Amelia Rokotuivuna
A word from WICAT Fiji chair
This article is a re-run of an article first published in on June of
I2005
T is not easy, in a small society, to hold views that are different from your social group, especially when you are ahead of your time. It is not easy to be a Fijian socialist, feminist, multiracial radical in a society driven by our potent mixture of patriarchal communalism and capitalism. It is not easy to be honest with friends and foe alike, regardless of rank, status, wealth and power. Amelia Vakasokolaca Rokotuivuna did all that, and more.
Born in the village of Vatukarasa (Tailevu) in 1941, Amelia lived her early years under the harsh conditions of the Vatukoula gold mines, where her father was a cook. Yet she rose to being the Head Girl of Adi Cakobau School, the premier and elitist Fijian school for girls. At work, she took on the charismatic leadership of the Young Woman's Christian Association (YWCA).
Till the end, she also remained the funloving warm human being, who passionately loved rugby, good wine, music and food, and the company of old friends.
The YWCA
Amelia was the first Fiji staff member of the Fiji YWCA founded in 1962. She was mentored by Anne Walker and Ruth Lechte of World YWCA , and Amelia became the first Fijian Executive Director in 1972.
The "Y" was an active progressive association for women's rights, Fiji's independence, anti-nuclear protests, and multiracialism in Fiji. The YWCA was known for its traditional roles in the vocational training of women. But under Amelia, the YWCA also became a leader in the struggle for women's rights, workers' and union rights, and economic and political justice for all.
Amelia and the YWCA were one of the catalysts in the formation of ATOM (Against Testing on Murorua), FANG (Fiji Anti-Nuclear Group), and NFIP (Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific) which eventually became PCRC (Pacific Concerns Resource Centre). Amelia was a leading advocate for the independence movements in the Pacific.
Amelia was a focal point
At the "Y", Amelia helped bring together many like-minded people of all races. As a USP mathematics lecturer in 1973, I was pulled into a critical study of Fiji's newly independent economy, being conducted by Amelia and the USP Student Christian Movement. Fiji: a developing Australian colony was Fiji's first radical publication, published with the authors suitably recorded as Rokotuivuna et al, but attracting the ire of Fiji's political leaders and the elite.
Surprising for an Indo-Fijian non-Christian male, I found myself on the YWCA committees on economic justice or inflation, part of a YWCA team making submissions to the Street Commission for constitutional reform, marching with the anti-nuclear movement, and numerous other YWCA activities. Perhaps an added attraction for my attachment to the YWCA may have been Amelia's Deputy Director at the time, later to become my wife.
But the mathematician soon converted to being a life-long economist, sharing much in common with the social and political vision of Amelia and her friends. Many others from USP and outside of the YWCA, were also drawn to the wide ranging activities of the YWCA, whether it be political education campaigns or modern dance. Many of Amelia's friends from that time continue to be active today.
Amelia the uncompromising Amelia, as the Executive Director of the YWCA in Fiji, came into contact with all kinds of powerful people: Prime Ministers and politicians, millionaire businessmen, corporate types, communal leaders and university professors. She interacted with all with uncompromising honesty, regardless of their wealth, power, status or qualification.
Amelia was a Fijian commoner who expected the highest of standards from her chiefs. She was a committed socialist who participated in labor movements, but refused to blindly follow leaders who fell short of her democratic and co-operative ideals.
She was a pioneer feminist who was dismayed by the populist "Gucci feminists" she saw in later years, but buoyed by the large numbers of young women taking on leadership roles. She was the head of an NGO that benefited from donations from the business community, but refused to compromise on her opposition to employers who refused to give a fair deal to workers.
Amelia loved her friends, but left them with no illusions if she disapproved of their behavior or views.
Amelia was vehemently opposed to the ill-effects of free trade and globalization. Economist friends had to tread carefully when pointing out the many benefits of globalisation for the poor of the developing world, including the NGOs.
Rising to the Fijian challenges
It has been illuminating and humbling to see how Amelia as a fiercely proud Fijian, rose to the challenges of being a good citizen in a multi-racial Fiji. While non-Fijians have had a tough time in post-coups Fiji, their issues and perspectives are fairly clearly defined. But most educated indigenous Fijians are facing profoundly difficult choices between their communal traditions and obligations, and the pitiless modern demands to be materially successful and compete with "others" in a globalised world order, while following rules set by international democratic ideals and market capitalism.
With the traditional leadership severely weakened, the ordinary common Fijians face the mammoth task of having to redefine their own personal roles and responsibilities vis a vis their immediate families, their mataqali, other communities, and the world.
For more than three decades, Amelia's response to the critical challenges (such as the coups of 1987 and 2000) has been more radical than that of most Fijians. In her personal life, she has been an honest citizen respecting the rights of all races, classes and genders in Fiji. But she has also taken a strong leadership role over the years, advocated the same ideals for Fijians and the wider Fiji community.
She has naturally also paid a personal price – at times, facing alienation with some leaders, some friends, and even some family members. She has faced the occasional ostracism with stoicism and good humor.
Her purity of purpose has often been vindicated years later, with friendships being renewed as Amelia's views were grudgingly recognized to be correct, or views which people respected, even if they agreed to disagree. Remarkably, Amelia would maintain cordial social relations even with political leaders and persons whose views were poles apart from her – a trait we would like to see more in our leaders.
The bohemian
It never ceased to amaze me how Amelia cared so little for personal accumulation and wealth. At one stage, Amelia worked for international organizations like the World YWCA with their relatively high salaries, in exotic locations such as Geneva. But she chose to come back to Fiji's low salaries, for the more meaningful life and challenges amongst her own people.
Not that she was frugal. She could also cheerfully blow a large sum of money on a single meal with friends, whether at the Blue Boar in London or Biddy's Steakhouse in Suva. She loved and looked after the children of relatives. Like many other Fijian leaders of her generation, she ended her life with no property in her own name.
Not goody two shoes
Amelia was not the typical "goody two shoes" whose company is painful for normal prim and proper persons. Amelia was a boisterous argumentative political wit who could out-talk most persons. She loved her red wine and she and some of her women friends could drink seasoned male friends under the table. Their loud ribald joking was not for Sunday School children.
Amelia loved nothing better than to be next to tuneful guitars strummed by her numerous musician friends, men and women. Friends will remember for a long time, the joyful image of Amelia surrounded by her ACS Old Girls crowd, belting out one classic Fijian song after another, and the melodious songs of the sixties and seventies.
Dying, but not the end
More than a year ago, Amelia was diagnosed with cancer. Supported by her numerous friends in Fiji and abroad, she went through her operations and subsequent treatments with courage. She continued her joyous life.
The cancer returned and Amelia faced up to her impending end with good humour. She was patient with the never ending stream of friends. Last week her earthly flame was finally extinguished.
As was her wish and radical to the end, I was honored to assist in the cremation of Amelia at the Vatuwaqa Crematorium, but with the ceremony presided over by a Methodist priest saying the usual Christian prayers. Amelia's nephew Peceli Rokotuivuna and numerous friends all took part in the sacred lighting of the funeral pyre. Her friends stayed on till the next morning to collect her ashes which were later scattered in her family river, on of the tributaries to the Rewa River, by Peceli and friends.
It was a privilege to have known Amelia. There are many subtle ways in which we are all changed by the company of charismatic persons. Amelia was one such person who changed people for the good.
May Amelia's visionary light shine on.
WARM greetings from WICAT Fiji Executive Committee as we embark on a week-long celebration of women in construction globally.
Women In Construction And Trade Fiji (WICAT) was established in 2022. It stemmed from a personal experience of finding myself working on property renovation and construction projects as the only woman on site. I sought out other women in this industry and thankfully received the support of my main contractors who employed female general construction workers on our projects. However, I felt this was not enough.
So began a quest to create a network of women which started off with mutual friends or associates of each other, supporting and sharing experiences they have faced within the industry. It dawned upon the group of ladies that there must be many other women in the industry looking for a similar network of engaged, passionate tradeswomen.
Today, WICAT Fiji’s members are nearing 100 women and growing. We have a diverse member database from skilled and certified, gaining skills and certified, skilled and not certified to graduates and academia.
Our membership criteria is simply that you are a woman working in the field of construction and trade. Our objectives are to identify, support, develop and enhance the quantity and skills quality of women in the field of construction and trade in Fiji, irrespective of background, ethnicity, nationality, gender or creed.
The core ethos of WICAT Fiji encapsulates the growth and support of more women in construction and trade, to close the gender pay gap, to champion and recognize the achievements of women in this field, to work collaboratively to create an environment that welcomes and retains women. We are an organized national network of women, in the field of construction and trade. We depend on financial support drawn from annual memberships, corporate, public and donor sponsors.
Our inaugural Lunch & Learn event will be held at Toorak Central during WIC week on Wednesday 6th March 2024. It is a sold out event with 40 members and an amazing line up of speakers.
WIC Week, or Women in Construction Week Celebrates and promotes the role of women in the construction industry.
NAWIC (National Association of Women In Construction) held the first WIC Week in 1998 and it has grown and expanded each year since. Many of our local chapters hold WIC Week events, which can include making presentations to high school classes, job site tours, luncheons and virtual events.
This year’s theme, ‘Keys to the Future’, celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry.
Construction firms of all sizes and types are encouraged to participate in WIC Week and show their support for their women employees.
They can also find events to participate near them on our event calendar.