On January 3, 1977, The Fiji Times published an article about Mere Jarema, who was a dancer and an international volleyball star.
Originally from Matuku, Lau, she was 26 years old at that time and a mother to six-month-old Makare.
Mere loved her daughter dearly and said that Makare kept her happy all the time.
“Whenever I’m downhearted about anything at work, it automatically fades out my mind when I come home to cuddle my daughter,” she said.
Mere started representing Fiji volleyball from 1971 and the highlight of her career was when she represented the country at the Oceania tournament in Australia in 1973.
She was also selected to tour New Zealand in the same year.
Apart from volleyball, Mere played squash, table tennis and softball.
“Sports keep me fit and well-trimmed.”
Her other interests were creative dancing, modelling, gardening, sewing, collecting shells and making beads.
Mere took up creative dancing in 1973 and was a dance instructor for the YWCA for a couple of years.
“I feel good dancing and I would never give it up.
“Creative dancing has kept me nicely trimmed also. And all the types of movements I have to go through, keep me very graceful.”
The article stated she also liked modelling.
Before she took up dancing, Mere was a teacher at the United Club kindergarten.
Mere and her family lived at Beach Rd, Laucala Bay, and she said she loved going out to sea to collect sea shells.
From these shells, she made her own beads.
She also loved sewing and sewed her own dresses.
