CAROLINE Datsopoulos, the great-granddaughter of The Fiji Times founder, George Littleton Griffiths (G.L.G) visited the newspaper company last month.
Mrs Datsopoulos, 74, who was accompanied by her husband George and friends Terry Caloghiris and Marion Sobanek had the opportunity to learn about the newspaper and how her great-grandfather started the business in Levuka.
She said she was proud to learn more about what her great grandfather had established and to see it still in existence, 156 years later.
Mr Griffiths established the company back in 1869 and was its the owner until 1908, when he passed away.
“I’ve never been here before, but it was on my bucket list,” she said.
She said she felt right at home and was at peace knowing she finally made the journey to Fiji.
Caroline also had the opportunity to visit her great-grandfather’s grave in Lovonilase and visit a few historical sites during her short stay.
The couple and their friends had stopped over in Fiji during their cruise onboard the Celebrity Solstice.
She was grateful for the wonderful staff at The Fiji Times that welcomed them and shared a bit of history about Caroline’s great-grandfather, the establishment of the company and its rich history, being the oldest media company to operate in the country.
She proudly spoke about her family and its links to Fiji in the late 1800s.
“George Littleton Griffiths’ ninth daughter Ciwa (nine) was my grandmother, and her daughter Cila was my mother,” she said.
“They (Ciwa and Cila) were both born in Fiji, in Levuka.”
Mr Griffith’s daughter Ciwa married into the Stewart family. She and her husband, who was in the Colonial Service, lived in Fiji until about 1926.
Their daughter, Cila Haslett (nee Stewart) was born and went to school in Fiji but later resided in England. Cila is Caroline’s mother.
For Caroline, visiting Fiji particularly The Fiji Times was quite fulfilling and a dream come true.
“It has been amazing, I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated everything that has been done for me and what you’ve all shown me – the hospitality, it’s just overwhelming.
“I’m tremendously proud of George Littleton Griffiths and I think that without him none of us would perhaps be around this table today.
“I have a lot of stories that have been told to me over the years, but you know when you’re young you don’t ask a lot of questions and now it’s too late to ask questions, so it’s been educational and wonderful to be here now.”
The highlight of her visit was paying her respects at her great-grandfather’s grave and connect with her cousin, Harold Koi who works at The Fiji Times as a sub-editor.
Caroline’s great-grandfather, G.L.G had adopted Harold Koi’s great-grandmother, Satina Emily Griffiths.
“We had good weather, and we were able to go visit my great-grandfather’s grave,” she said.
“I was able to meet my cousin, Harold Koi, I wished I had come earlier and gotten to know them (Harold’s family) better.
“Being able to lay a wreath at the grave with Harold was special to me and I could feel him (George Littleton Griffiths) in spirit.
“Even though I didn’t meet George I have heard a lot about him and have read a lot about him.”
“I’m tremendously proud and I wished I had achieved something like he did in my life; he died a lot younger than I’m now.”
Caroline is not the first family member of the late Mr Griffiths to have visited The Fiji Times.
“I had an elder sister, Gillian Herbert (deceased), who came to Fiji in 1971 as it was in her bucket list.
“She had heard so much about The Fiji Times and came to visit. There was even a small article and a photograph of her during that visit.
“My two daughters have also been to Fiji, but didn’t get the chance to visit The Fiji Times and meet the staff. They looked at the building but didn’t go in.”
They wanted to also visit the grave and Riley’s Street (off Knolly St) but didn’t have the chance.
Riley Street in Suva was where George Littleton Griffiths’ son-in-law, Mr Stewart, was born.
“When they told me about their trip, I was green with envy and made sure it was in my bucket list.”
She said her grandmother’s brother might have visited Fiji as well.
Her next task now is to share the history she has learned with her family when she gets home.
She added that her brother would have loved to come.
“He couldn’t but I shall send him photographs and tell him of what I’ve seen and done during my visit,” she said.
“I would probably bore everyone to tears about the trip, but I will have such joy in telling everyone, particularly my daughters who are so keen to know. They are in their forties now and have children of their own.
“I will go back and create a photo book, explaining everything I’ve seen and done so it will be carried on by my children, my grandchildren and so on.
During their visit, Caroline, her husband George, Marion and Terry were able to also visit old historical sites in the Capital.
Caroline had many collections of old photos of Suva that she happily showed The Fiji Times staff.
She was delighted to see the changes that have occurred over the years when comparing the old photos, she had brought with her.
“Its wonderful to go through old documents but it actually doesn’t come into perspective until you’re there and seeing the change from the photographs to what it is today.”
She said she would have loved to have entered the Grand Pacific Hotel as it was a place that held great memories for her family.
Even though she didn’t have time to enter GPH during her short visit she was able to take photos of the hotel.
“The Grand Pacific Hotel was the place to be back in the days of my grandparents. Several family weddings and christening were celebrated there.
“It was good to drive past it and I would have loved to have actually gone inside but unfortunately the time we had did not permit us to do so.”
During her visit, she was able to take photos of the GPH the old Colonial War Memorial Hospital, the Fiji Museum and the State House.
Caroline Datsopoulos and her cousin, the Fiji Times sub editor Harold Koi at the late George Littleton Griffiths grave at Suva Cemetry in Lovonilase. Picture: JONA KONATACI
Caroline Datsopoulos and George show The Fiji Times general manager, Christine Lyons old photographs they had brought with them. Picture: JONA KONATACI
George Littleton Griffiths, the founder of The Fiji Times is the great grandfather of Caroline Datsopoulos. Picture: FILE
Need caption from Harold. Picture: SUPPLIED
Dr Anurag Subramani, and Caroline Datsopoulos browse through the book Fiji Times at 150 at the Fiji Museum. Picture: JONA KONATACI
Caroline Datsopoulos and her husband George with friends Marion Sobanek and Terry
Caloghiris at the Fiji Museum.
Picture: ANA MADIGIBULI
The Fiji Times company in Levuka in the 1880s. Picture: MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND
