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Roberta Lane, Ingersoll MS Car- nation Mother, sits in thé new Chairlift at Woodingford Lodge pool while Edith McCartney, WI push brings mkrlift to disabled . ' "jic-ofi'cr/jsr/ Chairlift installed at therapeutic pool W00DST0CK (Bureau) - An hy- draulic Chairlift has been installed at the therapeutic swimming pool at Woodingford Lodge with the $8,080 cost paid by the 17 branches of the North Oxford Women's Institute. F Women's Institute president Irene Drenth said Monday it is the first time the 17 branches have pooled their resources for a single project, which they chose to mark Interna- tional Year of the Disabled. The Chairlift is used to raise and lower patients into the pool and is easily operated by a hand crank. batient services co-ordinator ‘for the MS Society, operates the han- dcrank at the back. (Staff photo by Philip Walker) A POOL LIFT for Wopdingford Lodge in Woodstock was purchased by the uxmru noun Womens Institute. Present for the first official use of the device July 6 are Jane Jensen (left) of Thamesford, a multiple sclerosis patient, Margaret Munnoch of Woodstock, multiple sclerosis chairman, and Irene Drenth of Embro, president, of Oxford North “ ' ._- (Contributed Photo) District Oxford North District Women’s Institute, com- prised of 17 local branches from the northern part of Oxford County, held its spring board meeting in April 1981 and had as a special speaker, Mrs. Margaret Munnoch of the Multiple Selerosis Society._ From this meeting the idea was conceived that the Women’s Institute branches from Oxford North would provide a pool Ain to Woodingford Lodge in Woodstock for therapy and aid to handicapped persona ofOxford County. (3xford Wd. Donates PoolLift When the Women's Institute pulls together to support a worthy cause, the resting can_be sptc.tacu1y. - - -_ ‘_ Last night; representatives from 17 branches of the North Oxford district gathered at Woodingford Lodge pool to cut the ribboh on an $8,080 hydraulic lift, the Institute's contribution to the International Year of the Disabled. _ The Chairlift will allow any disabled and elderly residents of oxford County who benefit from water therapy to be easily raised and [Owered into. the heated pool. Before it was pur- chased, swimmers in the regular multiple sclerosis society swim program hadto rely on. a manual "heave-ho" from volunteers. l The Women's Institute became involved in the project in early spring when two members, Alison Hart and Helen Hossack, approached their district president with the idea. Both knew a wheelchair-bound woman in Woodingford Lodge who would benefit from the therapeutic swim program if a lift was available. MS CHAIRMAN INVITED MS chairman Marjorie Munnoch was invited to the Institute's spring executive meeting to discuss the project, and by the annual meeting in June, the 17 branches had plnged $5,990. . " , '"ii'i'riie we'd come that far, we said why not go all the way? " North Oxford president Irene Drenth said in an interview. "We left it until the end of June andpll the money came. in.'] Much of the $8,080 was raised at last year's International Plowing Match, Mrs. Drenth said. Although this is the first large-scale project the North Oxford Institute has attempted, individual branches are always busy in the community, she added. The Institute raised money toward the Embro com- munity centre, some groups canvass for the blind, and others send donations to the Women's Emergency Centre and help the local Red, Cross Society. _ . . " . . ... . The more than 600 WI members involved in the lift project hail from the Braemar, Brooksdale, Browns, Drumbo, Princess Elizabeth, Embro West Zorra, Harrington, Hickson, Innerkip, Kintore, Lakeside, Anna P. Lewis, Grace Patterson, Plattsville, Tavistock, Uniondale and Woodstock North branches. Delegates at this meeting took the information back to the individual branches and pledges were made at the District Annual in late May 1981. Since the pledges didn't fully cover the entire cost, representatives again ap- proached their/W133 for further donations and this along with the aid of a donation from the executive of Oxford North fully realized the cast. _ - The executive of Oxford North District and represen- tatives from the 17 bran- ches: Braemar, Brooksdnle, BY CYNTHIA DAVID Family Editor was Jirerasiripy_the Oxford North Browns, Drumbo, Princess Elizabeth, Embro West Zorra, Harrington, Hickson, Innerkip, Kintore, Lakeside, Anna P. Lewis, Grace Pat- terson, Plattsville, Tavistock, Uniondale and Woodstock North were present for the dedication ceremony at Woodingford Lodge on July 6, 1981. Also present were Dr. Harry Parrott, former Minister of the Environment for On- tario, Mr. Ernie Wood, Chief Administrator "for Wopdingtopi Lodge and Mr. Jack Warden, Chairman of theWoodingford Board.