kills just as quickly and efficiently as smoke or flames in a burning building. Just over a week ago, two members of the Scu- gog Fire Department (Caesarea Hall) appeared in front of the local council with a request for $8,000. Capt. Richard Miller and Lt. Bill Hueston ex- plained to council that late last year, members of the department put their own safety at risk in two separ- ate ice rescues. And with break-up just around the corner, they want to have the proper equipment if called out this spring. No doubt they will be, as there seems to be no shortage of people who either don't know about the ice conditions, or don't care. And as Miller said to the council: "we can't just say no and not try to rescue people". Councillors (or at least a majority) agreed to the request for funds. But no sooner had the vote been taken, when one councillor, Ward 2 rep Marilyn Pearce resigned on the spot as chairman of the Fire Protection Com- mittee. Her resignation had nothing to do with the de- partment needing this special rescue craft and equip- ment. It had to do with the timing of the allocation of the $8500. That money will have to come from the de- artment's 1991 budget, a budget which has not yet n approved. An council had issued strong direction to the committee she chairs that capital budgets for both fire halls in 1991 must be held at last year's levels. She felt that when council OK'd the purchase last week, that decision contradicted the policy council wants followed for the 1991 budget. it was a tough situation. The department obvi- councillor Pearce noted that ously needs to order this equipment immediately so that it's here for the spring break-up season. Yet the 1991 budget for the funds won't be approved for sev- eral weeks. | can't fault councillor Pearce for resigning on principle, yet if our local volunteer firefighters find themselves out on Lake Scugog in the middle of the night trying to pull some guy out of the water, | want them to have the best possible equipment to get the job done and to protect their own lives. Of course | hope that new equipment never has to be used. But that's wishful thinking. Once March 1 arrives and the warm weather starts to soften the ice, you can bet your last penny that somebody is going to wind up in the water. And who's going to pul him out? Some guy in sneakers, jeans and windbreaker with a hunk of rope over his shoulder? Not bloody likely. WORTH A LOOK If you are a regular visitor to the Scugog Memari- al Library, you probably have seen the bronze statue now on display. It's of a World War 1 cavalry officer, astride his faithful steed. The statue is the work of Port Perry resident Tyl- er Briley. But it will be on display at the Library only for a few more weeks before it moves on to a perma- nent home at the National War Museum in the Na- tion's capital. Yes, it's that good that the War Museum has pur- chased it. My knowledge of art would fit nicely on a post- age stamp, but 1 know what | like. And this statue is remarkable. Tyler would appear to have a bright fu- ture ahead as a sculptor. it's well worth a trip to the Library for a look, and one can see why the War Museum bought it. Remember When? 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 21, 1946 Hugh Lucas, a one time resident of Port Perry, retired as Governor of Whitby Jail. He was succeeded by Mr. James D.G. Sutherland of Whitby. | Port Perry High School Choir travelled to Toronto by bus to Eaton Auditorium. They placed third in the Choir Competition. Oakwood placed first and Vaughan Road placed second. The Ontario Agricultural Societies Convention was held in the King Edward Hotel. Attending from Port Perry and area were Mr. Fred Christie, Pres. R.D. Woon, Secretary, along with the lady delegates, Mrs. L. Honey, Mrs. Ben Smith and Mrs. Sandy Moore. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 23, 1956 An election was held in Cartwright to elect one councillor in place of Merlin Suggitt, who resigned in order to take the job of road superintendent. Mr. Osmond Wright was elected with Neil Malcolm running a close second. The flu germ has visited a great number of homes in Port Perry area and the doctors have been kept quite busy. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 16, 1961 The Valentine Dance at the high school, sponsored by the Literary Society was an enjoyable evening. The music was pro- vided by "Les Garcons," a boys' orchestra from Ajax High School. Mr. Don McIntosh, for some time a resident of Port Perry and well known to all as Bell Telephone in the minds of Port Perry folk, was honoured at a dinner-dance held in Oshawa by some 175 co-workers and their wives or escorts. Port Perry High School was host for the Annual Education Conference of District 20 of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 17, 1966 After placing third in the Canadian Junior Mixed Title Championship in 1965, Anna Forder and Richard Stephens took top honours by winning the 1966 championship in Peterborough last Thursday. Wayne Goreski of Port Perry, won a medal by placing 3rd in a Slalom Race held on Sugar Hill at Gray Rocks Inn, St. Jovite, the Laurentian Mountains, Quebec. Instead of hiring an additional police constable for 1966, Port Perry Council raised the salaries of the present Police Chief (Turn to Page 11) LeHers io the editor Time to start supporting nurses To the Editor: This is with reference to the re- cent negotiations being conducted between The Ontario Hospital Association, (representing the majority of hospitals manage- ment in The Province of Ontario) and The Ontario Nurses Associa- tion, (representing some 50% of Registered Nurses in Ontario but a much greater percentage within Nursing-oriented facilities such as Hospitals and nursing homes). As an interesting observer, and yes, I am married to an R.N., it has been brought to my attention that the Central Bargaining Com- mittee of ONA has been stymied by the extremely cavalier at- titude of the OHA (Read Hospitals) negotiating team. In particular, but by no means limited to, the position by said OHA that job experience is not a matter on which to base "A double- standard?" To the Editor: In December 1989, the postal code in Port Perry was changed from LOB to LIL. We were notified in 1990 that any mail with the wrong postal code would be returned to sender. My question is how come Government mail from Ottawa with the old postal code is still be- ing delivered and not being returned to sender. If this is the case do we have a double standard of mail delivery in this town. Ken Clark 311 Cochrane St. Port Perry LIL 1N1 monetary compensation. Now in dealing with any profession or trade, (other obviously than Nurses) we the consumer recognize the value of experience as inherent to the quality of the work or service. That is not to say however that first year nurses, probationary constables, first year M.D.'s etc. are not highly skilled persons but rather, and I am certain that they themselves will agree, there truly is no substitute for on-the-job learning, thereby leading to a more profi- cient practitioner. Now if R.N.'s are not worthy of this recognition why have they been classified as "An Essential Service" and prevented from collectively withdrawing their services (strik- ing) under extremely punitive legal threat of financial and in- carcerative penalties? It is high time that the people of Ontario and in particular the residents of Port Perry and en- virons support their R.N.'s! Write, phone, FAX your M.P.P.'s, and help to correct a terrible in- justice within our democratic . system. Remember, when you read about or are told that there are no beds available for you or loved ones, due to a lack of nurses, it could be that you chose not to support this important cause and the nurses, as they are presently doing in droves, have sought improved incomes in other jobs. Apathy can be a killer. Yours truly, Keith A. Charles Port Perry WALL ST. [I | S| (| - .. RL lh ld i le i CB IT rth LE ii LL