A REVERENCE reverberated through the cathedral for the attendants knew his life was well lived.
A sea of black and white covered the rows of benches lined horizontally in two rows facing the pulpit.
A hollow created by the high ceiling ensured that every word was heard even to those who stood outside, those who were hesitant to disturb the quiet.
As those who mourned sat quietly and silently uttering their final words of respect, Lisa Apted took to the pulpit to address the throng of a man who lived a life of colour.
Born Henry Joseph Apted, the avid sportsman was a couple of weeks shy from celebrating his 91st birthday when he died.
Known simply as Harry Apted in the local community, his time in the sporting sphere spanned close to five decades.
Harry represented the country in three sports, hockey, bowling and cricket. It was the latter that spiked his international recognition as he joined provincial chiefs and political leaders such as Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara showcasing his cricket prowess alongside his brother William better known by many as Bill.
Full of emotions, Lisa presented a descriptive eulogy that made many appreciate the late Harry even more.
“Uncle Hal (Harry) always said that he didn’t want a eulogy. He reckoned that when you were dead people only said good things about you – whether they liked you or not! But really what was there to dislike about Uncle Hal – except maybe his extraordinary sporting ability when you were on the receiving end or on the opposing team,” she said.
Harry was the third of the five children of William Walsh Apted and Jane Williams.
In her eulogy Lisa said his sporting abilities had earned him the respect of his family and also mostly his father who took a particular shine to Harry.
“I am told that Pap (William Walsh) was an avid sportsman and was extremely proud of his son’s sporting ability and accomplishments. He would spend time nurturing Uncle Hal’s cricket skills as a child.
“The family grew up in Naiqaqi – where the Ratu Sukuna statute stands opposite Holiday Inn – and Albert Park was their playground. On his deathbed, Pap bequeathed his meagre savings of $400 to Uncle Hal. In a true display of Uncle Hal’s sense of fairness and integrity, he shared this gift equally with all his siblings,”she said.
She added that Harry had suffered a childhood injury but did not let that deter him from his sporting goals.
“Despite his childhood injury which left him at the age of 18 months with a right arm that was markedly shorter than his left, as a result of being permanently bent at the elbow. Uncle Hal attended St Felix College up to Class 8 and left school before entering high school because he thought his family could not afford it and he would be more helpful working and earning money.
“Growing up, Uncle Hal was disadvantaged not only by his short arm but also by his skin tone. He was darker skinned than his siblings and so was not allowed into the Suva Sea Baths to swim while his siblings were. He did not let this deter him and instead used this to propel himself to excel in whatever he chose to do,” he said.
CRICKET
Cricket Archive UK and Fox Pulse provided detailed statistics of the late player. Apted was a left-handed batsman who bowled slow left arm orthodox. He made his first-class debut for Fiji in 1948 against Auckland during Fiji’s tour of New Zealand. From 1948 to 1954 he played 9 first-class matches for Fiji, with his final first-class appearance coming against Auckland during Fiji’s 1953/54 tour of New Zealand. In his 9 first-class matches for Fiji he scored 497 runs at a batting average of 27.61, with four half centuries and a high score of 97 against Auckland in 1948. With the ball he took 5 wickets at a bowling average of 27.80, with best figures of 2/36. In the field he took 19 catches for Fiji. Apted also represented Fiji in 76 non first-class matches from 1948 to 1968, including a match against the touring West Indians. Apted’s final match for Fiji came in 1968 against Northland.
HOCKEY
Also known to be one of the best hockey representatives and official in the country, Harry set the platform for his children to be more involved in the sport. It was this that propelled him to continue his involvement in hockey even after retirement. Lisa again determined to provide a full account of his sporting days relayed a timeline of Harry’s contributions to hockey.
“Uncle Harry played for the Marist Hockey Club from the age of 14 whilst at St Felix College and took over the reins of the club building it to a formidable team which in later years included his sons Alan, Bill, Kel and Rick with his daughters Talei and Mara playing in the women’s team. In more recent times, his granddaughters Courtney and Cory have played in the Marist Women’s teams and grandsons Bradley, Zander and Aiden have played in the Marist Men’s Hockey teams and gone on to represent New Zealand in national and district age group teams. Definitely a skill inherited from their Pa!
“Whilst cricket allowed Uncle Hal to be a leftie, hockey required him to be right handed! Uncle Harry represented Fiji in hockey in 1948 (the same year he represented Fiji in cricket!) and from 1950 to 1975 he coached the Suva men’s hockey team who won the prestigious Hedstrom Cup for a record 11 years, four years consecutively. In 1974 he was appointed as the Fiji Hockey Coach for their tour of New Zealand. Uncle Hal also coached the Marist Club sides as well as the Marist Brothers High School teams,” said Lisa.
BOWLING AND RUGBY
Lisa said her uncle had represented Fiji in lawn bowls in four championships, two overseas and two locally. He was winner of the prestigious Pineapple Cup, the 1990 Singles Bowls Championship and Mixed Pairs Championship.
Uncle Hal was also involved with rugby, coaching the Levuka Old Boys Rugby Club for four years, winners of the Escort Shield twice and also coached the Suva XV team which beat a National team on its return from a tour of New Zealand.
MY BROTHERS KEEPER
Perhaps the most intriguing portion of the eulogy presented to those that attended the funeral service was the story of the two brothers Harry and Bill who according to Lisa had spent 81 Christmas celebrations together.
“Dad (Bill) may have told many of you that when asked why his brother was darker than him, he would always answer “because I walk in his shadow”. Uncle Hal was always a first rate
Sportsman but always protective of his baby brother. On the back cover of today’s program is the phrase “I am my brother’s keeper” – this so aptly epitomises Uncle Hal. Dad tells of how when he and Uncle Hal were opening batsmen against a bowler they had not faced before,
Uncle Hal would always take the first ball so that he could judge the bowler’s technique, speed and spin and therefore give his baby brother the opportunity to make runs and not be bowled for a golden duck. And being Uncle Hal, he would always do this without fanfare, simply because he believed that it was his responsibility as a big brother,” she said.
Members of sporting federations had joined his family earlier this month to bid the late all-rounder goodbye. As the mass of people made their way to the Suva cemetery to bury him, most would have understood that his parting left a vacuum in the national sporting arena and his accomplishments had set a standard for those who dared compete at the same level.
Harry Apted is survived by his four children Alan, Bill, Kel, Rick, Talei and their familes.
