Xavier College Fiji is heartbroken after its more than 50-year-old Wisdom Tree did not survive the impact of Category 2 Tropical Cyclone Urmil.
The College informed fijivillage News that they believe the tree was planted by the Colombian Fathers, who were the pioneer teachers of the school, and became prominent during the tenure of visionary Principal, Brother P. J. George.
They say they are still yet to determine what year it was first planted.
The College says many students remember the Wisdom Tree with fondness.
They say it was a place where students were sometimes sent as a form of detention for chewing gum, not doing homework, shouting in school corridors, or breaching other school rules.
The College says this was Xavier’s unique detention system back then.
Many former students who had the “privilege” of holding a placard indicating the reason they were sent out reportedly never re-offended.
The tree was located at a spot that offered a 360-degree view of the campus.
The College adds that the consistent rain over the past months gradually weakened the tree’s root system, causing it to fall.
Many who were educated around this tree are deeply saddened by its loss.
