Discovering Fiji
AS usual, John Kamea’s The Sunday Times feature “Discovering Fiji” always brings to the fore, often forgotten and sometimes not so well-known pieces of our colourful history.
The piece titled “Waqa sa Vuka” in ST 11/04, was an interesting one on our aviation history.
It’s a real pity that the Kingsford-Smith Pavilion that was on the west side of Albert Park and the Southern Cross Rd running between the park and government buildings, are now no more –– at least the names.
The pavilion was demolished a few years ago, in the redevelopment of the park and replaced by the new grandstand on the opposite and eastern side.
The road is still there, but was renamed. As we all know, both were originally named to commemorate the historic landing in Albert Park in 1928 of the airplane the Southern Cross, flown by the iconic Australian aviator Charles KingsfordSmith, enroute to Australia from the US.
There is now no visible commemoration of that historic landing, except in our written history and in the occasional nostalgic articles, like this one by John Kamea.
On the margins of that article, let me just ask whether the important role of Harold Gatty has been commemorated in any way, such as naming something after him.
It will be recalled that he established Fiji Airways back in the day.
It later became Air Pacific and now renamed Fiji Airways again.
It seems more appropriate now, than ever before.
EDWARD BLAKELOCK
Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour