When an influenza outbreak struck Natabua High School student boarders in 1955, a number of students fell ill and teachers were forced to convert a dormitory into a mini health facility to cater for those who fell ill.
Among those dedicated school administrators who ensured a safe recovery of these students was nonagenarian Shriwati Brijwati Prasad, known to many former scholars of the Lautoka-based government school as Mrs Brij Prasad.
At 97, the former school matron retold her amazing journey in an eight-day visit to the country with her three daughters and close family members after having spending the past five decades in Sydney, Australia.
It is indeed a story worth sharing because the humble journey for this amazing woman began in Suva, where she grew up and got educated at St Annes Primary School and later at St Joseph’s Secondary School.
She was one of the many young girls back in the days who were selected to do a medical sonography course – a program that teaches key aspects of ultrasound technology, including obstetrics and gynaecology, the cardiac and vascular systems and abdomen and superficial structures.
Shriwati adopted a love for students of Natabua when she joined her late husband Rohan Prasad in his posting to Natabua and was awarded the post of being the school matron.
While she was bestowed the role of matron for girls in the school, she did not restrict her duties only to them, but looked out also for the needs of their male counterparts.
“When the flu broke out, I was nursing students in the dormitory and heeded to their needs and made sure they drank lots of fluid,” she shared with a smile.
“Some students could not eat and they wanted to eat fruit only, so I opened a canned fruit from home and gave it to them.
“I remembered taking their temperatures and ensuring that I attended to their needs.”
While mobility may seem a slight struggle for this bubbly grandmother, she agreed to share her story at the Lautoka Waterfront Hotel and walked around the property proudly with the assistance of her walking aid.
She also feels relieved to be back for a short visit and reconnects with her local family.
“I feel really wonderful to be back home where we were very much a big Fijian family.
“My late mother spoke fluent Fijian and if she was talking from inside the house, you would not recognise her as an Indian speaking Fijian.
“We loved each and respected each other so much and the one thing that I will always remember is how we always look out for one another and attend to our neighbours and friends’ needs.”
In her recent visit to the Sugar City, her three daughters took her for a visit to Natabua and she found that the quarters they lived in weren’t there anymore.
Shrimati moved to Australia in 1963 with her three daughters, three years after the death of her husband, and worked in the University of New South Wales printing department before securing yet another job offer with the University of Technology.
Despite her old age, she still remembers well her time in Lautoka and the many individuals she worked closely with and the strong bonds formed in Fiji.
But her secret to living a long life is merely simple and one many may have taken for granted these days.
“I think just being nice to people and saying stuff like how are you and if somebody get hurt, can I have a look?
“I have had to offer my house for people to sleep in when they come across to Australia and when they need a place to spend a night.
“It is also the culture of sharing and giving and this is what I love doing.”
