“We are gathered here this evening to pay tribute to Miss Gerodine (Geraldine) Mason for her contribution to the promotion of Guiding to Montserrat.” Those were the words of Guides Commissioner Mrs. Oslyn Jemmotte as she introduced Miss Mason to invitees at a reception in her honour at Government House on June 27, 2013.
The reception was part of an event to honour Miss Mason, hosted by Montserrat’s Guides Patron, Mrs. Sujue Davis, wife of H E Governor Davis, at their home (Government House) in Woodlands.
From the tribute read by Mrs. Jemmotte and the several impromptu tributes by guides officials, guiders and guides, past and present, Miss Mason’s is one Montserratian who stayed throughout the crisis and whose name has become synonymous with guiding in Montserrat.
According to the main tribute, “Miss Mason’s connection with guiding began at an early age when she was enrolled as a brownie.”
Her association with brownies and guides spans over 30 years. It was in 1982 when she answered the call for a volunteer to assist Mrs. Verna Brandt with the 7th to split the pack. Miss Mason was called upon to be leader of the new pack, which later became the 1st Monsterrat Brownie Pack.
It said in her tribute, “Ms Mason enjoyed working with the children and she along with her assistants over the years which included Mrs. Delores Placide, Mrs. Cynthia Dyett, Mrs. Marcia Jeffers, trained the girls to do their best, to do their duty to God, to serve the Queen and help other people and to keep the Brownie Guide Law.”
Over 30 years and with the kind of involvement and dedication Gerodine delivered, she had participated in many camps, international and local, accompanying guides to the World Camp at Foxlease England in 1999, Explore 2000 International Camp in Canada, and Centenary International Camp in Bersksire England.
She was appointed deputy Guide Commissioner late in the crisis, and in that capacity kept the movement alive as it had been facing extinction just then. She received the good service broach for excellent service within Girlguiding UK in 2006; and just recently, She on Volunteers day 2013, received a Letter of Commendation from the chief guide, thanking her for all the time, energy and dedication she has put into guiding.
At the ceremony where she was being honoured, she was showered with tributes and good wishes. They came from Mrs. Eileen Edwards, Miss Tiffannie Skerritt, Lady Eudora Fergus, Miss Celeste O’Garro, Mrs. Lorraine Francois and Mr. Eugene Skerritt.
They were Guides Commissioners, Guiders, Parent of guides, Guides, officials, scout and guides leaders, (rangers too), all who shared and spoke to a common theme, thanking Gerodine’s for her unfailing love and commitment to the service she gave to brownies and guides, the movement, and as a consequence Montserrat.
Miss Skerritt called her one of the favourite nicknames given to her, Brown Owl, speaking “on behalf of all the young ladies who passed through your hands…I’m sure there are hundreds maybe thousands,” with expressions of thanks, she added, “I would like to say thank you for not only being Brown Owl but taking on the role of mommy and daddy and aunty to all of us who pass through your hands, for encouraging us to respect ourselves as young ladies…”
Mr. Skerritt in is offering of words said it was a pleasure, “for me to be here on behalf of the Montserrat Scouts Associations to say thank you and to really celebrate with all of you, with this special person in our lives…”
Many other obviously fitting words were showered on her. “Stick-to-itiveness, keeping guiding alive,” along with the best of blessings and wishes, “May God bless you.”
One parent/guider said, “…our children love you and they miss you…hope that we see you as part of the brownie movement still as we go forward.”
Some came, even being sick but could not miss the occasion to share her honour. “…she was a very good guide , dependable, honest, and as I see her move around I want to know what she’s eating, she has so much energy,” she said, adding that Gerodine was not just there for the movement, but, “ if our church have a function Gerodine is there she’s helping, just go anywhere and there is Gerodine.”
The main tribute revealed, “Age does not permit Miss Mason to continue in active guiding.” However the report also noted that she is still involved in the movement as a member of the Council, shouldering the post of equipment secretary. “We also hope that with her training she will continue to promote guiding in Montserrat by helping the girls in the various brownie packs to develop their skills and have amazing adventures for many years to come,” concluding the tribute.
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