Parade to mark special day
RTHE month of October is known to be one of the wettest months of any year.
It’s also the time of the year where Fiji’s independence is celebrated.
An article published by The Fiji Times on October 10,1972 reported the country’s plans to celebrate its second anniversary of independence, but because of appalling ground conditions at Albert Park in Suva the day before, officials were forced to cancel a major part of the program.
A marching display for the Marching Girls’ Association of Fiji, a display by members of the Charman’s All Races Club and school sports in the afternoon were put off.
The 10,000 young people in the March of Youth found themselves parading through mud and slush.
As the program continued members of the St John Ambulance Brigade were busy treating people who fainted.
The speech by the Governor-General, Sir Robert Foster, followed a gun salute by the Royal Fiji Military Forces.
The afternoon program consisted of the RFMF Beating Retreat.
Celebrations in the Western Division ranged from big parades and program at Lautoka’s Churchill Park and Prince Charles Park at Nadi to impressive displays at Ba, Rakiraki, Tavua and Sigatoka and smaller celebrations in the Yasawa and Mamanuca island groups.
Thousands of school children and adult marchers took part in the parades through the towns and villages which local district officers organised under the direction of the Commissioner Western, Major Jesoni Takala.
Entertainment by Fijian and Indian groups, sports, meke and speeches by civic leaders contributed to the successful ceremonies.
Cloudy skies but dry weather in the Western Division helped to swell the turnout of thousands of spectators.
The Indian High Commissioner, Bhagwan Singh, was the main speaker at the celebrations at Labasa’s Subrail Park. School children, former servicemen, boy scouts, girl guides and a bugler and trumpeter of the Royal Fiji Police Band took part in a march through the town.
There were about 7000 people at the park. About 800 Levuka people gathered at Nasau Park to celebrate.
About 500 were school children who, with a junior Red Cross link, and the Levuka branch of the guides and 40 former servicemen, marched through Beach Street to the park.
The member of Parliament for Lomaiviti-Rotuma, Manasa Tabuadua, was the chief speaker.
Bad weather marred the celebrations at Cakobau Park, Nausori.
About 1000 schoolchildren and 200 former servicemen marched through the town to the park.
The bad condition of the ground prevented the children from staging several items. The president of the senate, senator Robert Munro, was the chief speaker while Commissioner Central, Atfoa Varea, gave a garden party at his home for about 300 schoolchildren.