Australia's Fiji online community

MESSAGE TO BILLY MORELL OF LIDCOMBE, LOLOMA HOUSE, NSW.

Since it is your birthday on May 15th just wondering if you gonna have a party at your place this year? Sorry I couldn't get to you on the phone.

Thanks WS

LOOKING BACK

A photo sent in from Mr Sam Sanday of Delainavesi, Suva. Hibiscus 2007 float procession

The Queen's birthday was always celebrated in Suva with military trooping of the colours by the Royal Fiji Military Forces at Albert Park. Here is the event captured by Peter Traill in 1969.

An old photo from a collection belonging to the Traills of Melbourne.Taken by Peter Traills' father-in-law. This is what a Fijian koro used to look like.

A photo taken in Suva 1969 by Peter Traill. What a shot!

A picture taken during the 1969 Hibiscus festival float procession in Suva, Fiji.. Photo by consent of Peter and Dorothy Traill of Melbourne.

Another photograph from the archives of Mr Peter Traill of Melbourne. A sparkling brand new Suva Grammar School, taken from Vuya Road, Veiuto in 1960.

Greeting the Oriana as it berthed in Suva in the 1960s. The brass band of the then Royal Fiji Police Force doing the honours. Photo from collection of Mr Peter Traill.

REGUREGU VISIT

A visit on Friday to the reguregu for Edward Spowart in Greystaines, NSW. Maxi shaking hands wih old fellow Burn Philp Suva worker Billy Morell. L-R: Ben (from USA), Maxi (from Canada), Billy Morel and Raymond Morel (Sydney)

CLARE TRANSFERRED

Clare Sanday says farewell to Sydney for a little while as she is transferred to Tweed Heads, to be closer to her son and the fine beaches. Here she is at cousin Jimmy's house holding grand daughter Francis, on ANZAC day April 2008.

LOOKSEY'S 50th

On Saturday 19th April the 50th birthday of Luke Tukana a.k.a Looksey was celebrated at Macquarie.

George Fonmoa and friends enjoying a light hearted moment at Looksey's birthday.

Joeli Ravulala in the foreground helping to celebrate Looksey's 50th.

FIJI GRADUATES

Another photo from FIT Samabula, celebrating Fiji graduates from the University of Newcastle. All graduating in Bachelor of Education TVET. L-R: Seruwaia Raile who teaches at Sila Central, Nausori, Josaia Vunitali of FIT, Unaisi Laki of FIT and Milton Simmons also of FIT. Congratulations to all.

SIDNEY GRADUATES

His goal was to graduate from university before he turned 21. Well he did it. Here is Sidney Sanday after the capping ceremony at USP in Suva. His sister Linda Sanday is to the immediate left, picture with two other friends. Sidney spent a year at MacQuarie University in Sydney during his study. He is now working as an accountant in Suva. Vinaka boy!

MAR FAMILY REUNION

Members of the Mar family from Fiji living in Australia, Fiji and NZ flew to Malysia for the 50th birthday of Albert Mar. The occasion provided the opportunity to also hold a family reunion. Here is some members of the family at the hotel steps in Penang where the families stayed.

AUSSIE VOLUNTEERS

Aussie volunteer group rehearse for their function on April 12th at Drummoyne Club 162 Victoria Road.

IAN HEALY

Star cricketer Ian Healy visits the Sizzler Restaurant at Carindale, Brisbane which Satya Naidu manages.

MARRICKVILLE FUNDRAISER

Enjoying the night out at Marrickville.

Apicture from the Cyclone Gene fund raiser held at Marrickville on Saturday 15th March, 2008.

BRISBANE FIJIANS 7s

The Brisbane Fijian team that played in the Darwin Sevens Competition. Photo:Donna Lobendahn.

RATU BOROGAGA

In the interest of free speech and promulgation of ideas we publish a further chronical from the erstwhile Ratu Borogaga.

COMING UP

1.Mother's Day: 11th May. Drummoyne Rotuman Methodist Church.

2.Rotuma Day Social.Saturday 17th May at Concord Community Center.

3.Suva Grammar Sydney ex students inaugral Church service. To mark the beginning of SGS ex students Sydney. Bring a plate! Saturday 24th May at Bexley Presbeterian Church. Corner of Forest Road and Sackville Street. For info contact: Biu Tabuatamata 0414 071 627 or George Fonmoa: 0424 458 792. Seek and Ye Shall Find.

4.Kabani on stage.Saturday 31st May at Jetz Club by Mascot airport, Tempe. Groove to the unique music of Kabani.

5.Combinned Rotuman Chruch Service. 29th June at Drummoyne.

6.MOBilise 2008. Marist Old Boys conference. Friday 1st August. Canada Bay Convention Center, Concord. Calling all ex Marist in Australia. For details email the Secretary Lunik Liu: lunikliu@people.net.au

7.Sunday 3rd August 2008 Marist Old Boys Mass, Hunters Hill Parish. In association with local Fijian community.

8.Friday 7th November 2008. Annual Fiji Charity Golf Day. Carnarvon Golf Club, Nottinghill Road, Lidcombe, NSW. For more info: awendt@ozemail.com.au

HENRY IN SYDNEY

On his way back to Suva from a conference in Cairns QNSLD "The PNG Business and Trade Expo Forum". PIPSO secretariat official Henry Sanday stops by in Ryde, NSW,for a cuppa with cousin Wayne.

SAVUSAVU GIRL MAKES IT

She has finally done it! Eliza Grant (nee Thaggard) has graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Technology Sydney Kuring-gai campus Lindfield. The capping ceremony took place on Wednesday 23rd of April in Sydney. Congratulations Eliza! Check out the photos.

MARIST HARBOUR CRUISE

The long awaited Marist Old Boys Sydney Harbour cruise happened on Saturday 19th April. The light rain and cold snap did no deter ex MOBs, their friends and family from arriving at Darling Harbour for the cruise aboard the luxurious John Cadman 2. Some decided to pop into nearby bars for a while to enjoy a drink or two as a primer and watched some Super 14 football between the Waratahs and the Lions. When the cruise got underway the ship had a capacity crowd. Simon Lovulo was the DJ and before long he had people on the dance floor. The food was superb and included a variety of curries, prawns, palusami and (from memory) some traditional Fijian 'ba ba'. Raffles were drawn and recent birthdays were celebrated! The Marist committee displayed the 'red fire' spirit with their excellent organisation of this top event. Many expressed the view that this was the best harbour cruise they had ever been on and that they would definitely be back next time. One unusual but perhaps true remark made by Mary Grant was "...isa, we don't see the tuiboto anymore at our Fiji functions". Sa dina! Congratulations to the MOBs for a wonderful job. Some pictures of the night can be viewed here.

AUSSIE VOLUNTEEERS

A keen group of ex Fiji residents and their Aussie mates got together for some charity work on Saturday April 12th. A volunteer band comprising of Avo and Thomas Hill and friends was put together and Avo spun his usual magic with his golden tonsils and guitar. Popular band Kabani and Jioji Jang got up on stage to present some of their fabulous numbers. The evenning was a great success thanks to the hard work of the committee and positive community support. Some pictures have been sent in to this website by George Fonmoa.

EZRA WILLIAM"S PARTY

Pictures from the birthday party of the 40th birthday party of Ezra Williams held at Guildford, Lincoln Room - on 15th March 2008.

NEW SGS PRESIDENT

New President of Suva Grammar School ex Scholars NSW branch - Elenoa Bola. At a meeting held at Homebush Olympic Park a new organisation was formed of the ex Suva Grammar students. After voting an inaugural executive committee was established. The group will conduct activities to revitalise contacts amongst the Suva Grammar alma mater in NSW and work in concert with the ex scholars association in Fiji.

AUSSIE VOLUNTEERS

On Saturday 8th March a BBQ was held at Cabarita Park to raise funds for victims of Cyclone Gene in Fiji.

Here is a picture of the volunteer band that provided the background music at the Cabarita Park picnic. Next fund raiser for this group is a social at the Drummoyne RSL on April 12th.

TREVOR'S 50TH

Trevor Lambert celebrated half a century with friends at Drummoyne RSL on Saturday 16th February 2008.

PARTY AT SONY & ZELDA'S

A small get together for family and friends was held at Sony Morel and Zelda's residence in Sydney on Saturday 19th Jan. L-R: Billy Morel Junior, Sony Morel, Allan Ricketts, Billy Morel Snr in the background.

Pass the ketchum! L-R: Zelda, Ursula and Oscar at the dinning table.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENNETH

The birthday of Kenneth Ricketts was held at Baulkham Hills, NSW on Saturday 22nd December, 2007.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID

The birthday of David Mune was held at Ryde Bowling Club on Sat 1st November, 2007. Here is a picture of David making his speech of thanks. More pictures coming shortly on this website. Here are some pictures for starters anyway.

REASON WHY OZ GOVT BANNED KAVA

Due to a section of the Australian Indigenous Community in the Northern Territory abusing it (liquor and other substances added to make a lethal concoction).

Liquor bans have been introduced and targeted at specific Oz indigenous communities.
A Kava ban was introduced without consultation and extends (unlike the liquor bans) Australia wide.

The Australian Govt., states that it recognises the needs of the Pacific Island people and allows 2 kilos per person over 18 years of age arriving into the country.(This requires someone to be travelling overseas).
The only way Kava can be imported commercially now is if it is being used for scientific and medical reasearch.

Please sign and help to overturn the ban