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From rags to riches
published: Tuesday | October 7, 2003


Trenfiled: I always like to work in different aspects helping my community but I never looked for awards. I see it as motivation to move on," she noted.

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE STORY of Marva Trenfield's life could almost be described as a tale of rags to riches.

It was through sheer determination that this outstanding woman endured a poverty-stricken childhood to achieve economic independence and become a stalwart in her community.

Today, Mrs Trenfield is Principal of the Sandy Bay Primary and Junior High School in Hanover, a happy wife and mother, and this year's Governor-General's Achievement Awardee for the parish of Hanover. She had no idea that her hard work was being noticed.

"I was shocked," she told The Gleaner, shortly after receiving her award. "It's not that I was not deserving but I was not expecting any award."

FARM WORK

Born at Cauldwell in Hanover, on April 23, 1954, her family had to struggle through the typical situation of poverty that existed in deep rural Jamaica. As a young girl, Marva had to work on the farm, and often assisted her grandmother who was also a higgler, with her purchases, and selling of ground provisions in the markets.

Marva attended the Pell River Primary School, then the Dias Seventh-Day Adventist School, where she passed the Technical Examination for St. Elizabeth Technical High School. She could not attend due to financial constraints. Passing the J.S.C. examinations enabled her to attend Bethlehem Teachers College where she obtained a Teacher's Certificate, then to Church Teachers College where she gained the Teacher's Diploma with distinction. At a later stage she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Education with Honours from the University of the West Indies.

Her teaching career started in 1973 as an intern at the John's Hall All-Age School in St. James, and since 1998 she has been Principal of the Sandy Bay Primary and Junior High School.

"I went to Sandy Bay in 1975 and moved up the ranks. I've been a senior teacher, vice-principal, acting principal and now I am the principal," she explained.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Mrs. Trenfield has been an active participant in most of the voluntary organisations that are seeking to improve the living conditions among the less fortunate in her community. She was a Girls' Brigade Lieutenant, and, currently, is a 4-H Advisory Committee member, President-elect for the Kiwanis Club of Hopewell and an active member of the Fletcher's Grove Baptist Church. She is also the Secretary of the Sandy Bay Community Development Committee.

Marva and husband John have been married for 26 years, and they are the proud parents of two daughters.

Mrs. Trenfield, who collected her award at the presentation ceremony for the awardees for the county of Cornwall at the Negril Hills Golf Club last week, said she is motivated by the appreciation shown for her service.

"I always like to work in different aspects helping my community but I never looked for awards. I see it as motivation to move on," she noted.

She has a deep concern for young people and focuses much of her energies on their development. Humility has always been one of her outstanding virtues.

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