Saltire Award

Gemma flies high with Saltire Award

Dani Drummon One evening in December, Voluntary Action Lochaber and the Highland Third Sector interface hosted an online meeting to present the Saltire Summit Awards. The purpose of this event was to recognise the voluntary work carried out by young people aged between 12 and 25 across the Highlands who have made an outstanding contribution to the people and organisations they support.

Guest speaker at the event was MSP Kate Forbes who has been a long-term supporter of the awards and shows a great interest in the work carried out by young people in the community.

One of the recipients was Gemma Macleod of Fort William who was recognised during the meeting for the incredible work and the amount of her free time she has given over the last ten years. Gemma has been volunteering for the Tuesday Social Club every Tuesday for nine years, latterly while also working full time. The Tuesday Social Club is a group of senior ladies who meet for tea, cake, games and day trips. Gemma always makes the ladies laugh and smile and she is one of the main reasons they attend the Tuesday Club. The ladies have described her as a ‘ray of sunshine’ and ‘such a kind soul’.

All the ladies at the club nominated her for young volunteer of the year in 2019 and she won an award at Voluntary Action’s VOSCARS. During lockdown, the club had to close and Gemma went the extra mile and delivered hampers at Christmas to the ladies and stood socially distanced and chatted to the ladies in all weather conditions.

On St Andrew’s Day 2020 she delivered afternoon teas as the club was unable to meet in person and this Easter she handed out gifts and had socially distanced chats, making lockdown more bearable for the ladies who were shielding and not able to leave the house. She would often be the only person the ladies would see and always brightened up their isolation while shielding. The panel of judges highlighted that Gemma has shown outstanding commitment over the years, especially during the pandemic. Dani Drummon, Volunteer Development officer for Voluntary Action Lochaber who hosted the event, said: ’It is clear Gemma has a genuine, caring nature with a passion for volunteering and is an excellent role model and mentor for all young people.’

Due to Covid restrictions Gemma’s award certificate was posted to her and she was delighted to receive it just before Christmas. She said: ‘I was really thrilled to see that it had been signed by Nicola Sturgeon and to hear the nice words from Kate Forbes during the meeting.

‘Thank you to everyone at the Tuesday Club for nominating me. I always love helping out and will be happy when everyone can get back together for our usual meetings.’

Interna� onal Women’s Day - Break the Bias

Grace MacIntosh On March 8, Lochaber Women will be joining people across the world to celebrate International Women’s Day. This global day takes place annually and aims to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as acting as a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. With the fi rst International Women’s Day gathering taking place in 1911, the celebration remains just as signifi cant in 2022 as it continues to represent the continued fi ght for equality.

This year’s celebration centres around the theme of ‘Break the Bias’ and calls on people to imagine a genderequal world; a world that is diverse and inclusive and where diff erence is valued and celebrated. To work towards eliminating discrimination and bias between genders we are encouraged to take responsibility for our own thoughts and actions so we can collectively come together to break the bias in our communities, workplaces, schools and in our homes.

As a feminist organisation, Lochaber Women’s Aid wants to contribute to breaking the bias in our community by raising awareness of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. We will be celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness of gender equality, and fundraising for our femalefocused organisation.

Keep an eye out across the Lochaber Women’s Aid social media accounts for updates on how we are celebrating International Women’s Day this year.

You can fi nd us on Instagram and Twitter on @lochaberwa and on Facebook on @ LochaberWomensAid.

For further information about International Women’s Day, visit www.internationalwomensday. com

For further information about Lochaber Women’s Aid or for confi dential and specialist support, contact us on 01397 705734, at lwa@ lochaberwomensaid.org or visit our website at www. lochaberwomensaid.org

Another bit of Irish philosophy heard on a TV gardening programme struck me: ‘If you can’t stand the winter you don’t deserve the spring.’ Is it just me, or has it seemed a long winter, with mask wearing and other Covid restrictions on top of our inclement weather? I should be grateful - after all, despite the rain, fl ooding is rare here and currently fl ood prevention work is taking place to protect Caol and Lochyside.

But winter seemed wetter than usual, even for Lochaber, so I checked offi cial statistics. 2021 was drier than average - and not only due to that lovely summer. November was a bit drier than usual. So it must just be me! I don’t like rain. If we get a bit of snow at sea level in February, most people my age will worry about falling over and stay indoors. I may stay indoors, but shall rejoice with the children. We enjoy watching them building snowmen and throwing snowballs, and the hills look lovely.

Israel/Palestine rarely has snow. It has a rainy season and a dry season. Aquifers and irrigation make the desert blossom in modern Israel. However, on a visit to a boarding school for blind children in Bethlehem I heard that, as well as limiting people’s access through the notorious wall, the Israeli government also controls water supply. Sometimes the school did not have enough water for laundry. We know that other countries are suff ering severe life threatening weather episodes due to climate change, so I tell myself to be grateful and say with The Psalmist: ‘You pour out rain in buckets, O God; thorn and cactus become an oasis for your people to enjoy.’ [The Message] - and, please God, soon it will be a well deserved spring.

The loch was lit by an extravagant light show on the hill behind it, with pupils from Fort William Primary School

helping in its design. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, The Write Image

Spectacular snow covered hills with their ‘mini-me’ version. but where? LaST MONTH: bridge used by old puggy line at Inverlochy.

IRON THERAPY FOR BODY AND MIND

Iain Ferguson Towards the end of last year keen strongmen and women from across the country descended on the new Iron Therapy Gym on Fort William’s Ben Nevis Estate to flex their muscles and show their skills against fellow novices in the sport.

Organised by Lochaber strongman Stuart Whyte, himself a participant and champion on the international circuit, the ethos of his new gym is to encourage physical and mental health through regular, directed activity.

Eight competitors including local men Calum Morrison and Tom Baillie, took part in each of the events, held inside the gym and outdoors in the yard where extra room was needed.

Starting indoors with a ‘log lift’ of a metal ‘log’ on a pole, the action moved outside with the ‘medley’ event comprising carrying first a granite block a set distance, dropping it and returning for a weighted beer keg, then heavy sack, all against the clock.

Inside, the competition continued with muscles straining at the deadlift, lifting two heavy weights on bar from ground to waist height, holding it there for a set time and repeating as often as possible within a specified time limit.

Rain did not put off spectators or competitors for the van lift using a vehicle supplied by local company NewCo, lifting it by its rear wheels and holding it aloft under the careful eye of the timekeeper.

The final and one of the most challenging feats moved indoors with competitors lifting large, smooth globe shaped stones and dropping them over a bar at around head height - a very demanding exercise which would have been made all the more difficult by water.

When points were counted, Calum was overall third and Tom fouth, great results as they built up experience of competition.

Stuart said: ‘Everything went well, even with the rain. They all enjoyed taking part and showed great spirit in encouraging each other during the events.

‘After a long period of lockdown which for many totally disrupted their training routines, this was also a great strain on mental as well as physical health. In recognising this, all proceeds went to Lochaber Hope and Lochaber Mindfit.’

Stuart’s new gym is up and running for members day and night 24/7 in keeping with its ‘Iron Therapy’ aims. It is also hoped to make this a regular on the ‘Strongman’ circuit, expanding into bigger local venues.

T: 01397 712373 M: 07884 185 279 scottmandrews@tiscali.co.uk

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HIGHLAND HIDEAWAY WELLNESS RETREAT

23 – 25 FEBRUARY 2022

It’s time to unwind. Wake up in glorious Glencoe and join renowned fi tness and life coach Barbara Griffi n as she guides you through three days of workshops and classes designed to wash away the stresses and strains of everyday life.