Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by G!ni on April 30, 2012 at 1:57pm

lolz ... We were just talking about Bro Paul :) :)  And how we neglected to write his name in lolz We too love our Marist Brothers!  But yes Reyes & M, the Brothers are human - The early Marist days.  Your Uncle was a regular at our home when we used to live on Carew St much like the other Brothers, but he was different to the others, for he and our former late Dad attended Marist together around the same time.  Back when Dad was the Vice Principal and years after, he'd always wanted your Uncle to have taken the seat of Principal, when they had their cycles (when one Brother is cycled in, after one is cycled out after set-terms), for he believed that Bro Jo was more in tuned and was sensitive to the Pasifika (i Taukei) sensibilities, the boys generally don't consider, but was something that was a great margin of concern for the newly inflated Fijian i Taukei population.  

 

Yes - the new Marist populations are detached from the fundraising efforts of Lambert Hall, the St John/Marist Club and the Hostel around the time you've cited :) :) ... Isa.  The period we term as our Marist Shangri-La, with all the Brothers present as it should always be.  It's their Order's Mission!  To not have the Brothers is like a St Joseph's without Sister Genevieve.  Love her!  We love the good ole Marist days, when one would actually see the Brothers taking classes - Physics, Geography, English, Catechism - when most of the scholars would be graceful enough to take Communion and were Catholics or Anglicans.  We were very disappointed to hear from our Marist friends, that it had withered down to 2 or 3 boys receiving communion and 2 or 3 boys getting the ash on Ash Wednesday, who would be mocked all day by the other boys.  Hullo - the Marist Brothers aren't only independent of the Catholic Church of Fiji, but all the same they are a Catholic Order of Brothers!!! (Our little rant there lolz)!!

 

@the Marcellin Champagnat statue on the hard turf infront of the school, we had initially thought someone had defaced it, until we focused on the colours. Then we realised - No - that was purposefully done!  We didn't like that at all!!!  Gone are the beautiful manicured rose gardens and the cactus gardens the Brothers nurtured, which set off Marcellin Champagnat and the front of the School - Areas which were out of bounds for the boys.  Tsk tsk tsk!  The simple white marble statue, which is as it should be - classicly simple!  Naturally, no insult was intended - we understand, but they obviously contributed for a facelift, where landscaping the School grounds with low-maintenance red blooms would've been more the traditional Marist as the Brothers had intended it.  Could it be the ones who were punished to weed with cutlery - who thought to put their paint?  Red walls or blue walls or mixed - Those don't do anything for the boys brains, for it'll overstimulate their brains to violence, in a learning environment.  They should ask the Old Boys who'd served as Doctors in Nauluvatu, as to which colours best suit positive brain stimulation.  They will tell them - Red & Blue are just no-nos, unless it's baby blue - which will be too feminine.  What's wrong with the clean white?  It's cheaper for reno and repair later on.  Red & blue would be difficult to match 2 years down the line. The Old Boys are always impassioned and are forever grateful, for their Marist experiences :D:D  Their hearts' & souls are in the right place in supporting the school in every facet they can!!!  It's nice to hear what they'd done.  We donate through cousins for the Brothers and the School, when they can't get a hold of our brother.  We agree@marvelous job with the renovations, even though all we can see is the curb appeal lolz  less the red & blue we all mind lolz  It's not going to be easy to reno a 60+ year old structure.  

 

Reyes & M, your description of Bro Jo Wara's progeny now affirms his mannerisms and nature.  You know him with much love as your strict Uncle from the Fijian i Taukei background you share, and we know him as the Marist Brother, the Old Boy and one of the nicest and the most humble of the sweetest souls one will ever cross.  To leave and disrobe himself of his natural heritage for the Order, is a great sacrifice :) :)  What a blessing for your family.  We were rather spoilt having known him as one of the 2 Fijian i Taukei Marist Brothers.  Some of the latter ones were rather arrogant and carried lofty airs.  No sensitivity on the ground.  We wonder whether the boys even realise how fortunate they are, to have him back?!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by B on April 30, 2012 at 8:26pm

yep ! those good old days..but was very much a modri at the time..lol..but still can vividly remember the school activities were a buzz and looked forward to them all the time..wether it be rugby ( MOB Peter Kean and Meli S.)senior games...was a thrill to watch...and the track and field athletes of the late 70's and early 80's...man they rocked just like their rock band at the time..hahaha..my older brother was in form 3 at the time... I use just wanted to watch the 100 to 400 relay...was my favourite event. I  watched with fascination as they executed something as simply as the changing of the baton with perfection...loved it and still do to this day. I think most schools suffered some loss of pride to the type of standards old scholars were accustomed to. It is sad. In Marist's case, I'm sure that if issues do arise with Br. Joe they would discuss it in the proper forum. Because students who know him well, know him to be of a no nonsense type of guy..lol...they even nicknamed him " assassin "...io..don't mess with the 'qase' from Nalawa..lol.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by G!ni on April 30, 2012 at 9:17pm

Your older brother was only in form 3 at that time?  That's adorable.  We were from 0 - 7 years (but for about 2 years sandwiched between time), when Marist was our family life and family priority, before it became an on and off commitment, much like how most of the Marist Family do - it's when an event happens that we all generally converge and touch-base.  Small world :) :)  Agree Reyes & M - a good time when Marist was at a really good place, which is not to say, it can not be repeated and it can't be re-oiled to its former and potential surpassive glory, through your Uncle.  Still laughing@Assassin lol  Dad was called - Jim Brown (the actor) and some preferred Shaft the character lolz  Marist boys and their nicknames lol

...Memories ...  One of our absolute favourite people who'd carry us around too, was Milo the resident giant, who'd hoist us up so we could touch the cross at the top of the stairs :) :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ⓃⓘⓏⓏⓘ on April 28, 2012 at 10:31am

I KNEWWWW IT =D....woohooo

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MAXIMUS_III on April 28, 2012 at 12:13pm

Vinaka Red. Awesome :) 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by G!ni on April 28, 2012 at 1:58pm

Hmmm!  You're a Marist!!!  Why didn't we call that? :) :)  The signs were all there@MAXIMUS_III lolz

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MAXIMUS_III on April 29, 2012 at 10:42am

lolz

Vina'a a update Kaline.Best Wishes for the Grammarians of 2013.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by G!ni on April 28, 2012 at 1:57pm

Yeah Nizzi, your 1st choice in RKS didn't make it to be a contender for the top-spot, where it came down to a battle between Marist and Grammar. The usual for over 10 years now. ACS - was an easy call. (And even Marist was too easy a call to make, for they were the Zone II Champions).  They (ACS) entered this year's event, having won it 11 years straight, with a highly motivated and champion squad. Suva Grammar would've been the needle in the haystack pick, although we've been in the 2nd position for the past 11 years, and now 12. Never unseated from the 2nd spot (not from the lack of trying on Jasper Williams part), and last year, it might've been Dudley?

 

Have to say though, that the use of school colours by some of the other schools, seeing Jasper in Grammar colours rather than their usual lavendar and white, was initially confusing for us as spectators and the comperes were evidently so - throughout the entire event to the performances at the end, confusing Jasper as a co-ed school and not the single sex school that it is. A hint to the commentators - Jasper is the ACS of the West!!!! lolz

 

The boys from Delanakaikai were disciplined as usual, with their marches at the beginning and at the end.  They were present in most final events, and they too have lost their visibility, much like SJSS in the girls division - the former champions of the 80s and the early 90s.  They've lost their seat, much like the Deans, where Grammar has become a staple contender for the Deans Trophy, with schools like Lelean as the rival, and not Marist like in the 70s and the early 80s, where Grammar yet again even then were a challenge!!  

 

Generational-rivalry in all fields between Grammar and Marist, when it comes to the boys.  For the girls of Suva Grammar, they just participate - they usually don't see ACS, SJSS or any other female contender, as motivation to win.  The biggest competition always was/is amongst themselves (within the den), which is probably why we're not taking the top spot.  Win they win, 2nd place is 2nd place, not perceived as a loss.  The Grammar girl mindset isn't dominated by competition, it's about participation to her best efforts for her portion share (however much/less), whereas for ACS - it's excellence period!!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by G!ni on May 2, 2012 at 5:09am

:) :) Yes we agree Kathy dear.  Marist just seemed a little hungrier on Day One for the win, and our Grammar Boys Squad's participating athletes on that day seemed to be following "a programme."  You know - instructions, which is good, but when you lack the pasiones - the inner growl - you will likely lose out.  Yes - the Boys in red did do well, less the 2 medals which became the touted hype before the games. The Red Fire Squad went in vying for 29 medals, got 25, of which 15 were gold.   Not a bad day for Day Two;  And as always Marist cleans up good.   

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by G!ni on May 7, 2012 at 2:24am

You're most welcome Twilight69Sux.  We thought it would be lovely to account for their accolades somewhere semi-public, without it being archived and forgotten 'til next year.  

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TJ on May 9, 2012 at 4:28pm

thanks for the result...what do you people think of those participating in the coke games for the 3rd time in the senior grade?? is it fair for the 1st and 2nd year students??

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by G!ni on May 9, 2012 at 5:44pm

You're very welcome TJ@results.  

 

@Senior grade 3rd time in a row, if we were to reflect on when we were seniors, it was discomforting.  However, we were always the youngest or the 2nd youngest in our year group, so the divisions always felt severe, and realistically when we hit senior grade, we should've been intermediate age-wise, so we understand what you're addressing.  But as former Fiji Finals Coca Cola Games athletes and champions, we'd always thought that there should be an Open Grade.  

 

Now with this Open Grade we were haggling with at that time, we thought that it should be open to any age-group within the gender-specific events, only that those who entered in to that grade, should be the ones who are (i) older or are (ii) Olympic Games contenders, to represent Fiji, which we thought should've also been opened to foreign-based Fijians, in Secondary School or University.  That would be exciting, creating a new buzz!

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page