6772 Bob Mason and wife Janette spend half the year in Australia. Guess what months?  Bob had a total knee replacement this past March “down under” as a result of old basketball & football injuries at RMC during the 1960s. In retirement, he is an avid golfer and even managed to bring his handicap down to a respectable number while playing on one leg. Word has it; he will have to learn how to play all over again.  Classmates and friends who know him are taking bets he will be back in record time and at the top of his game.  

5736 Frank McDonnell (RMC ‘63) and his wife Margaret were visiting Australia for an extended holiday during this past winter. It was their second trip to Australia & they spent 66 days touring & put about 11,000km on a rental car. From all reports they had a fabulous time. The Masons did a little hosting which included a Bar BQ. Bob & Frank played a little golf (before the knee surgery). Unfortunately they were not able to play at Bob’s regular course - The Kew Golf Club of Australia - due to a major flood that made play impossible on Kew for nearly 2 weeks. They played at a reciprocal club. Neither Bob nor Frank would mention their score but Frank made sure to remind Bob about the annual RMC/CMR (Ottawa Branch) golf tournament which will be held at the Hylands golf club in Ottawa this summer on July 15^th. 

However, Bob has some other family business to take care of before he plays any golf in July. His father, Jim Mason, who has passed away, will be honoured by being one of first 5 Inductees into the Ontario Squash Hall of Fame on June 03. Bob will be accepting the award on behalf of the Mason family.  A proud moment indeed!  

Following is a short bio and the squash background of Jim Mason.

“Fun, fitness, and friendship”. These words were the message that Jim Mason brought to the squash community his entire life as he spread the joy of the game of squash to Ontario, Canada and the world during his lifetime.

To watch Jim Mason spend a weekend in any squash club in Ontario during a junior squash tournament was to receive a lesson in life skills. Jim would appear in his trademark Fedora hat, blue blazer, slacks, and compassionate smile and he made his way to the squash courts. Exchanging greetings with children, parents, and coaches every step of the way, seeming to know each person’s name and something special about their life. As Jim would begin watching a match, he inevitably would engage a child in conversation and you would see his eyes making direct contact with the youngster as they shook hands. Inevitably, a squash ball would come out of Jim’s pocket and he would be showing another youngster the importance of the grip.  There would be laughter and penetrating eye contact as Jim would literally will his messages from his brain to the young people. When the tournament ended on Sunday and many felt their work was done, Jim Mason’s labours of love had just begun. He would return to Meaford and compose letters to countless numbers of young players, parents, and coaches encouraging them on their endeavours and giving them reason to press forward with their squash and their lives.

Although Jim was the recipient of all of Ontario’s major awards, it speaks to the character of Jim Mason that he was not defined by a singular recognition. His essence was for human caring, one person at a time. Jim Mason made a difference during his lifetime and will continue to make a difference through the people he touched and there were hundreds, and hundreds.