ABRAHAMS, VIVIAN RUDOLPH (June 5, 1889 — February 3, 1965) Overseer, Penang and Rewa Member of 1st contingent of volunteers from Fiji to WWI 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Battalion, King's Royal Riffle Corp, WWI 2nd Lieutenant, Fiji Defence Force & Army Reserve 1920-1939 Inspector of Labour, Fiji Civil Service CSR, Rarawai 1924-1942 Captain, 2nd (Territorial) Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment, WWII Civil Aviation Authority 1948-1955 Fluent in Fijian and Hindi Warden, Anglican Pro Cathedral By … [Read more...] about Vivian Abrahams
Fiji Fathers
Frank Fleming
FLEMING, FRANK(September 5, 1888 — March 28, 1968) Electrician, Radio Operator, Airman, Administrator, Caretaker of Makuluva & Nukulau By Kim Fleming FRANCIS IVOR FLEMING was born in Deptford in South-East London. He was the fourth of nine children, one of whom died in infancy. When 11 years old his father died after having fallen from the crane that he operated on the south bank of the Thames, and six months later his mother died. By March 1901 the eight orphans, one a small baby, were … [Read more...] about Frank Fleming
David Whippy
WHIPPY, DAVID (February 15, 1801 — , 1871) Founder of Levuka Town Whaler, Trader, Translator, Pilot Owner of Whippy, Simpson and Cusick, building sailing cutters and schooners Began experiments with granulating sugar on Wakaya Island Owner of a tract of land at Yadali, near Solevu America’s Vice-Consul to Feejee Mata ki Bau - Tui Levuka’s envoy to Bau. By Frances Campbell (nee Whippy) DAVID WHIPPY is the Patriarch of the Whippy family, one of the largest in Fiji. The … [Read more...] about David Whippy
Walter Harvie
HARVIE, WALTER LESLIE DOUGLAS (June 18, 1891 — May 24, 1969) Formed WLD Harvie Ltd, a construction company, in Lautoka in the late 1940s WLD Harvie Ltd took on the business of Ready gas in 1956, later to become Fiji Gas Company. By Lyndall Probert Fisher WALTER LESLIE DOUGLAS HARVIE was my grandfather. He was born in Auckland on 18th June, 1891. His father, Charles Edward Harvie, was born 9th October, 1865 in London and immigrated to NZ as a young man, where he married Caroline … [Read more...] about Walter Harvie
Roger Probert
PROBERT, ROGER PARK ANDERSON (March 19, 1917 — February 05, 2016) Chairman, Fiji Gas Company Ltd Suva & Lautoka City Councillor President, Suva & Lautoka Chamber of Commerce President, Fiji Employers Consultative Association (now Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation) Chairman, Housing Authority of Fiji & other Government Bodies Vice Chairman Fiji Red Cross Society President Suva Rotary Club President Fiji Golf Club Order of Fiji for services to the community. By Lyndall Probert … [Read more...] about Roger Probert
William Gunn MacPherson
MACPHERSON, WILLIAM GUNN (June 18, 1836 — February 04, 1874) Sheep Station Manager Cotton Farmer Store Owner and Hotelier. By Robert H Barrack William Gunn MacPherson, my great grandfather, was the second son of Captain Ewen MacPherson and Catherine Gunn. My great great grandfather, then Captain Ewen Macpherson of the 78th Regiment, married Catherine Gunn on the 30th August 1827 in Colombo, Ceylon. Their first three daughters, Anne Brodie Catherine, Mary and Margaret and … [Read more...] about William Gunn MacPherson
Capt. William McGowan
McGOWAN, WILLIAM (July 07, 1838 — April 06, 1881) Ship's Master. At the maritime forefront during years of massacres and unrest, bankruptcy, upheaval and jousting for supremacy by Chiefs Maafu and Cakobau. By Robyn Mortimer William McGowan, ship’s captain operating out of Levuka in 1871, was born on the 7th of July, 1838 in the town of Ayr, in south west Scotland. I found only the one William McGowan born in that year, in that place, and he was the son of Captain William McGowan, … [Read more...] about Capt. William McGowan
Laurier Parham
PARHAM, WILFRID LAURIER (March 18, 1900 — November 13, 1942) Agricultural Officer, Dept of Agriculture, Fiji 1930-1942 2nd Lieutenant, Platoon Commander, Tailevu Company, Home Guard Commended for Introduction of Irrigation in the Central Division, Viti Levu By Phyllis Parham Reeve My father began keeping a journal in 1912. He was the same age as the century, and for him the most significant event of the year was the sinking of the Titanic. The pages are heavy with paste and … [Read more...] about Laurier Parham