‘The mother of the cheerleaders’ in Mauritius
Ginette Lecordier Cabon was born in Mauritius, and worked as a senior school teacher before attending Chelsea College of Physical Education in Eastbourne in 1962. Ginette wanted to develop her knowledge of Physical Education, stating that she ‘needed to go through books for any teaching’ and that she was awaiting confirmation of a sabbatical from the government. Ginette received a scholarship for a total of £600, to attend the 9-month supplementary course, plus lodgings in Pevensey and, in 1962 Ginette left her husband and young family in Mauritius to begin her studies.
As an obituary in Le Mauricien on 26 March 2015 noted,
‘Ginette Lecordier Cabon will forever mark her era with her initiative to launch the drum majorette club in Mauritius at Queen Elizabeth College in 1973. A professor of physical education at the college, she launched the movement when she returned from France after having discovered the majorette there, drum and baton twirling. She was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE), a decoration she received in May 1989. Thanks to her work, the QEC cheerleaders, who were nicknamed the Silver Wands, were in demand everywhere. For 30 years, they have been invited to parade for National Day celebrations. They paraded at the 2nd Indian Ocean Islands Games and at the Commonwealth Games and also had the opportunity to participate in the baton twirling world championship held in Amsterdam, Holland.’
In a 1988 interview, Ginette Cabon stated of her pioneering contribution to the drum majorette in Mauritius that ‘I give to others what I have learned. Animating this discipline is voluntary work, because the rehearsals are done after school hours, or even on weekends when necessary. But I have a great passion for this activity.’
Veneta Roberts