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"A Family Tradition for 125 Years" -- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, August 13, 1991 - 23 Learn to do by doing 4-H clubs appeal to a variety of people By Gillian Barfoot When Margaret Couperth- waite first became a 4-H leader in 1966, girls belonged to home- making clubs -- with one sew- ing and one cooking project each year -- and boys were in agriculture clubs -- with the choice of either cattle or grain. Now all clubs are open to both boys and girls, who follow the 4-H motto "learn to do by doing" in projects such as rais- ing rabbits, baking bread, and learning about heritage, safety, fitness and environmental is- sues. Mrs. Couperthwaite says she completed 12 projects be- fore she was married, and this year she retired from the 4-H ps i 1 Margaret Couperthwaite has been involved in the 4-H clubs WRELR clubs after having led members in 51 projects. She taught girls between the ages of 10 and 25 how to knit and sew, garden, cook, pickle, and bake bread. "Three-quarters of my cook- ing is 4-H recipes," she says. 'I've enjoyed every project." Joy Carnochan is a 17-year- old member who is involved in both the Durham West and Durham East clubs. Even though she only found out about 4-H a few years ago, she has already completed five projects, has three on the go, and is a member of the Youth Action Council. "It's important to get into as many projects as you can, so you can learn more," she says. 3 NA for most of her life. She recently stepped down from her posi- tion as a club leader, after 25 years and 51 different projects. "You have everything to gain." Joy says she enjoys the agri- cultural clubs more than the life skills, because she likes be- ing outdoors. But not every- body expects girls to be more interested in farm skills than household skills. When she and her older sis- ter decided to sign up for the farm machinery club three years ago, the leader "didn't know what to do with girls -- he was shocked," remembers Joy. She proudly recounts how, although the other eight club members were boys, her sister finished at the top of the class and she came in third. Two years ago she raised. a pig as part of her requirements for the swine club. The pig had to be trained to be shown at a fair, she ex- plains. When her leader came to put the ring in his nose, they couldn't catch it. But in spite of lack of training, the pig be- haved perfectly on fair day and won reserve champion in its class. "But the hardest part is to spend all that time with the animal and then let it go," she says. Joy admits that sometimes the younger members of the clubs have a harder time with some of the projects. As an example, she tells of the 10-year-old member of a beef club who has to raise a steer calf and show it by him- self. It's difficult for a young- ster to be able to handle a heavy animal, so sometimes the parents do the work, she says. "But 4-H is really keen on you doing the work and not the parents." For Joy's friend, Julie Byers, 20, "4-H is part of growing up." Now a senior member, Julie has been in 4-H since she was 10 and has worked through 28 different projects. She has also received schol- arships through 4-H, including the 1991 Hoodless-Lee Feder- ated Women's Institute of On- orf jo #2 4-H is alive and well in Scugog township. Julie Byers, left, and Joy Carnochan say you don't have to live on a farm to join, but you do have to be willing to learn about anything from horticulture and fitness to baking bread and raising pigs. tario Provincial Scholarship and the 1990 Ted Buttery Scholarship toward her child studies course at Guelph Uni- versity. The Ontario clubs are ad- ministered by the Ontario 4-H council, a partnership between elected 4-H representatives and the Ministry of Agricul- ture and Food. The ministry provides the learning materials, workshops and awards, and co-ordinates the program through a Rural Organizations Specialist, but volunteers provide the exper- tise, time and transportation for each club. "The leaders are all volun- teers, so you know they're dedi- cated," says Julie. Now she doesn't take part in the projects anymore, but is in- volved with the Junior Farm- ers' branch of the 4-H, which organizes fund-raisers and dances and "isn't just farmers," she explains. "A lot of people think 4-H is Just for farm kids," says Joy. - She explains that the agricul- ture clubs only represent a few of the different projects that someone can get involved in. 4-H encourages young peo- ple to develop their self- confidence, sense of responsi- bility, leadership and commu- nication skills by emphasizing the four "H's -- head, heart, hands and health. "4-H is about learning," she says. "And once you're in it, you're hooked." NDP seeking input on Sunday Shopping Bill by Gord Mills, M.P.P. Durham East The Justice Committee heard from the public in Toronto and Collingwood about their views on Bill 115, perhaps better known as the Sunday Shopping Bill recent- ly. This week we will be hearing from people in the North as we travel across the province. As Parliamentary Assistant to the Solicitor General, my role on the committee is to carry the Bill through the hearings on behalf of the government, and later through clause by clause, for subsequent presentation to the Legislature by the Solicitor General. Bill 115's major objective is to provide a common pause day for retail workers as well as recognize the importance of tourism to our province. Our com- mittee is seeking public opinion on how to make the legislation bet- ter and many good suggestions have been brought forward. We have heard from many peo- ple and organizations on both sides of the issue. I was hoping that we would hear from some presenters in our area, so I was pleased that David Shepherd of the Scugog Ministerial took the time to come and give us the views of his ministry on this mat- ter. The Scugog ministerial represents many churches in the Scugog area. While Reverend Shepherd had some criticism of the legislation, he believes it is important for families to have a Common Pause Day. He also expressed concern that Sunday shopping would force many people to work and give up time with their families to allow the rest of us to shop. Church groups are not the only groups opposed to Sunday Shop- ping. Many small businesses have expressed a desire to close on Sunday. They are concerned that they will be forced to open even though their expenses will be higher than their revenues. Some smaller retailers feel that con- sumers only have so much money to spare and that the same money will simply be spread over seven days instead of six days. Cross-border shopping has been targeted as a reason to open on Sunday. I have spoken about this in the past. We should keep in mind that local merchants sup- port many services in our com- munities. They contribute through taxes and create jobs, and support the community by funding worthwhile causes. Local retail businesses play a valuable role in supporting our com- munities - we should play our part and support them in return. While in Sudbury last Wednes- day attending the public hearings on Bill 115, I received the very sad news of Marg Wilbur's tragic death. Many of us in the Durham area knew Marg as a tireless com- munity and NDP worker. She touched the lives of many people with her energy and commitment to helping people. Marg ran for the NDP provin- cially and federally in Durham East. She was the person who in- spired me to get involved with the NDP. Like many others, I valued her friendship and her advice. Her passing is a terrible blow to our community. We will all miss her very much. But she has left behind a legacy that will continue to be a source of inspiration to many. The high esteem in which Marg was held was evident at her funeral in Lakefield on Friday. Those attending to pay their respects included government ministers, the Lewis family, labour leaders, representatives from Community Care Associa- tions, the Port Perry Library Board, and many neighbours and friends. I have searched my mind for the right tribute to pay Marg. I think John Wesley's Rule is very fitting. Do all the good you can By all the means you can In all the ways you can At all the places you can To all the people you can As long as ever you can Margaret Wilbur lived that rule in life, and she remains an in- spiration for the rest of us. Last week, the public hearings on Bill 115 (Sunday Shopping) continued in Thunder Bay, Sud- bury and North Bay. Committee members heard from religious organizations, labour unions, retailers, the Chamber of Commerce, the tourist industry, and large retailers. Many of these groups have strong opposing views on this issue. While it is impossible to satisfy everyone with this Bill, the pur- pose of hearings is for us to listen and make the legislation better through public input. This is one reason draft tourism regulations were put out with the Bill. Usual- ly regulations are drafted separately at a later date. Our government took the unusual step of opening the draft regulations up for comment from the public as part of our ongoing commit- ment to a more open government. 'e This week the committee will be visiting Ottawa, Peterborough, Kingston and Toronto. In closing this week, con- gratulations to Harold and Ada Cooney of Newcastle, whe. celebrated their 50th wedding an- niversary last Saturday. 1 was very pleased to present Harold and Ada with a scroll from the Premier on behalf of the govern- ment of Ontario. Till next week - please be kind to everyone you meet.