A community leader and encourager

Madeline was a servant leader who led by quietly serving others. She did not seek out the spotlight, but she wanted to elevate others. She particularly wanted to help elevate other women. Madeline would lead and mentor in things such as how to make beds in the bungalows, how to invest money, and was very intentional about that work. It can be extremely hard to become something that you cannot see if you do not have somebody who went ahead and showed you this is what it looks like. Madeline was a person who would say, “This is how we do it. This is how it can be done.” She would mentor by example.

Madeline was known as an advisor to the Chiefs within the community. People say she had the ability to help guide a Chief when they would go astray. An example of this was when the Chief would talk harshly or strongly towards people of the community during meetings. Part of Madeline’s role as an advisor would be to guide the Chief to learn how to give respect and learn to talk in a courteous manner toward others in the community. This was seen as helping to guide the Chief and bring out the best in them in their role.

Madeline contributed a lot in the wider community. An example of this was through her involvement in church and especially her work through the Women’s Society for which Madeline was the founder. Creating the Women’s Society changed the life of many women. Madeline worked very closely with them and kept encouraging them to respect their husbands and prayed for them if they were not allowed to come and join. She believed her faith in God and prayers would slowly change the heart of husbands in many situations and allow women to attend the group.

Around 2003, Madeline called a meeting after a church service St Barnabas Chapel, Ngerenigman Village, Mota Lava. There she called for women to stay back while men, boys and girls went for a walk around the outside. There were about 45 women present there that morning. Madeline explained the importance of having a place for women to come together. Another woman who was listening raised her hand and said she agreed with Madeline.

The Women’s Society was soon established and a president, secretary, treasurer, and members where approved.

In the beginning it was not easy for Madeline to progress her heart’s mission. This was because she was not from Mota Lava. Also, many women did not feel free or may have experienced violence and did not have other women to confide in or give them support. But women on the island soon began to respond to what Madeline was trying to achieve in creating a Women’s Society.

Madeline was known to encourage women in the community to take on roles within their household that were normally seen as men’s work. Madeline would encourage women to take responsibility to get things done. Franklyn gave a classic example when Madeline asked him to put up a sign to attract tourists. When Franklyn did not do this Madeline took it upon herself to get it done. This is a trait that encouraged other women in the community.

Women would often come to Madeline with issues such as savings, a dispute, or relationship problems in the home. Franklyn remembers a wife of an Anglican priest who needed help. In that situation the wife of the priest sought help from Madeline. It was common that women who experienced violence in the home would come to Madeline for help. She was a mentor, teacher, and supporter for many. Women could come to her, and she would be that person of peace who would give them advice and counsel. And they would always go away better for having spent time with her. Madeline took pride in the way she dressed which was about being creative and clean with the clothes she wore. Because she was a role model, she was smart with clothes and how to present herself. Eventually, because of this, many other women who respected and associated with Madeline began to apply this to themselves.