Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

37 family’s home, Briarsend, catering to underprivileged children while developing a reputation as an excellent and respected teacher and administrator. In 1921, she formed the Coterie of Social Workers, effectively extending her social conscience into the area of social welfare with a group of like-minded young ladies whole heartedly supported by their parents for the work they were doing in their communities. For many years ‘Briarsend’ served as the headquarters of the Coterie and the hub for meetings, and social events such as bazaars and dances with Audrey Jeffers as the dedicated driving force. She proceeded to initiate and establish ‘Breakfast Centres’ (1926), providing hungry school children with a daily meal, the first of these at Warner Street in Newtown, which became known as a Breakfast Shed. Edward Street became the main Breakfast Centre and supplied the other branches which were set up in Barataria, San Fernando, Siparia and Tobago. She also played the major and pivotal roles in the setting up of a Workingmen’s’ dining shed on South Quay, a Mother’s Day celebration movement (1927), St. Mary’s Home (1928) and in 1929 represented T&T in London at the National Council of Women of the Empire. Going beyond the scope of providing to children in need, she extended her concerns to the needs of the aged, the blind and young working women and families in distress with babies in need of day care. To these ends “Cipriani House”, in John John, Laventille, was set up, followed by others, including hostels for young working women. In 1936 she was swept to victory as the first woman to be elected to the city council, putting her in a position, as a politician, to better champion her causes. In 1941 she was appointed to the voting Franchise Commission and in 1946 appointed as the first woman to the Legislative Council where she served until 1956. In 1947 she was again in the national forefront, this time on the Constitutional Reform Committee. She served as our honorary Consul for Liberia. For her dedication in the area of social welfare she was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1959. The Foreshore/Mucurapo Highway as well as the Audrey Jeffers School for the Deaf in San Fernando were both named in her honour. • 1969 Chaconia Medal Gold