THE Coke Zero Deans trophy has its significance in secondary schools rugby in the country and has always brought with it school rivalry whenever it’s held.

And for a school such as Queen Victoria from Matavatucou in Tailevu North, this year’s competition is one that they would love to win, to take back to the newly refurbished infrastructure after they lost everything in February via Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Since the introduction of what is now the longest rugby competition in the history of the country since 1939, QVS held the Deans trophy and became pioneer winners and won it five years in a row from that year.

The last it held the trophy was in 2012, this was also when the school reached its centennial year of existence in the Education world in Fiji.

Over the weekend, QVS boosted the competition having all its grades compete from U14 to U19; and their aim would be to see the Deans trophy back in Matavatucou when their school reopens.

Unlike yesteryears when they held the Deans trophy; this year is a little more special for the QVS community; it will be the first year the school is fielding teams to the secondary schools competition with their students being sundered.

And for someone who you will never miss helping out the QVS team, whether he teaches at the school or an old boy that has the school at heart, Elemaca Ravulo is again at it in trying to help the Victorians return victorious to the school once it reopens.

“QVS has a historical background of being a school to educate chiefs, but that has changed now to be a school where leaders are trained,” Ravulo said.

That is also how the name Vulinituraga came about — as the school was established to educate sons of chiefs.

“What we want to do is to show students all around the country that even when we’re not together, if we work together we can still achieve our aim,” Ravulo, the now vice principal of QVS, said.

From coming out fourth at the April Coca-Cola Games and winning the blue ribbon medal, to going into the Coke Zero Deans competition, Ravulo said despite the students not together in one school, the bond of being a Victorian is something that caused them to fight to play together as Victorians rather than in their newly adopted schools.

“From being an old boy and a teacher, the feeling of being a QVS student is always different, holistically; any student that goes through QVS will go through not only academic training but also view things in all perspective and cultural values.

“For me, QVS is different because it teaches students to become leaders and it changes their mind-set,” Ravulo said.

He said that doesn’t mean that students totally do away with discipline problems, it crops up at times but the constant teachings of values in life makes students feel the stronger urge to make known that they are part of Vulinituraga.

In different schools, one has to ask why they feel the need to play together as a Victorian team and what keeps them going despite the distance that keeps the team members apart; Ravulo, best known as “Macho”, said.

“The support from parents and old boys is what enables these students to come together every afternoon.

“The support is in everything, from the payment of grounds for training, the transportation and food, they finance everything.

“We had the same support in the Coke Games in April and the same thing is happening now.”

Unable to train together in one venue as was the case when they were all situated in one school and training would be done at Matavatucou, the backing they get is what motivates them to do as their motto says “Floreat Viti” or forward Fiji.

He said apart from the assistance of funds given by the parents and teachers association (PTA), parents of individual players and former students of the school still try to provide assistance in whatever way possible.

That is what makes the difference, that is what makes a Victorian, that is what Vulinituraga is known for despite the challenges, Ravulo said.

And what better way would it be to close the 109 years chapter with Winston and re-open a new institution, with modern technology for teaching with the Deans trophy sitting in the school cabinet, just to remind them of how challenging the road was and how the long walk to freedom was not easy yet deserving.