Veteran Broadcaster Receives Award

Chairman of the Jamaica Information Service Advisory Board, and Veteran Broadcaster, Ms. Fae Ellington was on Saturday, October 10, presented with the ‘It’s Just POSH Award’ at the Women of the Diaspora Leadership Conference at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay, St. James.

Ms. Ellington was among eight ladies who were recognized for their contribution towards empowering women, not only in Jamaica, but across the Jamaican Diaspora and in other sections of the world.

The other awardees are Chairman of the National Family Planning Board, Dr. Sandra Knight, retired Educators Pearline Chambers and Pauline Lawrence, United States (US) Educator Carol Tonge Mack and US Businesswomen Denise Richmond, Earlene Mends and Sonia Jackson Myles.

In presenting Ms Ellington with her award, President and Chief Executive Officer,  of ‘It’s just POSH’, Shelly-Ann Richmond spoke to the veteran broadcaster’s influence on the media landscape, especially on television in Jamaica where she professionally carried out her tasks with grace and poise.

“She was just her…it was authentic and so as a dark skinned, short hair girl I knew that it was ok to be smart and to go after what I wanted. I will forever be grateful to you Ms Ellington, because I know that I am not the only the person whom you have helped, and who you stood for and you (are) …a shining example of what we can be, what we can strive to be and what you can do,” Miss Richmond said.

In her response, Ms. Ellington expressed appreciation for the award and pointed out that she was pleased to have had some influence on the society, despite the many distractions that are available.

“You never know how you impact someone’s life and it takes nothing out of us to be kind…I am happy that I influenced you in the way that you said I did,” she stated.

She also dedicated her award to a number of persons with whom she shared the production and television stages with, back in the 1980s, including Lindy Delapenha, Leonie Forbes and Easton Lee.

“I cannot accept this and not say thanks to the creative people around me who helped to mold me, but also to challenge me to raise my own personal bar of excellence…Leonie Forbes, Easton Lee…you just couldn’t do anything that was mediocre because that doesn’t cut it in their book….for Lindy Delapenha who was my co-host on morning time,” Ms. Ellington said.

The ‘It’s just POSH’ award was being staged for the first time in Jamaica and was supported by the Jamaica Tourist Board.