Life is a mystery, full of twists and turns. And the rollercoaster ride is a certainty despite the best efforts to control one’s destiny.
That best describes the life of retired Republic of Fiji Military Forces land force commander Colonel Ratu Jone Baledrokadroka.
The long hard road to gaining a Doctor of Philosophy in Politics from the highly acclaimed Australian National University came through a circuitous route of more than 50 years of life and work experience for the Nairukuruku, Matailobau native from Naitasiri.
Ratu Jone hails from the Taukei ni Waluvu clan of Nairukuruku. The warrior clan of which he is a proud son was known for its instrumental role in the spread of Christianity and education in the Eastern highlands of Viti Levu in the 19th century.
“Had life panned out the way I thought 15 years ago, I most probably would have retired as a former senior military officer, to a quiet life in my village by now,” the retired colonel shared from his Canberra, Australia, home.
“I just hope my life experience motivates young Fijians to strive for excellence in whatever career they choose and never quit if one gets knocked back- it’s never too late to start over and succeed in life.
“Thanks to my parents and ancestors, I was brought up in the church similar to many iTaukei Christians; I suppose I can say with all humility that it was the church that gave my family and me, the spirit to striving for excellence in education and in life.”
The Naitasiri chief attained his primary education at Suva’s Marist Brothers Primary School before moving on to Marist Brothers High School.
He later completed his secondary education at De La Salle College in Auckland, New Zealand, where he stayed with his mother’s Samoan family.
From an early age, Ratu Jone was brought up with very strong familydriven values and he also had an all-round upbringing in New Zealand by being immersed in the different cultures.
He recalled the influence of his late grandmother who was from Tarukua, Lau, particularly in his formative years, instilling in him an inquisitive mind with her mix of old Bible stories and traditional tukuni (legends).
Ratu Jone said the nightly talanoa sessions with his grandmother developed in him a passion for story telling later in life and was instrumental in him pursuing an academic career at 50 years of age.
He said there were other influences – he was brought up in a family that placed great emphasis on education and career.
His father was an accountant who worked with local business entrepreneur Sir James Ah Koy and started Kelton Marketing while his mother, from Lasakau, Bau, worked at the University of the South Pacific.
Both his grandfather and greatgrandfather were medical doctors and as a young boy during school holidays, he worked as a cabin boy on vessels that travelled to Carpenters shipping ports in Kadavu, Lau and Vanua Levu.
He said the voyages instilled in him a good knowledge of Fijian maritime life at the tender age of 16. Getting used to the pressure of hard work at an early age grounded him in life as he learned to appreciate the value of hard work and perseverance.
During high school holidays in Suva, he worked as a casual labourer at Burns Philip timber yard and while studying in Auckland he worked in the freezers at Hellaby’s and Westfield in South Auckland.
“I was also a school boys rugby player in my teens, playing for the Marist first XV as a fourth former and also held athletic records at De La Salle college and made the Auckland secondary schools rep side and under 21s in rugby.
“I then went on to play provincial rugby in the ‘80s playing against the All Blacks three times but my constant military deployments curtailed my rugby career.”
Dr Ratu Jone began his tertiary education in civil engineering at Auckland University of Technology and got his first job working as a survey cadet for the New Zealand’s Ministry of Works constructing roads.
“On a Christmas break to Fiji, I decided to quit going back to NZ for study and work and found a job with a private surveyor and civil engineer company Bernard McCarthy and travelled to many rural areas.
“I then applied as a trainee pilot for Air Pacific and simultaneously applied as a military officer cadet. The RFMF was raising a battalion for service in Sinai, Egypt, and I was eager for adventure.”
After consulting his father, Dr Ratu Jone became a military officer. For 25 years, the Naitasiri chief served in the military culminating as Commanding Officer of Engineers Regiment then as Chief of Staff Strategic Headquarters and finally Commander Land Force in January 2006.
During his tenure with the RFMF, he also went on five peacekeeping tours of duty as a platoon leader, company officer, operations officer and commanding officer.
“One of the great advantages of a military career is the number of military and civilian courses one attends to ensure one is at the top of his/her profession.
“I was fortunate to do all the courses for rank plus forty five other military and civilian courses including the highest two – staff and defence college – gaining a Masters degree and a Post grad diploma.
“So after 25 years of a hectic career, aged 47, I was not keen on any further academic pursuit let alone doing a PhD.”
NEXT WEEK: The 2006 coup that changed Ratu Jone’s life
