“We get by with a little help from our friends”

Posted on: December 6, 2011 by Jeff Willmore Subscribe

“We get by with a little help from our friends”

Lennon and McCartney said it best; “We get by with a little help from our friends”. Nothing could be more true in our little enterprise here on the shores of Lake Fanshawe. Nobody is a specialist here, everyone is a generalist, and we all pitch in and help each other to keep things operating smoothly. I’m talking about inter-departmental and interpersonal co-operation.

This notion is very important to your maintenance department and, in turn, we function as an important support for other aspects of the operation. A prime example: Mel Sim, our able and always accommodating blacksmith has worked throughout this season in support of both the maintenance and our farm program. While my farm labourer, Martin worked hard to re-configure the gating at our Caverhill farm yard, Mel joined in, and came through with ingenious and durable latches and hinging systems. Any other metal parts we may need in our repairs around site Mel is always happy to fabricate for us. He has been pivotal in the repair of our elderly farm implements, and the design and installation of new guarding on this equipment. All this has the added benefit of providing our visitors with the experience of seeing these repairs and fabrications in progress as an interpretive activity. In return, we in the maintenance department have helped Mel this season with the modifications he has implemented to improve the operation of our Blacksmith Shop, and see that he has the tools and materials he requires. The cooperative relationship between our departments and in particular, Mel and Martin, has allowed for many lasting improvements to this site’s farm program and the smithy’s function.

A similar, but somewhat different “interdepartmental” relationship is the one that maintenance shares with our volunteer corp. This is a relationship that is often manifested by a person to person effort of cooperation and communication. An example of this personal touch can be shown, this season, in our working partnership with Fred Sleight. Often working with Dave Tate, Fred has been an energetic and personable presence in the Farm program. In partnership with FPV staff Mike Anderson, Fred and Dave have run the field crops program this season. Both men have worked very hard, often bringing in their own equipment to help get the job done. Fred has also been indispensable in the repair and regular service of our own equipment and tractors. It doesn’t stop there; not only does he help out all summer, but he is a key member of the winter restoration crew in our shop. All of this work goes a very long way to enable the farm program and support important programming events such as the Agricultural Fair. Without volunteers like Fred, Dave and the rest of the gang, the visitor experience at Fanshawe Pioneer Village would be greatly diminished.

So, dear reader, to all those who support and enable a successful maintenance and farm program at this site, I will say one thing. The maintenance department “loves you, ya, ya, ya.”

Oh, and thanks to John and Paul also.

Jeff Willmore
FPV Buildings Manager

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