Deserving honour for Dr Whitbourne

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

It has been said in many quarters, for many mango seasons now, that the truly deserving often go unheralded. It is usually the pompous with little or no claim to charity or industry who are always the first in every queue for awards and commendations.

Indeed, there are those who have refused to be honoured because some of those who have received such honours were wholly undeserving, so their receipt of such honours cheapened the title and brought it into disrepute.

Well, it seems that this practice of throwing around honours and awards as if they were confetti has been abated with the emerging trend of honouring those who have toiled selflessly and engineered change for the benefit of the society. They are now being rightfully recognised and duly honoured for their contribution to our development and growth as a people and a nation.

My dears, case in point was the recognition of the work and diligence of the esteemed Dr Fay Whitbourne for her years of dedication and service in the field of medicine. But, particularly, her work in the development of the streamlining of standards and precepts for the proper functioning and maintenance of medical laboratories in the public and private sector.

Dr Whitbourne has been credited with being the architect in chief who led the team that designed, built and transferred the National Public Health Laboratory to its current location on Slipe Pen Road, so y'all know we are talking a doer here and not a talker or profiler.

Chair of the Central Medical Laboratories, Dr Whitbourne has been described as one of the most accomplished members of the medical fraternity in Jamaica. This is no surprise as her path has been that of trailblazer, daring to go where others of her gender have feared to tread. This family physician, driven by her passion for service, is constantly charting new courses and paths to serve.

And so it was that, when it was noised abroad that she would be honoured with the Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation for her services to the health sector, the announcement was greeted with ringing endorsements.

Party-hearty

The
official reception in which the insignia was bestowed upon her was held
on July 31. The following day, when the party-hearty and the young at
heart were leaving the city in droves for the north coast, her husband,
Professor Errol Morrison, hosted what proved a charming poolside
reception at their fabulously appointed upper St Andrew residence in
salubrious Jacks Hill. And dears, it proved to be quite the social
humdinger and then some!

My dears, we are talking
quite an august outing here, as this was a do that saw the island's
leading minds and thinkers from academia and the medical community out
celebrating their very esteemed colleague, and it made for quite a
charming do!

Dears, when we say charming, we mean
fabulously so. Family and friends gathered in the poolside gardens of
the Morrison's trés elegant residence, as the city
twinkled all around, the mood one of relaxed ease facilitated by easy
melodies as guests sipped on premium libations and/or nibbled on choice
finger foods; all based on the reflected glory of the night's very
special guest and honouree.

And talk about charm,
well, the esteemed Oliver Jones was the preferred compere, and he was
faultlessly skilful in maintaining a witty and brief programme. But it
was the U-Tech president who stole the show. Professor Morrison
effortlessly and expertly sought his wife's hand and, together, they
were lost in their own world of love as they waltzed up a cosy glow to
the delight of their guests who applauded robustly, as the couple ended
their impromptu duet.

Dears, this was a lesson in
fabulousness as, no fuddy-duddies or attitude here - it was not that
kind of an outing. The night belonged to Dr Whitbourne and her friends,
colleagues and family, to revel in what was truly her halo of
accomplishments.

And among those out, sharing in the
celebrations were Sir Kenneth and Lady
Hall; Charge d' Affaires, South African High Commission,
Peter Makwarela; UTech Chaplain Carol
Richards; the charming Sophia Whitbourne;
the equally charming Colette Morrison; the esteemed
Oliver Jones, who was the evening's compere.
Kenny Benjamin; socialite Jennifer
Lim; Professor Winty Davidson and wife
Sonia; Professor Fitzroy Henry;
Professor Nilza Smith and Alwyn
Johnson; Professor Gossett Oliver;
Professor Geraldene Hodelin; Professor
Rosalee Hamilton; the revered Dr Don
Christian; Dr Ellen Campbell-Grizzle; the
celebrated Dr Hafizal Mohammed; Dr Robert
Parchment and his wife B; Dr Lenny Miller
and his wife Enamae; Dr Neville
Graham; Dr Karlene Neita; Dr
Rochelle Roman; Dr Venice
Bernard-Wright; Dr Jennifer Thame; Dr
Maxine Cargill; Ryan and Dr
Monique Rainford; Dr Elaine
Wallace; Pastor Jaqueline Cousins;
Herman McLarty and wife, Dorothy
Pine-McLarty; the very charming Scarlett
Gillings; Rajiv Bakshi and
companion Dorothea Gordon-Smith; Ron
Cooke and wife Ethlyn Norton-Cooke;
Magdalena Cooper; Eunice Forrest;
Helen Christian; Erwin Angus;
Winston Barrett and his wife
Marguerite; Angella Nosworthy;
Tracy-Ann Neil; the affable Hector
Wheeler; Cheryll Messam; Courtney
Watson and his wife Lorraine;
Norma Grant; Heidi Marcarrick;
Richard Clarke; Claire Sutherland;
Ann Goulbourne; Shakira Owen, and
the charming Patricia Mahoney; plus several
others.