By Janet Silvera, Freelance Writer
Mrs. Valrie O'Brien, Protocol Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister, having a good laugh with Executive Assistant Manager of Half Moon, Myrtle Dwyer, and American Airlines Manager, Yvonne Pearson, at a cocktail reception to welcome Austrian Minister of Education, Mrs. Elisabeth Gehrer.
WESTERN BUREAU:
WEST OF Elisabeth and Heinz Simonitsch's Spring Farm mansion a cruise ship stood still, to the east a full moon rose to attention and southerly the Half Moon Village, the Royal Villas and Ritz Carlton Rose Hall contrasted magnificently.
On Friday night, the spectacular view blended beautifully with the bevy of life that converged at the Honorary Austrian Consul General's home to greet Mrs. Elisabeth Gehrer, the first Austrian Minister of Education to make an official visit to Jamaica.
During her week long visit, the Minister, called on and donated US$1,000 to the SOS Children's Village. Last Tuesday morning, she paid a courtesy call on the students of the Heinz Simonitsch School and Thursday she took the long ride to Accompong Town, where she handed over a huge television set and a video centre valued at US$8,000 to Colonel Sidney Peddie for his community centre.
Minister Gehrer's trip to the island was described as fruitful, having met with Jamaican's Minister of Education, Mrs. Maxine Henry-Wilson, and His Excellency, Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke. By Friday, she was just about ready to unwind, mingle and sip a glass of red wine.
A LOVELY COUNTRY
"Jamaica is a lovely country with a very interesting society," said the Minister. "It is one of the best centres for tourism and rich cultural heritage."
She said her reason for visiting is a result of the long-standing relationship the Austrians have had with Jamaica, and Heinz Simonitsch's contribution to the island. "A relationship I hope to strengthen, through education and exchange programmes," said the Minister.
And a cocktail reception in such a lovely setting was not the place to talk hard-core business, so without further ado, she was allowed to tease her taste buds with Elisabeth Simonitsch's new creation of ackee and saltfish in filo dough.
Finger food was the order of the evening, served by the neatly dressed students of the Heinz Simonitsch School. Tiny chicken nuggets, shrimp, sushi, liver pate and patties were a favourite, served with tastefully done spreads of olive and tuna fish with cream cheese and scallops marinated with olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper.
Crisp crudites, olives, carrots and celery with an Italian sauce made way for persons on the vegetarian side.
At the end of a beautiful evening, Half Moon's Managing Director Richard Whitfield seemed pretty happy, Myrtle Dwyer had taken a night out, Elegant Resorts International Clive Lee and his wife Joan were in their elements and Jamaica Tourist Board's Clive Taffe had a ball.
American Airline's Yvonne Pearson was no closer to The Gleaner snapping her designer dress and Holiday Inn's Carlos Aquino was just about ready to take leave.
Others who came out to pay their respect included, SuperClubs' Vice President Sue McManus; Price Waterhouse's Peter Pearson; Denton and Valrie Campbell of Denton Campbell and Associates; Valrie O'Brien of the Office of the Prime Minister; and Edmund Bartlett, Member of Parliament.
Mrs. Gehrer was accompanied by her husband, Fritz, and Karl Jirkovsky of the Austrian Jamaican Society.
