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#HAPPY 50TH INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Posted on October 10, 2020 5 Comments

Albert Park Oct 10 1970

At precisely 10.00am 50 years ago today, Fiji gained its independence from Britain when H.R.H the Prince of Wales handed our founding Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the formal instruments of independence and the Fijian flag – our noble banner blue – was hoisted for the first time over Suva’s Albert Park.

It’s hard to convey the sense of excitement that gripped the entire nation at the time. Fiji was united as never before as the jockeying for influence that had marked the pre-independence negotiations was set aside and the nation set its eyes on the future. Yet there’s plenty of evidence of that excitement in the films that were taken at the time ( it was before the video age ) and they are well worth watching, even if the quality isn’t exactly 4K.

The first begins with excerpts from the government’s official Independence Day film that was made by the Australian Government Film Unit. As someone who was caught up in the excitement myself, I remember seeing it when it was first released and it’s a strange feeling to view it again half a century later. Its treatment of Fiji and the event itself has an element of the cliche and in retrospect, aspects of it are decidedly quaint. But it nonetheless faithfully captures the sense of elation and anticipation that gripped the nation on that brilliant sunny morning 50 years ago today.

It commences with the lowering of the Union Flag for the last time on the previous evening after 96 years of British rule. It’s been striking to read in the Fijian media this week the recollections of some of those who were there that they felt a deep sense of loss when the “Union Jack” came down. Colonial rule in many other places was unhappy but to a far lesser extent in Fiji. Most people, in fact, had a great affection for Britain, the Queen and the Union Flag and the formal end to almost a century of British rule triggered deep emotions among many people, coupled with pride that we were now an independent nation making our own way in the world.

It’s been one hell of a journey with a great deal of instability and unhappiness, as well as achievement and success. Fiji as a nation is demonstrably still a work in progress and as we enter our second half century, face an unprecedented challenge from the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. But this is how it all began.

Enjoy!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. William says

    October 10, 2020 at 8:04 am

    Thanks for the wonderful trip down memory lane, Graham. I was but a callow youth in Port Moresby on 10.10.70, & had yet to fall in love with Fiji. Sadly, my plans to be in Suva on 10.10.20, like so much, have been crueller by COVID-19. Cheers!

    Reply
  2. ulaiasi halofaki says

    October 10, 2020 at 12:39 pm

    vinaka vakalevu Mr Davis.

    Reply
  3. Josaia Rayawa says

    October 10, 2020 at 7:54 pm

    Thanks for sharing these videos Graham. I too was just a kid then at Albert park on that day. Funny what caught my eye this time around is the fact that all the Itaukei men in all of the videos and as well as those performing the traditional dances were slim fit. Not a pot belly in sight. How times have changed. And sad to note we rank up there in the world when it comes to NCDs, the Itaukeis at the top rung amongst the races today.

    Reply
  4. Vitivou says

    October 12, 2020 at 12:32 am

    Just adding onto what Josaia Rayawa said bout pot bellys Ive noticed in other videos as well that they spoke better proper english then as compared to nowadays. Almost as if weve behind bu alot.

    Reply
  5. Mona Midnight says

    October 12, 2020 at 1:27 am

    Thank you Graham for sharing these precious videos with us.
    My family were living in London at the time. My parents and many of the Fiji community of UK and Europe went to the Royal Lancaster Hotel in all their formal gear for an official dinner celebration with one of the Queen’s cousins as chief guest… Prince Michael of Kent?
    Meanwhile back in our North London home, my brother and I threw the biggest disco party anyone had ever experienced before. With disco lights and music blasting, it was non-stop dancing. We nailed Fiji on the minds of not just the party goers and our neighbours, but also on the minds of the very understanding police squad who came to tell us to keep the party inside as we were all out on the street dancing to “Dancing in the street”. What a party!
    It’s good to see what actually happened back home in Fiji.
    No other country can be compared to Fiji. Our customs, tradition, multiculturalism, values and attitude to life make our people one of the most unique in the world.
    Vinaka va levu

    Reply

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About Grubsheet

Graham Davis
Grubsheet Feejee is the blogsite of Graham Davis, an award-winning journalist turned communications consultant who was the Fijian Government’s principal communications advisor for six years from 2012 to 2018 and continued to work on Fiji’s global climate and oceans campaign up until the end of the decade.

 

Fiji-born to missionary parents and a dual Fijian-Australian national, Graham spent four decades in the international media before returning to Fiji to work full time in 2012. He reported from many parts of the world for the BBC, ABC, SBS, the Nine and Seven Networks and Sky News and wrote for a range of newspapers and magazines in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

 

Graham launched Grubsheet Feejee in 2011 and suspended writing for it after the Fijian election of 2014, by which time he was working at the heart of government. But the website continued to attract hits as a background resource on events in Fiji in the transition back to parliamentary democracy.

 

Grubsheet relaunches in 2020 at one of the most critical times in Fijian history, with the nation reeling from the Covid-19 crisis and Frank Bainimarama’s government shouldering the twin burdens of incumbency and economic disintegration.

 

Grubsheet’s sole agenda is the national interest; the strengthening of Fiji’s ties with the democracies; upholding equal rights for all citizens; government that is genuinely transparent and free of corruption and nepotism; and upholding Fiji’s service to the world in climate and oceans advocacy and UN Peacekeeping.

 

Comments are welcome and you can contact me in the strictest confidence at grubsheetcontact@gmail.com

 

(Feejee is the original name for Fiji - a derivative of the indigenous Viti and the Tongan Fisi - and was widely used until the late 19th century)

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