On a day marked by rain and brief periods of sunshine, alumni, teachers, pastors, and officials from Nelson Palmer SDA Memorial Primary School gathered in Salaiba, Navosa, to celebrate the school’s centenary.
While Nadroga/Navosa province is well-known for its tourism and the iconic Coral Coast, Navosa remains relatively undeveloped compared to the coastal villages. The best way to appreciate Navosa’s beauty is to travel via bus or guided safari tour along Sigatoka Valley Road, where visitors can admire the fertile riverbanks and diverse crops that have sustained local communities for generations, earning the region its nickname, “Salad Bowl.”
Navosa boasts lush vegetation, flowing rivers, deep gorges, and steep slopes, creating a stunning array of geographical features. The rugged, mist-covered mountains in the north lead to Viti Levu’s heartland and the Navosa-Ba border. Near the government station in Vatumali, which is a few kilometers past Keiyasi Village, there is a police station, a modern sub-divisional hospital, a high school, and Ronitesh Supermarket and restaurant, where visitors can stop for ice cream and fresh bread.
From Vatumali, travelers can navigate the winding, unpaved roads to a place known locally as Natayo, a turning point for buses making the journey from the coast to the countryside. The Sunday Times team deviated from the main route at Natayo and embarked on an adventure by crossing the river, following local customs by navigating the shallowest parts of the water in their 4WD.
Nelson Palmer is located on the banks of the Sigatoka River near the old access road called ‘Salaiba’ (meaning the road to Ba). The land here is well-watered and organically rich, making farming appealing. Every weekday, students, some as young as Year 1, must wade through the river to reach school, sharing this daily route with villagers, vehicles, and horses.
Sereima Donu, a 72-year-old former student, reminisced about her school days, stating, “In our days, we’d come in our suwai, walk our metal Billy cans across the river, place them on the other side before returning to get our books and uniforms.” She recalled how students would take off their wet clothing, hang it on a fence, and change into their uniforms made of bamboo and corrugated iron before entering class.
Outside the school gate, two tall mocemoce trees were used to hang Billy cans, serving as the predecessors of today’s plastic lunchboxes. Sereima shared that they often walked barefoot and did not have bags, carrying their books in hand or in plastic bags. “Going to school was a challenge, but we knew we had to do it every day to pass our exams, get a job, and support our community,” she noted, later becoming a registered nurse and serving in various rural areas.
The reunion on Saturday included a Sabbath fellowship, an elaborate lunch under a tent, and an afternoon filled with stories. Alumni recounted their experiences, from the discipline they faced from teachers to the infamous soapy mouthwash they endured for swearing. Merekeleni Vutevute fondly remembered the Bible classes, while former teacher Savenaca Ramakosoi emphasized the importance of teaching children in the ways of the Lord.
Lesayani Lewavaro, the oldest alumnus at the centenary reunion, attended Nelson Palmer’s Class 1 before advancing her education. She unveiled a commemorative plaque alongside SDA Church president Pastor Nasoni Lutunaliwa, who represented his ill father, former student Sakiusa Sugumai.
The main celebration day featured a large school feast and a fundraising effort that raised $36,000 for a new classroom block. Head of School Gavidi Taukeimaimuri Jr expressed gratitude for the alumni and contributors who traveled from near and far to celebrate the anniversary, stating, “The fundraising drive collected $36,000 that will be used to complete the newly built computer lab and library.”
Established in Draiba Village in 1924, during a time when indigenous Fijians were navigating Christianity and political changes, the school has grown over the last century, becoming a beacon of hope and education for the people of Navosa. Currently, it has six teachers and 132 students.