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.

B次元官网网址淭here are so many stories to be told but these people do not have the stamina to keep the association going. TheyB次元官网网址檙e getting old,B次元官网网址� said president Barbara Handysides, who at 77 is among the youngB次元官网网址檔s in the group. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking for younger members.B次元官网网址�

SheB次元官网网址檚 held the lead role for six or seven years now, making moves the last three to secure a new executive.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e reached out as many ways as we can possibly think of,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淲e have expanded the area but itB次元官网网址檚 all about stories about founding families, founding businesses.B次元官网网址�

Members share stories at meetings, for example recently giving a talk on the three railways that used to connect Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula B次元官网网址� Victoria and Sidney Railway (or V&S, think Veyaness Road in Central Saanich), BC Electric and Canadian Northern Patricia Bay.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 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 someoneB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淲e try to do as much good as we can for the community, but we just need some younger people,B次元官网网址� Handyside said. B次元官网网址淣obody wants it to end, but nobody has the stamina to keep it going.B次元官网网址�

Find many of the resources online at .

Anyone interested in moulding the future of the Royal Oak Historical Association can contact the president at .