ST JOSEPH’S SECONDARY SCHOOL ALUMNI
JUBILEE: 1956-2006
NEWSLETTER NO. 1, August 2005
Dear Alumni,
Greetings from the Executive Committee of the Alumni of the St Joseph’s Secondary School to you all wherever you may be, in Fiji or the world. This is the first of a series of newsletters to keep you posted on developments regarding the Jubilee celebrations from 22-24 September, 2006 to be held here at the School. Around 5,000 girls have gone through the school since its inception and whilst many have passed on, there remain a large number to whom this is addressed. Please share this with all you are in contact with and I ask that you make print copies for those who are not contactable by e-mail.
Already I have had many e-mails of interest from alumni members in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US who are excited about meeting up with classmates, schoolmates and friends in Suva in 2006 and are planning to be here for the celebrations.
To raise funds for the Jubilee we are working in conjunction with the PTFA on a raffle that we hope to raise $30,000.00 from to offset costs for the celebrations. The aim is to sell 200 ticket books at $150 per book and I am confident that we can do this. Prizes are family based and include weekends at resorts, a trip to NZ, dinners etc. Our plea is to all alumni to buy one ticket.
I have begun distributing ticket books and if you are overseas and wish to buy a book (F$150 or a ticket $5) please send the money to me. The tickets will be drawn on 5th November 2005.
Please continue to send me your thoughts and information about your get-togethers wherever you may be.
Loloma levu, Elizabeth
Your Executive for 2005-2006 are:
President: Elizabeth C. Reade Fong ; Vice-President: Marina Rounds Konrote ; Treasurer: Ivy Fong Khan ; Secretary: Pule Sukanaivalu; Asst. Sec: Maraia Vakatalai
Committee: Leilani Seduadua, Christina Rokoua, Sr Genevieve, Wana Tuikentabua, Kathy Kasatoka, Susan Kolikoli, Shirleen Sahai plus St J Relics of USP: Kaleini Nicholls, Patrina LauraFong, Lydia Driubalavu
Organising Committee for the Jubilee
The celebrations are being organized by the Alumni executive who will be working with the PTFA of the School. Committees are in the process of being established with others to be approached:
§ Public Relations - Chaired by Emelita Wendt…
§ Finance – Chaired by Ivy Fong Khan (); assisted by Leilani Seduadua
§ Liturgy –Sulu Hughes Casimira with Mere Duilomaloma Fong SJSS teachers…
§ Programme – Elizabeth C. Reade Fong, Veitinia Lesuma Chung, Sr Genevieve, PTFA
§ Jubilee Ball – Elizabeth C. Reade Fong, Nancy Gonewai, Helen Chang Waters…
§ Memorabilia – Andre Austin and others …
The Committee is soliciting suggestions for a programme and to date have received the following:
§ Thanksgiving Mass & Ceremonies of welcome for o/seas alumni by Fiji alumni
§ March past by Decade
§ Photo walls of current and past alumni
§ Jubilee book/CD of photos & Official photographs
§ Family Day – sing along, pot-luck meal…
§ Ball (September 23rd)
§ SJSS Kaleidescope of History: 10-15 minute acts by alumni locally and overseas depicting their days at the school. We need a choreographer please!
Fiji based Alumni.
As the hosts of the Jubilee celebrations, we are appealing to all those who are in Fiji to come forward to participate and assist with the planning and activities for the Jubilee. We know that some alumni have been meeting over the years but that there are many who have not been in contact with their class and school mates. Thus in a build up and preparation for the Jubilee in 2006 we will be holding monthly Masses beginning in September. These Masses will also serve as a build-up of a repertoire of hymns for the thanksgiving masses. Please keep a lookout in The Diary of the Fiji Times, e-mail, Parish newsletters and local radio.
Sydney based alumni
I regularly receive the minutes of one of the Sydney groups led by Veronica Lavulo which includes Davina Grey Zoing , Tracy Sellars 0419 661 042, Annette Dutta (0401 940 691). I know there are others, so please send me details and contacts and I will put them in this newsletter.
Other alumni who are in Australia whose names have come up include: Nora(Stevens)de Cruz, Ellen Barratt, Maxine Low Smith, Sigrid Ah Sam, Cheryl Ah Sam, Ursula Ah Sam Billings, Roslyn Lee, Frances Bawaqa, Margaret Yee, Cathy Movick Grierson, Kathy Zoing Johannsen, Jessie Michaels Jorgensen, Angela Ramrakha Parmanandan, Toni Healey, Emily Koroi, Peggy Young Vollmer, Matilda Samuels Roden, Yvonne Osborne, Tina Nandan Walsh, Winnie Young, Kula Fong Chu Ridd, Sally Beleisuva, Violet King, Tiny Eyre Campbell, Marlene Whitton, Grace Thaggard, Litia Smith, Frances Lum On Chan, Monica Kung, Wilma Rounds, Samantha Low Samuels, Esther Low, Ana Whitton, Jean Purcell, Vicki Yee Joy, Phyllis Lee Joe, Carol Fong Wooley, Jacqueline Fong Chow, Anthea Grey Reed, Thyra Smith, Eileen Fong Chu, Brenda Johanssen, Puala Allen, Donna Lobendahn, Agnes Dyer, Michelle Rounds, Canaan Bryson, Lynne MacDonald, Lorraine Sing Cutler, Julie Apted, Talei Apted, Valerie Wong, Ann Livingstone, Felecia Reade Gibson, Julie MurphyLorraine Emberson, Susan Emberson, Miriam Yee, Alexandra Yee, Morian McManus, Glenys Caine, Beverly Keni, Theresa Kamali, Marilyn Pahulu, V McClennan, Jane Heritage, Delores Heritage, Vera Heritage, Yvonne Storer, Connie Chew, Jennifer Lee, Valencia Mar, Lucyann Lavulo Samisoni, Ashla Singh, Josephine Reade.
Received from Lorraine Sing Cutler -
Two weekends ago, a few of us who finished UE in 1966 got together in Sydney at Josephine Seeto Lee Joe’s. There was, Katalina Rakai, Robyn Slatter Bradshaw, Sinling Yee Caruana and Jane Movick Harvey (a bit younger than us old buis!). We had a great weekend at Josephine’ss- her husband Gilbert was a great host and teenage daughter was very tolerant of our loud Fijian music, laughter and talanoa.
Doreen Fenn Elliott of the Class of '56 would like to contact those of her class who would like to attend the Jubilee. So girls, I am sure some of your mothers were in that class. Please put them in touch with Doreen through Lorraine Sing Cutler.
US based Valerie Thomas Warren -
Valerie Thomas Warren is in Sacramento, California and has been instrumental in organizing get-togethers of alumni of her era. We look forward those in the US coming over. By copy Valerie will distribute this newsletter in the US. Names that Valerie brought to my attention are Gaetane Helsen Austin, Dorothy Chang Sachs, Queenie Raymond Thompson, Anne Whitcombe Harness, Theresa Ah Koy, Julie Apted, Mary Ah Koy Nelson, Adi Samanunu Cakobau, Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau, Alice Toganivalu Tabete. Lorna Christopherson, Aileen Chang Burness, Bernadette Rounds Ganilau - most of whom still live in Fiji, so please bring this newsletter to their attention if they are not on this distribution list.
Alumni member Jasmine Yee Joy Bland who is currently studying dance and music in Los Angeles returned to Fiji at her own cost to perform at the Civic Center on the 23rd June and at a dinner at the Yacht Club on 25th June to fundraise for the Hall. $12,000 in total was raised. We say congratulations and vinaka vakalevu to Jasmine for acknowledging what the school did for her. Jasmine’s mum is Josephine Yee Joy who works in Nadi for Air Pacific.
SJSS- a tribute to Blessed Anne Marie Javouey
8/8/2005