Four surviving members of the Teruka family, who lost their home to a fire in 1984, received the keys to their new house three years after the devastating incident.
A report from May 10, 1987, detailed that the $20,000 concrete home, situated in Naboro on a hilltop half a kilometer from the original site of the fire, was built thanks to the kindness of the Fijian community.
The fire, which began from a benzine light, occurred on July 2, 1984, and tragically took the lives of the family’s father, their two-year-old son, and their eldest daughter, eight-year-old Raini. In the aftermath, the remaining family members had been relying on the hospitality of friends and relatives.
The Fiji Sixes Charity Committee initiated a public appeal for Borita Teruka and her three daughters, starting with a $1,000 contribution. This appeal, facilitated by The Fiji Times, received overwhelming support, raising an additional $10,168.
The remaining funds to construct the house came from the insurance and credit union savings of Mr. Teruka, who worked as a laboratory assistant at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. The public trustee, Dhirendra Singh, managed the family’s financial affairs and the house’s construction.
Mr. Latchmaiya Naidu of William Plumbing Work in Suva was responsible for building the two-bedroom house, which measures six meters by nine meters. It was constructed on a five-acre lease overlooking the sea and lush greenery, specifically where the late Mr. Teruka had initially envisioned a two-story family home.
The house was fully furnished with new furniture, including beds, chairs, and tables. Rex Gardener, the general manager of The Fiji Times at the time, personally handed over the keys to the family.
Gardener remarked, “The country opened its heart in your hour of need, showcasing a tremendous expression of generosity and faith in human nature.” He added, “Both The Fiji Sixes and The Fiji Times are pleased to have positively contributed to securing a better future for you and your daughters. The role of the newspaper is to report on life’s tragedies, but by doing so, we can achieve outcomes like this.”
Ms. Teruka expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the new beginning, stating, “We are very happy and thankful to the people of Fiji for their help, thank you to everyone.”