As president of the club I provide you wit this brief report about our
activities throughout the last year 2001. Weekly meetings in the homes of members
have been the most important social network for us this year. The meetings
have been most enjoyable with kava
drinking, story-telling, meeting vistors, and ofcourse the delicious dinner
which follow. We had several visitors, for instance, there was a teacher from
the Nadronga, Naidu from Lautoka, and Rinieta from Suva to mention
some.
My residence at 13 Boundary Road,
Newcomb, has become a good
place for many of our club's activities. My wife Wendy and I wish to thank Seone for his gift of plants
and flowers for the garden.
Web site Hosted
This website that you are now viewing was generously provided to us free
of any cost by Vicnet as we are a community group. The
information and photos were provided by by the Ratawas and Wendy Berzanskis
was responsible for design and development of these web pages. Many emails have been
received from people who had looked at the website and want to make
contact. A sample of pages is circulated for members who do not have a computer.
Grants Obtained
Our club was granted $1'000 for relocation of 2-toilets and showers to help in hospitality for Fijian
visitors and parties. As the total cost amounted to $4'000 the balance
$3'000 was funded by the Ratawas.
Wendy Ratawa also applied to the Multicultural Commission and we
she was successful in procuring $600 towards the Club's administrative
expenses. Thes expenses were: Phone - $100, Computer - $40, Travel -
$40, Website development - $40,
Pako - $40, Newsletter - $10, Annual Statement - $30, and Language Classes
$300.
Another application to Geelong City was unsuccessful but we will resubmit
it.
Various Other Activities
Helping people with bereavement such as the
Ratawa family and the Melross family.
Fijian language classes for
10-weeks, ~ hopefully to recommence soon.
Representation on the Geelong Ethnic Communities Council and Pako Festa
committees by Peceli.
Assistance to the crew of Captain Cook by Alan Wise.
We obtained an Australian Business Number recently as this is necessary
when dealing with government bodies for grants, etc.
In
the Poko Festo this year
we did not have a stall but organised a dance & singing group
from Footscray. It was led by Tevita Siu who came from Melbourne and did a stage
performance as well as on the street near St Phillips church, SBS Fijian program at
Poko. We gave the dance group a dinner afterwards.
Contact with our distant members in the Footscray area.
Assistance to a Fijian boy needing surgery for a brain tumour from Nayau at
Children Hospital.
Gave $ 100 to the mother and made regular visits to the hospital.
Assistance with migration matters given to 2-men in the Maribynong Detention Centre
for their court case. Also several visits made and sent their belongings to Fiji on Captain Cook.
500 Methodist Hymn Books collected from Noble Street church and sent on Captain Cook to the Methodist Church in
Fiji.
Donation in Kind - working bees: Fixing bikes and wheelchairs, organised by Rotary at Ratawa's
house backyard.
Some of our members had holidays in Fiji in the past year, Ken and Selai, Ken and
Christine, Peceii, Heather. We welcomed Heath and Marica back from
Fiji.
We are part of the Hungerbusters Bread scheme, picking up f rom Lara Baker's
Delight each Sunday to give out to nursing homes and people in need.
2 Certificates have been given to
me for the Fiji group for
participation in the Ethnic Council Pako Committee. Another certificate from the State for Volunteering. These are to thank our Fiji-Geelong Friendship Club for being part of these
councils. Even though we are very small in number we have a role in the development of Geelong as a
multicultural city.
If you wish to refer to my last year's report
please click on the image
here 
I thank all the club members, various friends and organisations very
much for their generous support and participation in the activities of
our club for the past year.
