Lois Hackett receives award for 50 years of service with Kincardine hospital auxiliary

Lois Hackett of Kincardine was honoured for 50 years of service to the South Bruce Grey Health Centre - Kincardine hospital auxiliary, during the annual dessert and awards evening, held Wednesday night at the Kincardine hospital.

Ginny Ross, past-president and awards committee convener, made the presentation and thanked Hackett for her hard work and dedication.

Hackett said 50 years is a long time but she thoroughly enjoyed working with the auxiliary as she met so many wonderful people.

"Back in 1967, we had  20 members and we held dances at the pavilion, sold geraniums, held tag days and worked in the gift shop which was much smaller than the one we have now," she said. "We used to put gift shop items on a cart and take it around to the rooms."

Hackett has served as president of the auxiliary three times and has been social convener numerous times. She received a 50-year service pin and an outstanding service pin. In 1988, she received her Kincardine life membership, and in 2001, she received her provincial life membership.

Press reporter Liz Nurton read a poem she had written about Hackett's many achievements and the auxiliary activities beginning 50 years ago. Hackett's daughter, Shelley Pollock, attended the meeting and her mother mentioned that she had grown up going to many auxiliary events .

The dessert portion of the meeting was a sweet social time. Chris Gravel supplied a beautifully-decorated cake and there were chocolate-dipped strawberries, a fruit tray, cheese and crackers, and punch to enjoy.

Other awards included:
 

• Hospital Auxiliary Association of Ontario (HAAO) pins - vice-presidents Judy Lackner and Pat Emmerton
• Ten-year service pins and certificates -  Betty Johnstone, Nancy Potter, Lesley Edwards and Sharon Johnson
• Five-year certificates - Pat Emmerton and Carol Collins
• Long-time gift shop volunteers - Joan Threndyle and Shirley Marie Harris

The following is the poem, written by Liz Nurton, in honour of Lois Hackett's 50 years of service to the auxiliary:

WOW .... for her 50 years with our Kincardine Auxiliary
I’d like to honour Lois and her service today
A friend and neighbour asked her to join
And the “rest is history” as they say.
 
In 1967, there were only 20 members
But they were as busy as can be
They held bake sales, raffles and a fashion show
And with the affiliated Ripley Women’s Institute had a yearly tea.
 
The ladies organized a Tartan Day
With a cake wheel and games for the kids to play
And on May 12, they had a tea
To celebrate Nurse’s Day.
 
They held dances at the Pavilion
And afterwards partied till the wee hours too
They collected Zehrs tapes and sold geraniums
And had events like Tag Day that we still do.
 
The gift shop was much, much smaller then
And they took a cart to the room with items to sell.
They sold ”I was born in Kincardine Hospital“ baby T-shirts
And the New Year’s Baby received a layette as well.
 
Now because the auxiliary was so small
Lois became social convener right off the bat.
She was the secretary often and the president three times
But never treasurer; she didn’t want to do that.
 
She was the auxiliary representative on the Kincardine hospital board
Then became the first woman member on that  board among the men.
Lois was also secretary-treasurer of the provincial board, Region 3
And she and Mary Lou had some fun travelling then.
 
Lois has her many pins
To commemorate her work the 50 years through
A president’s pin and a past-president’s pin
As well as an outstanding service pin too.
 
Lois received her Kincardine Auxiliary Life Membership pin in 1988
and her Provincial Auxiliary Life Membership Pin in 2001
But her special appreciation awards came from her favourite Tories,
Mike Harris and Lisa Thompson!
  
Now I probably haven’t mentioned everything
But THANKS Lois for all that you’ve done
50 years – what an achievement!
Congratulations from everyone!