Organizers Connie Drake and Holly Hastie welcomed over 120 present and past members to the 50th anniversary celebration of the South Delta Newcomers and Alumnae earlier this month at the South Delta Recreation Centre.
In 1967, South Delta was a very different community. With the opening of the George Massey Tunnel in 1959, this area attracted young families. Back in the 1960s families only had one car and when the husband went to work, the young moms felt isolated.
This isolation necessitated the friendships and support of these young families through coffee parties, craft groups and exchange babysitting.
The first newcomers group formed under Doris Postlewaite and met in members' homes. The mandate of the club is unchanged today - welcoming new women into the community by sharing common interests and developing life-long friendships.
This theme was echoed throughout the evening from speakers on each of the five decades. Avril Gauthier and Ann Featherstone, who are still members, provided highlights of what it was like to live here in the '60s and how Newcomers was their lifeline.
Rose Rohaly, president in 1974, shared her stories from the 1970s and even brought with her the South Delta Newcomers Cookbook the group published that year.
Roberta Russell spoke of the 1980s and how she and Gayle Quattrochi brought new energy and ideas to Newcomers. Among their special interest groups was a walking group whose route once a month would be to deliver the newsletters.
Steve McQueen (not the actor, but the club's own Steve McQueen), who was president in 1992, provided highlights from moving from her all-brick Toronto home to her wooden house in Beach Grove and the adjustments and how she brought fun into Newcomers.
Connie Drake, president from 2006-08, talked about the changes that were brought to the club with the computer as a communications tool between the monthly meetings and a way to deliver the club's monthly newsletter.
Linda Rigby, the current president, spoke about how the club continues to thrive with its 117 members. She read congratulatory letters from National Newcomers of Canada, and a letter from Brenda Bourdeau, a former member who has moved back to Ontario and a card from the Vancouver Newcomers Alumnae.
Janet Rodgers, a past member and the incoming president of the Vancouver Newcomers alumnae, presented long stem red roses and thank-you notes to the 17 past presidents in attendance.
The evening concluded with the club's annual Strawberry Social.
The Newcomers group meets the third Thursday, September through June, at the Kiwanis Longhouse in Tsawwassen at 7 p.m. If you are new to the area, the group welcomes you.
