The saying “hard work pays off” rings true for 77-year-old Etika Macedru.
Now a retiree in his village in Nukuloa, Gau, Mr Macedru left school at the age of 17 and rose to become a bosun while being employed as a civil servant at the Department of Government Shipping Services.
Born and raised in Nawaikama, Mr Macedru was first educated at the Sawaieke District School, before becoming the first batch of students that were enrolled at the Nawaikama Primary School.
From 1953 to 1955 Mr Macedru was one of the pioneer students who were enrolled at the Nukuloa Village School.
“At that time we progressed to the next class because of our height, so when teachers saw that I was tall I moved on to the next class. I had been progressing to the next class, but academically I was not good.”
He was still a teenager when an uncle who was a ship captain called him to be part of the ship’s crew.
For the next 20 years of his life, Mr Macedru jumped from ship to ship learning everything about a ship from the engines to the ropes, from the decks to the hull.
It was not until 1977 when he joined the government shipping services when he was told to return to school to be a qualified seaman. By this time he was 37 years old.
“When I was told to go to school, I was enrolled with young and very knowledgeable students. Theoretically I was behind and they were very good when it came to our classroom work, but when it was time for practical work, that’s when they stood aside and watched the reality of years of experience.
“Even though I was old I enjoyed my time at school because that’s how I managed to get my qualification,” said the sea dog.
With the government shipping services he rose to the position of bosun.
Being the bosun means he was the senior crewman of the deck. He was responsible for the ship’s hull and all its components, including its rigging, anchors, cables, sails, deck maintenance and small boat operations. He also assigned crew in the ship their different roles and responsibilities.
“Whenever there were issues that needed to be raised the crew came to me and I would raise it to the ships mate or the captain.”
After 27 years in the government shipping service Mr Macedru finally retired and in 2004 returned to his home in Nukuloa.
“You name any country in the Pacific I have been there, even to New Zealand and Australia.
“I have even been to Canada, following the North American coastline stopping in almost every wharf, from Seattle to San Francisco.
“I guess the most memorable of them all is sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and then stopping over at the wharf before finally walking on the bridge, that was an awesome experience.”
For Mr Macedru as he loves to put it, was not very good academically, but what he had was honesty. For he believes without honesty, one cannot get anywhere.
A sailor of almost 50 years, Mr Macedru said he would not trade that job for another and paid tribute his uncle who first took him in.
