Determined to preserve stories of their old school, former students of the one-room schoolhouse in Royal Oak formed the Royal Oak Historical Association a dozen years ago.
Already in their mid-70s at that time, members are now desperate to pump some younger blood into the organization.
“There are so many stories to be told but these people do not have the stamina to keep the association going. They’re getting old,” said president Barbara Handysides, who at 77 is among the young’ns in the group. “We’re looking for younger members.”
She’s held the lead role for six or seven years now, making moves the last three to secure a new executive.
“We’ve reached out as many ways as we can possibly think of,” she said. That includes outreach such as connecting with the public at the annual Saanich Fair for the past three years.
What started as a bid to keep memories alive from one school has since expanded to cover those who attended class at Prospect Lake, Island View, Mount Newton and beyond. The boundaries are as open as their stomping grounds were as teens, Handyside said with a laugh.
“We have expanded the area but it’s all about stories about founding families, founding businesses.”
Members share stories at meetings, for example recently giving a talk on the three railways that used to connect Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula – Victoria and Sidney Railway (or V&S, think Veyaness Road in Central Saanich), BC Electric and Canadian Northern Patricia Bay.
There’s a plethora of information at hand for those inclined to preserve history. It includes oral history captured in audio and video, sharing the stories of a litany of speakers.
The group holds an annual potluck on someone’s farm and monthly meetings with speakers and membership fees. Those fees fund school programs, particularly providing breakfast and lunches at Royal Oak Middle School for the past four years.
“We try to do as much good as we can for the community, but we just need some younger people,” Handyside said. “Nobody wants it to end, but nobody has the stamina to keep it going.”
Find many of the resources online at royaloakschoolyard.blogspot.com.
Anyone interested in moulding the future of the Royal Oak Historical Association can contact the president at barbara.handysides@gmail.com.
