As Suva Grammar School celebrates its Sapphire Anniversary this week, former student Luisa Buresova reflects fondly on her time at the school in the 1960s, a period she describes as diverse, disciplined, and deeply formative.
Buresova recalls Suva Grammar as a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds during her time. She says Suva Grammar was like an international school where all the expatriates who came to Fiji sent their children to Suva Grammar.
She added that students from across Fiji, including children of estate owners from Savusavu, also made the journey to attend the school.
A proud athlete and student leader, Buresova was vice-captain of the girls’ hockey team and later led the national team in a match against New Zealand.
She also shared her experience of being the only iTaukei student in an all-boys Form 6 class that focused on Accounting and Mathematics.
She says it was a joy and a privilege to be amongst them.
Discipline, she emphasized, was one of the strongest values instilled in students at the time.
She shared girls were not allowed to wear our uniforms above the knee as the principal’s wife was very strict, everyone had to follow the rules.
Though she didn’t end up sending her grandchildren to Suva Grammar, Buresova proudly shared that her daughter, Tanya, attended Suva Primary and later moved on to Adi Cakobau School.
She also recalled the story of David Salato, a doctor’s son and fellow student, who was selected to study in Australia at the same college attended by Prince Charles. She says upon his return, Salato joined Suva Grammar and she was happy that finally another iTaukei student joined.
Buresova noted that the presence of iTaukei students at the school began to grow after 1969, with students from other schools transferring in over time.
Originally from Lelean Memorial School, Buresova made the move to Suva Grammar thanks to her family’s proximity to the school.
She fondly remembered her close friendships with classmates such as Eddy Blakelock and David Eyre whom she says has since passed on, though she still keeps in contact with his children.
Suva Grammar celebrates 65 years of history and Buresova’s reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the school’s lasting legacy, its culture of discipline, and the lifelong bonds it fostered.
The school is holding its capping ceremony for their First XV rugby team,today and it will be held at the school.
Old Scholars President Stanley Simpson says they are gearing up for their Grand Ball this Saturday and ticket sales for the Ball are going very well and they are encouraging people to buy their tickets early, because they want to cut it off by Thursday.
The Ball will be held at the Vodafone Arena this Saturday.
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