Obituary Dorosday Kenneth Watson
1965 — 2024
AJOURNEY of a thousand miles, begins with a single step. Such was the experience for Dorosday Kenneth Watson who had been acknowledged for her timely contributions in empowering communities after her sudden demise early this year.
Ms Watson was born in Uripiv, Vanuatu and was among the 12 children who left their home in Uripiv travelling to Malekula then Efate which was located one hundred miles South.
A community worker who had worked along with her, shared sentiments of working with Ms Watson.
“You were a pillar of strength and courage for so many. This loss is a big one for this nation,” said Relvie Poilapa.
“Women from all over Vanuatu will miss you greatly.”
Ms Dorosaday was a strong advocate for women’s rights while mentoring and working with many which included Ralph Regenvanu, a former Foreign Minister of Vanuatu.
One of her many achievements was being the first female to lead a government division in Vanuatu.
Interestingly, Ms Watson stayed with Mr Regenvanu’s family while she was enrolled in a boarding school in the country’s capital, Port Vila. “We were her only family in Vila,” We were her next-door neighbours in Uripiv,” he said.
“She was a girl I was proud of,” “She epitomized my belief in the potential of women in this society we are yet to achieve.”
Dorosday had an advanced degree in Marine Resource Management from the United Kingdom and was called to serve as the director of the Department of Fisheries after Vanuatu became an independent State in 1980.
She had once shared this in an interview three years ago.
“I wanted to go into a field that very few women were taking.”
“I couldn’t get it out of my mind why it was different for women and men. “So, yes I wanted to challenge them.” Ms Dorosday would go down in history as being a proud champion for women’s rights while challenging female participation in various sectors in Vanuatu.
She was 59-years-old when she passed away.