So because I'm too lazy too type, here are two articles printed in this week's Slave River Journal (paper of my hometown of Fort Smith) to keep you few and faithful readers up to date on the happenings of Stew. PS - that tennis win was worth $350!!! crazy... Other than the below, Folk on the Rocks coming up, which = Security Captain obligations and performance opportunity.
Yup Alice is finally out of hospital - a long road of cognitive recovery and work ahead though. We also got her a 7 month old golden lab, who seems of very good temperment.
Special to the SRJ - 02.JUL.08ALICE MAWDSLEY HOME AT LASTAfter nearly six months in Edmonton hospitals Alice has finally come home. The young Fort Smith women who captured the heart of the community and was the centre of attention across the NWT after a snowmobile accident last December resulted in a brain injury, arrived on a flight from Edmonton Friday, June 27“It’s so awesome [to be home],” said Alice. “I love it. My bed is so comfy.”
The Mawdsley family held a barbeque at P W Kaeser High School Sunday, June 29 to thank the people of Fort Smith for their support, prayers and well wishes for Alice. It was an opportunity for people to see Alice at last and congratulate her on her recovery. Well over a hundred people showed up over the three hours of the barbeque to greet Alice and the other members of the family who have been away from home for so long.Alice’s parents Bill and Phyllis Mawdsley spent most of the last six months in Edmonton, watching over their daughter and assisting in her therapy.“I can’t describe [how good it feels] that we were able to come home with [Alice],” said Bill.Alice’s recovery from her injuries has been nothing short of remarkable. A snowmobile accident that resulted in a head impact against the side of a truck in early January 2008. Alice had to re-learn how to do most things with her body including walking, talking and eating, as well as rebuild her muscular strength, diminished after months of being bedridden. But now Alice is walking tall and laughing with friends who have missed her.“I want to see all my friends again and catch up with everything I missed over the last few months,” said Alice. “And thank everyone for all the support they’ve given me,” she added.
Meanwhile Alice will continue her occupational and physiotherapy with the help of her parents, who have been involved in that process with her for so long they are quite familiar with her needs by now.At the same time Alice will resume her education, cut short midway through her Grade 11. That education will include an element of memory training, since Alice’s short-term memory was affected by her head injury. Alice’s sister Betsy explained that according to medical staff in Edmonton, her recovery might take up to another year and a half.
Special to the SRJ - Richard Daitch 02.JUL.08
MAWDSLEY DEFENDS TITLENone of the knowledgeable courtside observers gave defending NWT men’s tennis champ Stewart Mawdsley a chance against veteran Yellowknife tennis star and perennial champion Bernie Bennett in the 24th rendition of the Fort Smith Open. Mawdsey was the one to beat after he had surprised Bennet the year before to take the NWT title. But Bennett was on a hot streak and played a brilliant opening set against the much younger Mawdsley without losing a single game. Indeed Bennett, who had recently won a high-calibre tournament in Edmonton, had only lost two games to that point in the entire tournament and it looked like the match was his to have. But Mawdsley adjusted his game and after numerous long rallies, overpowered Bennett and came back to win 0-6, 6-0, 6-4.
Delighted to be playing in his home town of Fort Smith, Mawdsey, who will be attending medical school at the University of Alberta in the fall, reflected on his victory. “I was happy to have come back after losing the first set, as I basically told myself to buckle down and go to work. I had three good matches against three good opponents this tournament. In the final, I felt the momentum changed midway in the second set. Bernie Bennett is a strong competitor and adept at every aspect of the game, but I stayed patient and things worked out my way.”
Lou Sebert won the prize in the consolation round topping Jim Umpherson of Yellowknife. Sebert staged an amazing comeback from a 7-1 deficit by winning eight straight games, using power strokes and veteran savvy to win 9-7. Umpherson teamed up with Paul Taylor to win the open doubles and Joan Bevington and Sebert defeated the team of Kim Lusty and Peter Daniels in the mixed doubles. Daniels, who was also the tournament director, was pleased with the event. “I thought it went well. The weather was favourable and there was a lot a very good tennis. With the exception of a few injuries, it was an excellent tournament. The Bennett-Mawdsley final was one of the best ever. Stewart played an intelligent and patient game and decided not to go for too much, but picked his spots. He is in tremendous shape and ran down a lot of shots.”The Open proved that tennis is a game for everyone, with participants ranging in age from 13 to 63. First time competitor Kim Lusty was enthusiastic. “It was a lot of fun. I love tennis and sometimes I play for two or three hours. I am hoping that next year we have more women players.” The event also featured the most northerly competitor in NWT tennis tournament history. Felix Kargegie of Deline played very competitively and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Some of the players will head to Yellowknife to participate in an event there later this month.
