tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011302125382557596.comments2010-09-30T21:17:45.138-04:00Pottersfield PressLesley Choycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06602971911221512066noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011302125382557596.post-480488579247296732009-02-09T10:05:00.000-04:002009-02-09T10:05:00.000-04:00This is such a thoughtful project for old and new ...This is such a thoughtful project for old and new generations that remember Joe Casey or have knowledge of the man and his impact on the communities of Victoria Beach and Digby, and the fishing culture of Nova Scotia.<BR/><BR/>I worked as a packer in the fish plant at Victoria Beach in the summers of 1983 and 1984. The hours were long- we left Digby at 5:30 a.m. for at 7:00 a.m. start at the plant. We stood on cold concrete in rubber boots with short breaks, 30 minute lunch and the day ended at 5:30 p.m. Once home at 6:30, we had time only for supper, a drink and a shower before bed at 9:00 p.m. Then we did it all over again 5 days a week, and half days on Saturday. There were many unharmonious relationships played among workers on both the filleting lines (all male except one lone female) and the packers. It was not uncommon for fights to break out in the parking lot, and to hear the words, "keep your f'in hands off my man!"<BR/><BR/>But we were so glad to have that job as jobs were hard to find then. We never told the full timers that we were University students, we just weren't brave enough to face the teasing we knew would come! But the truth will out. Joe Casey, it turns out, knew the mother (Helen) of my friend that I was working and staying with that summer. He arrived at the plant one day, cheerful and optimistic, friendly and kind, and said to the floor manager, Sarah (also kind, and strict!), "Where are those two young ladies of Helen's house working for their education money?" And so we were exposed! Joe was so loved by his neighbours at Victoria Beach because he "walked with Kings, but kept the common touch" - and we were lucky to fall into the cast of light that he shone around the people of that fish plant, and everywhere he went. <BR/><BR/>Lisa Monk (formerly of Bear River, NS)Lisa Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15450915125015555075noreply@blogger.com