S

TWA PEOPLE AND PLACE

A friend of Fraser Valley
loggers passes suddenly

On June 16 IWA members, the
Fraser Valley community of
Chilliwack and outlying areas lost a
good friend when Brother Bernie
Cross passed away suddenly. The 49
year-old former timber faller was
highly regarded by the union and
the entire community. “Barry was
an excellent per-
son who was a
real ally for the
union on a num-
ber of important
issues even when
he wasn’t a union
member directly,”
says national
union secretary-
treasurer David Tones, who was
president of the former IWA Local 1-
367 local in Haney, where Brother
Cross was an executive board mem-
ber in the late 80s and early 90s.
Among the many things he did was
assist the union in its land-use bat-
tles over the spotted owl and help
set up the Fraser Training Society, a
joint skills upgrading and training
program, in the Fraser Valley
Timber Supply Area which success-
fully sought SAFER funding as a
pilot program.

The six-foot-seven Cross was a
“gentle giant” says Local 1-3567
first vice president Barry King. “He
was a caring and passionate individ-
ual who freely gave of himself and
his time to others,” says Brother
King, who worked very closely with
him on the training society. “He was
a workers’ worker who acted for the
interests of community in the area.”

Barry also served as a Chilliwack
city counsellor since November of
1993 and served on the board of the
Fraser Valley Regional District.
Brother Cross is survived by his wife
Betty, son Travis and daughter
Whitney.

Bernie Cross

Former Port Alberni local
financial-secratary passes on
Brother William (Bill) Hawkes former
financial secretary of IWA Canada
Local 1-85 in Port Alberni, passed
away peacefully on July 26 at age
70. Bill was an IWA member for 52
years who worked at the MacMillan
Bloedel Franklin
River logging
camp. He served
as a local union
Officer for 22
years and as
financial-secretary

A of the local from
BillHawkes 1973 to 1992. A
resident of

Coombs since 1944, Brother Hawkes
was a dedicated trade unionist who
served the membership well. “We'll
always remember Bill, the contribu-
tions he made, and his steady, calm
approach to difficult matters,” says
IWA Local 1-85 president Monty
Mearns. IWA National President
Dave Haggard, who worked with
Brother Hawkes for many years,
says “it’s guys like Bill who helped
build our organization and we owe
him a debt of gratitude.”

PHOTO COURTESY BOWATER CANADIAN FOREST PRODUCTS INC.

= [WALocal 2693 member John Grabish is pictured here, with a collection of wood carvings and other craft work.

LOCAL 2693 TRUCKER AND WIFE DONATE CRAFTS TO CHARITIES

In memory of a loved one

IF AND WHEN YOU MAY BECOME consumed by a
tragedy in your life, you will eventually try to overcome
it. That’s what IWA Local 2693 member John Grabish
has experienced. In March of 1999 John, his wife Carole
and family were struck with deep personal tragedy when
their 38 year-old daughter
Denise Jo-Ann Zoub passed
away following a difficult and
| courageous battle with breast
cancer. She left behind son
Steven, who is a 21 year-old
today. To Brother Grabish, los-
ing a daughter was under-
.| standably a debilitating experi-
ence. A natural depression set
in and he was unable to work
and function in a normal way.
| “It (Denise’s passing) tore the

heart out of us, and I just can’t

find words today to express the
sorrow that our family has felt and lived through to
endure,” he says.

Fortunately, at the time, John had a very understand-
ing employer who granted him additional time off with
financial support. As he recovered, John and Carole
would visit places where Denise used to go and they
found out about the many volunteer activities and char-
ities that she had dedicated her time to. Denise would
volunteer countless hours to fundraising for local chari-
ties and spent a good deal of effort assisting the elderly
at a retirement home in Thunder Bay. A chip off the old
block, Denise was a skilled craftsperson and donated her
work for fundraising at the home. Monies were raised
for many activities and they even bought a new TV for
the facility's recreation room.

Then a light began to shine. As they emerged from
their sorrow, the Grabishes started to think: “What can
we do to make to help those in need like Denise did?”

They started to assist charity groups, non-profit
groups and people who are suffering financial loss due
to the loss of work or health problems. They also began
to help families who are taking care of ill family mem-
bers and persons and those who are drained financially
and emotionally.

Today they work with the local Ride for Cancer, Ride
for Muscular Dystrophy and Ride for Sight (both locally
and nationally). Other activities on the list include the
support of Camp Quality (a children’s camp for cancer

Denise Jo-Ann Zoub

victims), school fundraisers, churches and non-profit
organizations. In memory of Denise, they assist in
fundraising for the Northern Cancer Research
Foundation. -

Back in ‘88 when John was hauling for the Great Lake
Forest Products company, he began working on hand
crafts. Some of his early work started with model alu-
minum wire motorcycles, bikes, and scooters. He also
uses coloured plastic tubing.

Wooden bikes are made from scraps of wood. “The
bodies are started from anything we can find — bass-
wood, pine and spruce,” says John, who now hauls for
the Bowater Corporation’s Thunder Bay division. “We
sometimes get exotic overseas wood species from pal-
lets.” He also prefers to work with DFS board for the
production of wall hanging signs.”

“John and his wife do some pretty incredible stuff,”
says Local 2693 president Joe Hanlon. “They have real-
ly channeled a lot of energy in a positive direction and it
really shows in their work.” At the wrap-up of this year’s
safety conference in Thunder Bay, Joe raffled off one of
Brother Grabish’s model motorcycles to a lucky winner
and explained the impetus behind the craft work. IWA
delegates gave a rousing round of applause.

The craft list goes on: wood
tulips, fancy flowers out of cloth,
| | wire and green paper set into

| wood blocks, etc.

“Our next project is to make
garden rocks, rock markers,
headstones for pets and fancy
rock designs for gardens and
| walk ways,” says John. He and
Carole recently set themselves
up with an air compressor and
sandblasting equipment in their
Mom Carole at work 82rage at home!

Needless to say, working long
shifts and cranking out crafts, keeps him and Carole
quite busy. “I can’t figure out why people say they have
nothing to do,” he jokes. “I wish I had a 72 hour day and
a 21 day week! Our time doing all these projects just
encourages me to do more,” he says. “Carole and I just
love doing these creations and watching the expressions
on people’s faces.” A sincere thank you, smile and hug
is often their reward. “Someone told us, ‘she (Denise) is
up there smiling at you,” adds John. “That just makes it
all the more worthwhile for us.”

24 | THE ALLIED WORKER AUGUST 2003