The Young Men’s Christian Association of Fiji, established in 1970 and fully localised in 1976, appointed Taniela Colomoto to the post of general secretary this newspaper reported on Tuesday, June 15, 1976.
Mr Colomoto succeeded Dennis Oliver who was seconded to Fiji to help in the establishment of the association by the New Zealand YMCA.
The former general secretary remained with the YMCA as an advisor and training officer.
Since his arrival in Fiji, Mr Oliver had worked in the administration of the association and was well-known in all 85 villages where YMCA clubs were formed.
In 1970, when the then Suva Youth Centre was running at a loss, its management committee decided to ask the New Zealand YMCA for someone to establish a similar association in Fiji.
Mr Colomoto first started with the YMCA when it was established and had “worked for the betterment of youth in the country”.
One of his main responsibilities as YMCA general secretary was to establish more overseas contacts that would help finance both rural and urban progrms prepared by them.
When he first started with the association, Mr Colomoto who hailed from Nadaro, Tailevu, worked as an assistant secretary and in 1975 was given the post of deputy general secretary.
