Tillsonburg District High School - Tatler Yearbook (Tillsonburg, Ontario Canada)

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THE JUNIOR ORATORICAL CONTEST The Junior Public Speaking Contest was held in the Town Hall on Thursday even- ing, March 10, with Mr. Kirkwood acting as chairman. Out of nine contestants, Lois Law was judged the best speaker and was presented with an engraved fountain pen in tribute. Lois was also winner of the girls' division and received a silver cup donated by The I.ion's Club. Her topic was Democracy versus Communism. Richard Gregson won first prize Ca his silver cupj in the boys' division for interesting speech on The Life of Winston Churchill. Second prizes in the girls' and boys' divisions were presented to Maybelle Thompson speaking on Why I Am Proud to be a Canadian, and William Fishback who discussed Soil Conserva- tion. ,Other contestants included Kathleen Sandor speaking on Etiquette , Dorothy Helsdon, The Brooklyn Bridge , Shirley Eichenberg, Rhythm of Raindrops , Margaret Dawson, Glass , Wallace Hoyle, Our Canadian Giants , and Verne Har- vey, The Age of Reptiles. Both Senior and Junior Oratorical Con- tests were organized by Miss McIntosh and Miss Ostrander, and the contestants were judged by Mr. S. Wightman, Mr. E. Homewood and Miss Evelyn Williams. While the judges were making their decision, the Glee Club under Miss R. Field, and the school Orchestra under W. Fishbock, M. Thompson, R. Gregson, L. Low. T H E T A T L E R v 'lv 1' - K- W- - -.-nn... .,g,,.J D. Palmer, R. Jones, A. Gerhardt, B. Smith. Steve Choma presented a delightful musi- cal interlude. SENIOR ORATORICAL CONTEST The Senior Oratorical Contest was held in the High School Gymnasium on Wed- nesday evening, March 23, with many enthusiasts, parents and friends in at- tendance. The programme was officially opened with Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, acting as chairman for the evening, announcing the speakers as follows: Richard Jones who spoke on History of Music and Spring is Here! : Douglas Palmer on Does Canada Need a Peace-Time Army? and My Greatest Ambition , Betty Smith on How Are We Going to Keep Them Down on the Farm ? and Getting up on a Cold Morning , Donald Lee on Canada as a Nation and My Favourite Radio Pro- gramme , Fern Robinson on Racial Preju- dice and Democracy and Popular Songs of Yesterday and Today , Agnes Thurston on Soil Conservation and The Drug Store After School , Amelia Gerhardt on What the Tenth Province Means to Canada and Extra-Curricular School Activities , Lucille Monk on Reforesta- tion and What I Know About Countries Other Than Canada , Mary Lilly on Jack Miner and His Sanctuary and Colds, Richard Jones was the champion and receiver of the Senior Boys' Trophy pre- sented by the Tillsonburg Lions Club and 29

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London, who gave his address on Friday evening. A feature of the 1948 Commencement was the first public appearance of the newly organized High School Orchestra under the direction of Steve Choma. The orchestra provided music during both evenings' programmes. After the programme opened with the singing of O Canada and the school song, a group of boys performed on the gymnastic horse, and the clowning of Robert Fairs brought gasps of admiration and shouts of amusement. Mr. Kirkwood adressed the audience with a few remarks concerning the stu- dents' progress during the past year. Grade IX girls then performed a de- lightful dance entitled the Moron March, followed by a lively square dance by Grade X girls. The vocal offerings during both nights' programmes were rendered by a mixed chorus, the T.H.S. Glee Club, who sang negro spirituals. A Boys' Chorus added much to the programme by their spirited rendition of Stout-Hearted Men. These stout-hearted singers included: D. Lee, D. Ashman, D. Currie, R. Rokeby, R. Gib- son, R. Mannell, J. Culp, R. Mason, J. Jones, K. Webster. Eleanor Collings sang a solo, with violin obligato by Steve Choma, which gave added enjoyment. Charles Ketchabaw of- fered a pleasing violin solo. Presentations were made to the students hy Grant Haley of South Norwich, H. F. Johnston of Tillsonburg and K. Emerson of Vienna. Commencement Dance: Following Commencement a dance was held in the school gymnasium, sponsored by the Boys' Athletic Society. A high- light of the evening was a boys' beauty contest which resulted in Dutchy Van- derhoek being crowned Miss Tillsonburg of 1948. His charming ballet costume really did something for him! The runner- up was Carl Wilson, alias? AT HOME '49 Here we are, at last, at the big event of the year. We're wonderfully excited and happy as we cautiously descend the golden stairway to the magic ballroom. We pause at the entrance and gasp with admiration at the miracle Barbara has achieved with 28 our usually drab and bleak gymnasium. The receiving line, composed of Barbara Mason and Ken Webster, Mr. and Mrs. Kirkwood, Mr. and Mrs. Wightman, have been making the students and guests wel- come. The older boys have been asked to work in shifts patrolling the track, halls and basement. So while our escort takes his turn we stand and literally gape at the decorations. The gym now resembles a huge circus tent with streamers providing the big- top effect. Along the walls are cages, the bars being streamers. Inside these are cute little animals looking over the dancers with interest and admiration. A seal is balancing a ball on the end of his nose from one backboard, while a grinning, large-nosed clown presides on the other. Ted Pudney's famous orchestra is encaged in a streamered corner under a sign read- ing Circus Band . A variety of balloons about the room will no doubt provide future fun. The variety of colour is most effective and we hear rumours that the gym looks the best in years. As we dance to the dreamy music, it is interesting to note who is dancing with whom. Look! There's Shirley and Gene talking to Jean and Georgie. Quite a foursome these days! And there's Pat and Pete. She's absolutely adorable. After a few dances we wander up to the hall to patronize the coke and cookie booth. Well, I guess we aren't the only ones thinking of our stomachs. There is Buzz with his steady, Marie, that cute fifth former. And-well for goodness sake- it seems we are being honoured by the presence of Martha and Al Rokeby. You know them, Tillsonburg's latest matri- monial couple. Betty Leatherdale looks happy as usual, and no wonder, with Doug's diamond winking from the third finger of her left hand. Just for a change we decide to wander up on the track and view the goings-on from above. The drummer suddenly solos and we have the advantage up here. We can look down and get a bird's eye view of the gum-chewing drummer and his flying paws. About one o'clock the dance ends, and with the pink-elephant dance cards as souvenirs we leave the school with happy memories of the '49 Hop. Marilyn Stilwell, XII. THE TATLER

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an engraved pen presented by the T.D.H.S. Literary Society. Douglas Palmer as runner-up was pre- sented with an engraved pencil from the T.D.H.S. Literary Society and also a special award donated by R. G. Groom for the best speaker from the Athletic Team. Amelia Gerhardt was presented the 'Tillsonburg Lions Club Trophy as the best senior girl speaker. Betty Smith was presented with an engraved pencil from the T.D.H.S. Liter- ary Society as runner-up The awards were presented by D. F. Gibson. While the judges, Mr. D. F. Gibson and Miss Evelyn Williams, were making their decisions, the Glee Club, led by Miss R. Field, entertained the audience with a selection of songs. The boys of the Glee Club contributed Stout Hearted Men and Mary Claire and Barbara MacEWan sang When Day is Done. Mr. W. P. Kirkwood announced that each speaker would receive a crest. The fcllllflillllfld on Page 732 PUPPET CLUB The puppeteers have been very active this term, going to Mrs. E. V. 'l'illson's to entertain the Travel Club and preparing for their annual spring show. Looking over the features to be pre- sented on April 13, we see two plays, Bluebeard , directed by Ann Dean, as- sisted by Mary Morrison and Ruth Haw- kins, and The Three Wishes , under the direction of Betty Burn and Jean Ander- song a blackface clown, Touchstone , who dances to Peter Gibson's tuneg a bull-fight featuring a ferocious bull and a matador, directed by Verne Harveyg and through the efforts of Elizabeth Gibson, Ignace Jan Paderewski, who will solo at the baby grand. A favourite of yesteryear, Ruth Hawkins' amiable clown Jasper will return to entertain with gymnastics. This year's executive consists of: Presi- dent, Ann Dean, Secretary, Jean Ander- son, Treasurer, Amelia Gerhardt. The Club's activities are under the supervision of Miss Grieve and Miss Field. PUPPET CLUB V. Harvey, E. Gibson, R. Hawkins, A. Deon, J. Anderson, E. Burn. ABSENT: M. Morrison, P. Gibson. 30 THE TATLER