Midweek excitement filled the air as old scholars of Saint Joseph’s Secondary School from different decades came together to celebrate the school’s 70th anniversary, bringing colour, music and memories to Suva City.
The casses of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s gathered at Paradiso Restaurant under the theme Flower Power, marking the milestone celebration in a vibrant display of colour and camaraderie.
At the Suva Bowling Club, lawyer John Apted took on the role of Master of Ceremonies for the evening and led the police band in a nostalgic musical journey, taking old scholars back to the songs and memories of their school days as they danced the night away.
Former head girl in 1974, Jenny Seeto says the week has been extremely busy, with months of preparation finally coming together for the anniversary celebrations.
Seeto thanked the old scholars for their spirit of unity and for turning up in numbers to support the milestone event.
She says the charism and influence of the Sisters of Cluny remained evident among the old scholars, as students from different generations reunited to make the anniversary celebrations possible.
For Seeto, the reunion was also deeply emotional.
She says meeting friends from Toronto, Vancouver and Singapore has been a blessing.
She says seeing most of them for the first time since their days at Saint Anne’s Primary School, including some she had known since they were just five years old, brought back many cherished memories.
She says Saint Joseph’s had groomed generations of women to become leaders in their respective fields, and they remained indebted to the Sisters of Cluny for the education, guidance and values instilled in them.
Seeto wished the women well for the remainder of the celebrations and expressed hope that she would be around to witness the next major milestone.
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The Platinum Jubilee celebrations will continue today with a Suva bus ride, prefects’ school tour and 1990s quiz and disco.
Tomorrow’s programme includes the Jubilee Celebration Mass, lunch, shopping excursion, alumnae career talanoa, alumnae march and Jubilee Fashion Show.
The celebrations will continue on Saturday with Pacific Market Day and the Pacific Elegance Ball at Vodafone Arena at the evening, before concluding with a Closing Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Sunday.
