Former Netball Jamaica president, Marva Bernard, was overcome with emotion as the Sunshine Girls’ Netball House was renamed the Marva Bernard Netball Chalet in her honour on Saturday.

Though visibly moved by the surprise announcement, Bernard was quick to point out that her sacrifices over the years were made not for recognition but moreso with the players’ best interests at heart.

“I am overwhelmed, and I am really surprised. I am just honoured that they would think to do this for me. I didn’t expect this, but this is huge,” Bernard said during the unveiling ceremony at the Hope Pastures, St Andrew complex.

“You know the girls, and you grow to love them, and you know the work that they have been doing for the country over the years. They are the ones doing the work, and we have to make sure they don’t have to worry about anything and can just focus on the field of play,” she added.

The facility, which serves as the official base for Jamaica’s netball teams during camps, was originally handed over by the Bruce Golding-led government in 2010 during Bernard’s tenure as Netball Jamaica president.

Bernard, who has been overseeing the refurbishment of the chalet, said she felt a personal responsibility to ensure the facility meets the needs of the athletes, as she added that work is already ongoing on phase two of the renovation project.

“It was a no-brainer for me to come back and fix up the house that was home for them. These are people’s children who play netball, and they deserve to be placed in accommodation that our own children would live in. So, it has been a labour of love,” Bernard passionately declared while expressing gratitude to sponsors Jamaica Public Service and Derrimon Trading.

However, Bernard noted that additional work remains, particularly in refurbishing the office and replacing outdated bathroom facilities.

“Everything here is from when I was here, so we have to look at replacing those now,” she shared.

Bernard, who served as NJ president from 2006 to 2015, has been instrumental in advancing the development of netball in Jamaica, and the renaming of the chalet is a fitting tribute to her contributions.

Still, for her, the gesture is more than just an acknowledgment of her work, but more of a testament to the unity and dedication of the netball community.

“It’s all about ensuring that these young women have what they need to succeed,” Bernard stated.