The Corpus Christi Nursery located on the compound of the St. Jude's Home for Girls in Belmont was a favorite charity of the late District Governor Astra da Costa.
At her District Governor (DG) training she apprised her classmates of this early in their relationship and after her passing it became one of their favorite charities too. As such, they contributed to the renovation and refurbishment of the Nursery as an integral partner in our Club's matching grant application.
Some of the late DG Astra's classmates, as well as our District Governor Dr. Stephen Ramroop, attended the Rotary Caribbean Partnership Conference (CPC) and were overjoyed to visit the Nursery on the afternoon of July 27, 2012. They arrived at 1:15 p.m. to meet the welcoming party of Past District Governor Lara, Past Presidents Janice, Andrew and Lennox, Rotarians Ceronne and Barbara, Sister Janella of the St. Jude‟s Home and members of Astra's family led by Astra's sister Adonna and brother Ronnie. A pictorial display of the late DG Astra, highlighting her work in Rotary met their eyes and they were delighted. Then the welcoming speeches by PDG Lara and others were made at the Hall of the St Jude's Home for Girls, adjacent to the Nursery and Day Care Centre.
The CPC Chairman who was also one of Astra's classmates, PDG Horace McCormack spoke about their cohort‟s first meeting with Astra and of how her presence and her shared vision were impressive from the beginning. She taught them by example to be positive in all her dealings and to have one or two persons with whom to brainstorm and share any disappointments. His wife and partner in service Carlotta shared that Astra had the ability to include the partners of her DG classmates as easily as the members of her DG class in her loving embrace. In attendance were two graduates of the Corpus Christi Nursery and Day Care Centre and two of its teachers and following the welcome addresses, the party convened in the garden where a ceremonial unveiling of a memorial plaque by PDG Horace and the planting of a tree in the central part of the ornamental planter by PP Andrew Joseph took place. The tree bore white flowers, a symbol of peace and friendship. It was truly a celebratory occasion and all were honoured to be part of it.
Special thanks are due to Rotarian Tommy Chanona for sponsoring the building of the planter, Mrs. Sheila Quentrall-Thomas for the design and donation of the foliage, Rotarians Parkash Bhaggan, Andrew Joseph and Ian Gillette for refreshments and Rotarian Barbara Alleyne for table cloths.