I felt a lump in my throat when I read that on June 5, 2021, Richard Evanson, (86), owner of Nanuya Levu and founder of Turtle Island, had died.
I immediately called Fiji and informed my mother, Adisova Navoti (81), with teary eyes.
We both reminisced about the early days, and how dearly we missed this focused, hardworking and benevolent man. I have known Richard since I was three years old.
He employed my dad, from 1973 to 1978, to be the caretaker of his island. All my earliest childhood memories are from the days I lived on Turtle Island.
My sister was born there on November 27, 1973. I remember Richard very well.
He was my dad’s boss. I remember his smiles, his winks. I could still hear his voice, his thick American accent.
I remember one day, under the baka tree when I was five, he picked me up, kissed me and told my dad, that I was an intelligent boy.
I got my 1 plus 1 correct, up to 258, beating an older American boy who couldn’t progress beyond 64.
Mum fondly remembers Richard as being very respectful towards her and an easy man to look after.
He just ate tovoi, roti selesele, vanikeke waicala and sometimes, tavioka porridge in lolo for breakfast with us.
He spent most of the day clearing bushes with your father and the boys from the village, she recalled. Dad’s relationship with Richard was one of deep respect.
They understood each other. I still vividly recall the day Richard returned from one of his six or so months trip to the US.
He called my dad, thanked him, tapped him on the shoulder and said, ‘Selema, you are a trustworthy man, you never touched my whiskey or drank any of my liquor.
I marked each of them before I left, and they are all here, just as I left them’.
In 1978, just before the filming at Turtle Island of the hit movie “The Blue Lagoon”, we returned across the bay, to my village, Matacawalevu.
Dad built us a concrete home, from the salary he earned at Turtle Island.
In 1993, while studying in New Zealand, Richard bought me a laptop computer.
When I graduated with my law degree from Auckland University in 1996, my mum and dad came to my graduation, which was paid for by Richard, who reminded dad that he knew I was intelligent.
Mine is just one of the many lives positively influenced by Richard Evanson in one form or another.
Hundreds of Fijians, in the mid-1990s, through the Turtle Foundation, had their eyesight restored at Turtle Island.
Over the years, Turtle Island has contributed so much to the community and human development in the Yasawas, but more so, in my tikina of Nacula and my village of Matacawalevu.
From school books, sports uniforms, food rations and funeral and birthday gifts, everybody got something.
Richard will always be fondly remembered by the many people who worked for him or knew him over the years.
They called him many endearing names, such as Riji, Rusi, Rusiate, Ratu Rusiate, and Tai Rusi.
Richard gave himself the call sign “Boat 6”. Many in the turtle community referred to him by such name.
My mum simply remembers Richard as a “turaga yolo vina”, a good-spirited gentleman, a man who helped change our lives, from leaving in a thatched suwe vakenani to a suwe valevatu.
The sun has set on Turtle Island, Mr Evanson has gone on the path we will all walk one day. Dad took that path three years earlier, they were the boys of 1935.
I guess the reason why mum and I were so teary-eyed was that we were thinking of them both.
You see, back in the early days, when much of Turtle Island was still laden with boulders, when the mudflats were still overgrown with mangroves when the beaches were covered with tagia trees and mongoose grasses, well before the footprints of wealthy tourists, together, we witnessed some of the most beautiful sunsets at Nanuya Levu, casting long shadows, from Vatialele.
Well, boss, one really doesn’t have to be an intelligent boy to recognise, appreciate and acknowledge your contributions.
Members of our tribe, the people of the yavusa Vanuakula of Matacawalevu, owe you a great debt of gratitude. You were a big part of our lives.
Today, we share in the grief, and we celebrate your beautiful and successful life with your children and their families, the vasu i Merika, Jane, Ford and Linda and the vasu iTaukei, Charles, Junior, Racheli, CC, Vivian and George.
You set standards in the tourism industry.
You helped put our Fiji on the list and map of great and best global tourist destinations.
You were one of us. Now we, the second and third generations, will continue the journey.
You will be deeply missed boss. vina du rikhi for everything Boat 6. Rest in peace, Tai Rusi.
