It was a double celebration this week for old scholars of Marist Brothers High School as they marked their 80th Anniversary as well as the opening of their new Secretariat.
Based at Honson Street in Flagstaff, the property is owned by the Marist Brothers and has been leased to the Marist Old Boys Association as part of a Memorandum of Agreement signed last year.
“This is a historic moment for all alumni members of Marist Brothers High School. For the first time in 80 years we now have an official home,” said Marist Old Boys Association (MOBA) President Opetaia Ravai.
Marist Brothers Country Coordinator Brother Kees van der Weert says the landmark Secretariat which will serve as a fully functional office heralds a “new beginning for the alumni body.”
Setting up a Secretariat was one of the focal Key Performance Indicators set by the Marist Old Boys Executive Committee when elected a year ago.
“This also ties in very well with the theme of “A New Beginning” since we had set ourselves an ambitious target to get this done in one year and we have achieved that,” Mr Ravai added.
He also paid tribute to the Marist Brothers for signing an MOU allowing the alumni to use the property as their Secretariat.
He adds that the upgrade of the site was achieved under record time of less than 12 months and also under a very tight budget, overlooked by fellow old boy and businessman, and Projects Manager Steve Chand.
Mr Ravai also thanked the countless old boys who dedicated many working bee Saturdays at the site cleaning up as well as key individuals who gave in cash and kind such as Projects Manager Steve Chand for his tireless commitment, Willie Kwan Sing for initial earthworks, Dennis Fong (Canada) for donating two PC’s, Sydney MOB for their $5000 for the roof upgrade, Manohan and Steve for windows and doors, Richard Chow for the aircon units, Epeli Nauqe (Sydney) for supplying labour, Kini Koroi for donating paint as well as the late Solomone Taufa.
