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Fiji Time: 9:42 PM on Friday 30 July

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George is proud of company

ANA NIUMATAIWALU
Thursday, March 15, 2007

AT age 60, George Ravai looks back at his years with Blue Lagoon Cruises with pride.

While many his age will hang up their hats and spend time with family, Mr Ravai does not look anywhere near the 60 he is.

The cruise company that's been operating for the past 57 years hosted lunch for its long serving employees, with Mr Ravai holding the record.

I caught up with the man from Matacaucau, Tailevu, to find out what it was about Blue Lagoon Cruises that made him devote 30 years of his life there.

He started there on September 7, 1977, when the office was located along Vitogo Parade in Lautoka's central business district.

He was 30 then, at a time when there were only two managerial positions that he and Robert Southey held.

From his first day, he has looked after passenger services.

"Then there were six vessels, each with a crew of 15 under the captaincy of Claude Miller," he said.

"We moved from there to Nuqa Street, down Marine Drive, before moving to our location now," he said.

He recalls Lautoka so well he said, "where we are now used to be a garment factory belonging to the Jamandas brothers back in the 1970s and 1980s."

Today, he is still involved in the passenger service department.

"You know the best memory of my time here with the company has been what I achieved today," he said.

"The vision of the new board to recognise the contributions of its employees is what keeps people like us striving to give our best. They appreciate the work we do.

"Looking back, this for me, is the best company. My advice to young people is that if you are in a company like Blue Lagoon you will have the potential to go a long way provided you put in the hours."

Mr Ravai said he and his fellow colleges who have been with the company over the years have enjoyed working there.

He said working in the tourism industry was something he would always cherish.

"For us, it's about the people and how you treat them and make them feel when they come on board our boats," he said.

"It's the impression we as employees help build that will determine whether our clients like or dislike our company.

"Here at Blue Lagoon Cruises, we are like a big family and that's the only way to move a company forward to greater heights."

"I have four grandchildren who I love spending time with, and I love the job I do," he said.

"I have never regretted joining this company."

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