Reginald Raffe’s journey

a radio operator aboard the HMS-Telemachus submarine during WW2.

“A few years after the war ended, at around age 26, he made the long journey by boat from England to Sydney, where his entrepreneurial spirit came to the fore.

“With nothing to lose he tried everything, and within a short time had established several successful businesses in various industries such as photography, restaurants, commercial real estate and book publishing.

“It was around this time he rented a converted boatshed apartment from a man called Dick Smith, who was planning a big sailing adventure at the time. “They became fast friends, and when Dick got to Fiji and invited Reg to come over to Castaway Island (which he was building at the time), my father did not hesitate, and was on the next plane to Fiji.

“To say my father fell in love with Fiji is an understatement. Within a few years he sold up everything he had in Australia and moved to Malolo Lailai. “Back then the island was a copra plantation with only few buildings and a cane train.

“Reg was very hands on with the resort build, and we have video footage of him pouring concrete into the blocks that made the Beachfront Bures, which are still in use today.”