Four members of the Teruka family, who lost their home in a devastating fire in 1984, were presented with the keys to their new home three years later. The $20,000 concrete structure, located in Naboro on a hilltop half a kilometer from the site of the fire, was constructed thanks to the generous support of the Fijian community.
The fire, which was ignited by a benzine light on July 2, 1984, tragically took the lives of the family patriarch, their two-year-old son, and eight-year-old daughter Raini. Following the incident, the survivors were forced to live with relatives and friends.
The Fiji Sixes Charity Committee initiated a public fundraising campaign for Borita Teruka and her three daughters, starting with a $1,000 donation. This campaign, managed by The Fiji Times, successfully raised an additional $10,168 from the public. The funding was supplemented by Mr. Teruka’s insurance and savings from his job as a laboratory assistant at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. The public trustee, Dhirendra Singh, oversaw the family’s finances and the construction of the new home.
Built by Latchmaiya Naidu of William Plumbing Work in Suva, the two-bedroom house measures six meters by nine meters and sits on a five-acre leased hilltop that overlooks the sea and extensive bushland. It was constructed exactly where the late Mr. Teruka had envisioned building a family home. The fully furnished house is equipped with new beds, chairs, and tables.
At the key presentation, Rex Gardener, the general manager of The Fiji Times at the time, expressed the collective support of the nation. He remarked, “The country opened its heart in your hour of need, and it was a tremendous expression of generosity that restores our faith in human nature.” Gardener added that while the newspaper reports on life’s tragedies, such actions are made possible through raising awareness.
Ms. Teruka expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to begin anew, stating, “We are very happy and thankful to the people of Fiji for their help, thank you to everyone.”