THE 65th Blue Sapphire Celebration is a momentous occasion that holds deep significance and value for the Ratu Sukuna Vuli-Oti (RSVO) community.
The school’s anniversary represents a legacy for excellence, a time for reflection, a celebration of resilience, a renewed commitment and a foundation for the future.
The RSVO National Executive Committee president, Etonia Radrodro Serukeibau said on legacy, for 65 years Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Memorial School (RSMS) had nurtured leaders, scholars and contributors to society – upholding the values and discipline instilled by the late Turaga Talai, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna.
“It also represents a time of reflection, an opportunity to look back on the school’s rich history, the generations of students who have passed through its halls and the enduring impact of their education,” he said.
“On resilience, we recognise the institution’s ability to adapt, grow and thrive over six and a half decades, despite challenges and changes in education and society structure, including the 16 years of being marginalised due to the abolition of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs) — the council that established the school.
“On commitment, we reinforce the RSVO community’s dedication to preserving the school’s legacy, supporting current students and fostering lifelong connections among alumni. And on setting a strong foundation for the future, we inspire current and future students to uphold the school’s traditions while embracing innovation and progress in education and beyond.
He said for the RSVO community, the 65th anniversary was more than just a celebration.
“It is a reaffirmation of pride, unity and the enduring bond shared by all who have been part of this esteemed institution, ‘Once a vuli-oti. Always a vuli-oti’.
“As we celebrate 65 years of RSMS, our hearts are full. Full of pride of how far we’ve come, full of gratitude for those who walked this path before us, and full of hope for what lies ahead.
“This isn’t just a milestone, it’s a celebration of ‘us’ of every student, teacher and supporter who has carried the Sukuna spirit in their hearts. We look back and see more than just decades, we see stories.
“Stories of friendship that started in these classrooms and that has lasted a lifetime. Stories of teachers who didn’t just teach lessons but shaped character. Stories of struggles, triumphs and the unbreakable bond that ties every vuli-oti, no matter where life has taken them.”
He says the RSVO community feels proud because the school has given Fiji leaders, thinkers and doers and each of them carry a piece of that legacy with them.
“We also feel nostalgia, thinking of the laughter in the halls, the rivalries on the sports field, the moments that made us who we are and above all, we feel gratitude for the elders who built this school, for the teachers who pushed us to be better, and for every person who has kept the RSMS spirit alive.
“Most of all, this anniversary inspires us. It reminds us that RSMS isn’t just a place we left behind — it’s a living, growing legacy and we still have a role to play in it.”
The Blue Sapphire Celebration will start on August 9 with a march from the Flea Market to Ratu Sukuna Park. The program will be hosted by the RSVO New Zealand and the Ratu Sukuna Vuli-Oti Blue Sapphire Celebration Committee (RBSCC).
DAY 1 (SATURDAY AUGUST 9)
RSVO Opening March and Day at Ratu Sukuna Park
(hosted by RSVO New Zealand and the RBSCC).
DAY 2 (SUNDAY AUGUST 10)
Welcome Church Service (hosted by RSVO UK, Europe
& USA).
DAY 3 (MONDAY AUGUST 11)
Pursuit of Knowledge and the RSMS Exhibition and
School Tour (hosted by 90s decade)
DAY 4 (TUESDAY AUGUST 12)
Strength and Vitality: Sports Day hosted by the 2010s
decade.
DAY 5 (WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13)
Clean and Safe Environment: Community Outreach
(hosted by the 2000s decade)
DAY 6 (THURSDAY AUGUST 14)
Celebrating Creativity, Economic Empowerment & Talent (hosted by the 80s and 2020s decade)
DAY 7 (FRIDAY AUGUST 15)
Reunion and Togetherness: Prayer Breakfast and Freewill Offering (host: 60s, 70s decades and RSVO Western)
DAY 8 (SATURDAY AUGUST 16)
RSVO Blue Sapphire Ball (host: RBSCC)
DAY 9 (SUNDAY AUGUST 17)
Thanksgiving Service (host RSVO Australia)
The Form 4R students and teachers in 1962 on the partly built school terrace. Picture: RSMS
