Marist Brothers High School (Fiji)
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| Marist Brothers High School | |
| Motto | In Hoc Signo Vinces |
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| Established | 1949 |
| School type | All Boys, Roman Catholic |
| Grade levels | Form 3-7, Sports Academy |
| Principal | Manasa Tamanitoakula [Acting] |
| Location | Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji |
| Colors | Red, white and navy blue |
Marist Brother's High School is a Roman Catholic all-boys high school situated in Suva, the capital of Fiji. It is a school in the Marist tradition, founded in 1949 by the order of Marist Brothers, which has had a presence in Fiji since 1844.[1]. The school motto is "In Hoc Signo Vinces".
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[edit] History
Marist Brothers High School was founded and run by members of the Marist Brothers order since it opened to students in 1949. Founded by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a Marist priest in France in 1816, the order went by the names of the Petits Frères de Marie (Little Brothers of Mary) and Fratres Maristae a Scolis (FMS or the Marist Brothers of the Schools, the post-nominal letters of the Marist Brothers). Marcellin's desire to have brothers to teach the rural children grew after his visit to the bedside of a sixteen-year-old, Jean Baptiste Montagne whom St. Marcellin discovered knew nothing of his faith.
Marist Brothers’ schools began in Australia in 1872 and in New Zealand in 1876. On 27 August 1888, three Brothers, Harvey, Vincent and Alphonsus, arrived in Suva to begin a school for the children of Catholic Europeans. This was in response to Bishop Vidal’s request to Brother Theophane the Brother Superior General in France. On 7 September 1888, they began their school in a house, just above the Lilac Theatre in Waimanu Road. In 1889 they moved to Suva Street. At first only European boys were admitted but by 1897 Bothers Columba and Claudius had begun a school for Indian boys and other races, known as the Indian School or the Cosmopolitan School, on the corner of Suva Street and Toorak Road. By 1936 this had developed into St Columba’s School.
In 1912, Brothers Augustine, Alphonsus and Loyola began secondary classes in St Felix College, also on the Suva Street property. In 1936, after a considerable struggle with the civil authorities, who opposed secondary education for locally born children, the Brothers were allowed to reopen their secondary classes to all races. Thus the Marist Brothers’ High School had its beginnings in Suva Street. The High School was built at Bau Street during 1948, ready to begin the year there in 1949. The school does not take students of Indo-Fijian origin including Catholics.
[edit] Extra-curricular activities
Marist athletics
The school has for four decades dominated the schools athletics scene in Fiji.
Athletics is a uniting force for the Marist community who come together every year to help athletes train and perform at the annual Coke Games and later on in international meets. The school has been in partnership with the Marist Old Boy's Community for the past two decades: they assist in training each year.
For the last sixteen Games since the medal system was introduced,[when?] the school has won 12 times.
Marist has also won the Deans Trophy, a senior school rugby competition in Fiji , on four occasions and drawn twice.
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] Politics
- The late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Fiji's 1st Prime Minister, 1970; late President of Fiji, Turaga Na Tui Nayau.
- Dr. Feleti Sevele, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Tonga.
[edit] Military and police
- Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (1998–present) and interim Prime Minister of Fiji (2007–present),
- Colonel Jone Baledrokadroka, former Fiji Military Acting Land Force Commander,
- Commodore Esala Teleni, Commissioner Police, Naval officer, former Fiji Rugby Captain,
- Colonel Pio Wong SDL politician, served as Cabinet Minister in Qarase government (Head Boy 1960s),
- Lt Colonel Rt Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, former 3FIR Commander.
[edit] Sports
- Ilivasi Tabua, former Australian Wallaby and former Flying Fijian coach,
- Marika Vunibaka, former Fiji and Canterbury Crusaders Rugby winger,
- Netani Talei, current Flying Fijians backrower,
- Gabriel Lovobalavu, Flying Fijians center,
- Sunia Koto, Flying Fijians hooker,
- Dominiko Waqaniburuto, Flying Fijians utility forward,
- [Leslie Copeland], Fiji javelin record holder,
- Lote Tuqiri (Junior), plays for the Japanese Rugby Sevens Team,
- Banuve Tabakacoro, Fiji's top track athlete, won three gold medals in the Pacific Games held in New Caledonia, in the 100m, 200m, and the 4 by 100m relay. Youngest ever athlete to win the 100m and 200m in the Pacific Games. In 2011 he set new Coke Cola Light Games records in the 100m and 200m.
[edit] References
- ^ Fiji Education Commission Report 1909,p.53.cited in Robert Nicole, Disturbing History: resistance in early colonial Fiji, University of Hawaii Press,2011,p181.
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