Scout stalwart will be sorely missed by movement
“Jenny’s bright smile, loud laugh and passion for life would fill the room wherever she was.”
That is how Jenny Rodgers, general manager for lower North Island/National schools for Scouts New Zealand, is being remembered after she was killed in a crash near Taupo on Sunday which also claimed seven other lives.
Rodgers was travelling from Hamilton to Taupo¯ after attending a closing dinner at the National Caving School in Waitomo the night before.
In a statement, Scouts New Zealand said her death was a loss to the movement on many levels.
“Her dedication to family and passion for Scouting was deep”, the statement said.
“Jenny’s caring and selfless nature meant that she was fondly known as ‘Scout Mum’ to many. Her ability to take people under her wing and to go out of her way to help others no matter the task was something that will be sorely missed.”
The mother of three joined one of the first mixed gender Scouts units in the country when she was 14 and achieved her Queen’s Scout Award in 1984.
Over the last 30 years she had taken on many leadership roles within the organisation and had been a valued staff member of Scouts New Zealand for more than 10 years.
“She was the heart and soul of Scouting in the National Scout Centre. The variety of roles held over this time made Jenny the ‘go to’ person for volunteers and staff alike. Jenny’s positive can-do attitude and commitment to Scouting values will be missed,” the group said.
She was an ardent supporter of the scout productions known as gang shows, particularly in the Hutt Valley, and would spend hours working on costumes.
Rodgers was a volunteer warden at Brookfield Scout Camp for nearly 25 years.
She is survived by her husband, Andrew, also a dedicated Scout volunteer, her three daughters, granddaughter, mother, siblings and wider family.
Scout Caving School director Warren Turnwald chatted with Rodgers during dinner at the weekend event.
He said it would be hard to find another person with the “calibre and enthusiasm” of Rodgers.
She had started as an office administrator before progressing to take charge of all the different Scout “schools” across the country that run during holiday breaks.
“She was a very enthusiastic and a capable leader,” Turnwald said.
Scouts New Zealand is setting up a an online memorial page as well as a Givealittle page.