Sometimes the greatest things in life happen when we least expect them. This was the reality for Timoci Balenaivalu, the principal archivist at the National Archives of Fiji.
Timoci holds a rare skill in Fiji, being one of the few qualified to handle the intricate task of maintaining official files and records. This expertise led him to become the President of the Pacific Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (PARBICA).
Hailing from Nakorosule, Naitasiri, Timoci is the youngest of three siblings. His upbringing involved moving to different schools due to his father’s civil service postings. He attended Ra High School, Ba Provincial High School, and Shri Vivekananda High School, now known as Swami Vivekananda College.
His career in record management began unexpectedly after high school. During the school holidays, Timoci went job hunting, taking to heart advice from his careers teacher that visiting offices could make a significant difference in securing employment.
One day, as he was passing the National Archives of Fiji building, he met someone from the iTaukei Land Trust Board who mentioned a vacancy. Curious and unaware of what the archives office entailed, Timoci walked in, inquired about the work, and applied, starting his job there in 1994 at just 20 years old after finishing Form 7.
Nearly thirty years later, Timoci has gathered extensive knowledge and skills in record keeping and maintenance. He began as a junior officer, then known as an archives assistant – class 2. He learned on the job, initially working as a reprographer, which involved collating old records for microfilming—a process similar to digitization.
Timoci described the meticulous nature of his work, ensuring that records were in the correct order before filming and replacing any missing pages with copies from the relevant office or agency. This method of preserving records through microfilming sparked his interest in the field.
His role introduced him to various people conducting research, searching for genealogical information, and looking into historical data related to their tribe or land, deepening his interest further. Timoci appreciated the work culture in those days, where knowledge was freely shared, and he had a supervisor who set an example of early productivity.
Following his supervisor’s work ethics, Timoci gradually advanced in his career. His early tasks, including menial and outdoor duties, helped build his character. He even recounted some eerie experiences, like hearing footsteps or the phone ringing at unusual hours in the old building, signaling it was time to go home.
Interacting with the public and learning customer service skills were also part of his job. Reflecting on his journey, Timoci attributes his success to discipline and hard work, despite initially entering the field with little knowledge about record management.
With a scholarship, Timoci furthered his education at the University of Western Australia, graduating in 2012 with a Post Graduate Diploma in information management, specializing in archives and records management.
Timoci emphasizes the importance of proper record keeping for government agencies and other organizations, highlighting its role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and good governance.