GROWING up, Anare Tuidraki had one dream and that was to work for Air Terminal Services.
It was a dream he wanted to achieve because he wanted to ensure he was a testimony to the prophesy his late grandfather Apolosi R Nawai once had for Nadi — that it was going to be a meeting point for people from everywhere around the world.
Anare, 55, plied his trade in the tourism industry before joining the military and later resigned to join the ATS about 28 years ago.
It was all part of his journey to achieving his childhood dream, a dream he was convinced of achieving as he wanted to witness himself this prophecy made by one of his elders in the 1800s.
History states Apolosi Nawai, more commonly known as Ranawai, also known as Navosavakadua, was born in 1846 and died in 1946. He was well known for having challenged British colonial rule. For his efforts, he was exiled and according to reports, a lot of his prophesies have been fulfilled.
Anare started off as a porter in the cargo handling department in 1989 and since then has witnessed the many changes the company has gone through over the years.
“I’m not just a kai Nadi. I am proud of the fact that I am working in a place that most kai Nadi people know as a place which had its prophecy by Tai Avo come true,” a proud Anare said.
“Working at ATS was something I wanted, something I had fallen in love with from a very young age and being part of the company for the past 28 years has been a blessing for me.
“I will always remain a proud employee of this place even though I may retire in a few years. I’m blessed to be a family member of ATS.”
Anare has toured the Middle East and other parts of the world prior to joining ATS and it has been a journey worth living for him because at 55 years of age, he was able to achieve his dream and loves to share his work experience with young employees of the company.
He was also one those experienced employees at ATS who is always willing to stand up and fight for the rights of young workers because he believes that as an experienced one, young employees would always look up to them.
And this, he said, had always been the trend for this company ever since it started.
“We all work together as brothers and sisters and when something goes wrong, we stand up for each other’s rights,” Anare proudly added.
