Sunday, September 23, 2007

MEET NAREN SINGH OF TUATUA LABASA

NAREN Singh's customers will only see the vegetables he sells from his roadside stall in Tuatua, outside Labasa.
But for Mr Singh, the rough wooden table that is his stall is a table of dreams for his children's future.
The roadside stall was Mr Singh's way of starting his own business a year ago.
He sells cabbages, pawpaws, pumpkins, tomatoes and long beans from his table with the bright colours attracting many a passing motorist. "A lot of people stop and buy vegetables especially after work and that has helped my cash flow," he said.
"Although it's not much, it has at least helped me pay for my children's schools fees and I always believe that education is very important because through education, my children can achieve successful lives."
"With the little I have earned over the past year, I always make sure that our family savings are kept away after I budget for the food, bills and educations expenses."
Mr Singh said most of the time, after budgeting his earnings, he only had enough cash left to buy food.
"And most of the time we just eat vegetables and I am blessed to have children who accept whatever we put on the table. Even if we have to feed on vegetables only for a month or two, that's fine as long as the money are kept for my children's school fees."
A former casual worker at several companies in Labasa, Mr Singh decided to start his own business because his casual job was not consistent.
"I also saw that having my own business like selling vegetables will help my family a lot financially as we will be receiving funds everyday which will help with bus fares for my children to schools.
"That was one of the main areas I considered so I decided to start my own market business and so far, it has been operating."
Of Mr Singh's three children (the eldest, a girl, is in secondary school while the second, a boy, is in Class 7), his youngest, Kirteshni, was the only one home yesterday because she was not feeling well and decided to join her dad at the stall. On whether she enjoyed selling vegetables, Kirteshni smiled. "Yes, it's a good place to rest and relax except in the afternoon when my friends from school go past in the school bus, and they call out to me and wave their hands like we have not seen each other for long.
"But I enjoy selling from the market stall because I also get to run to the busses and pass the vegetables to passengers who buy," Kirteshni said.
A vigilant Mr Singh will not allow his children to cross the road and pass vegetables to passengers who buy from buses that stop across the road.
"Only when cars and buses park on our side, then I give them the plastic and vegetables to take with them otherwise, if passengers are parked on the other side, then I take it myself."
Mr Singh supplies the vegetables from his own backyard where his children help out as well.
"Sometimes when I am selling from the market stall, my children plant the vegetable seedlings in our farm after school after having their afternoon tea.
"I don't buy from farmers but pull the vegetables out from my own backyard and bring to the stall to sell and without my children, who have planted so many varieties of vegetables, I don't think I will have such a colourful table," he said.
The worst of weather does not deter Mr Singh from being at his stall even though it is not sheltered. "When it rains, I don't stay home but come to the roadside and sell the vegetables even though I may not have a proper shelter over myself and the vegetables.
"I come with an umbrella and a raincoat and there's nothing difficult about doing that because I am here for my family's sake."

Adapted from Fijitimes Online

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

MEET VEENA TILLY OF LAUTOKA

Veena Tilly believes if you are not working with children you tend to lose focus on reality.
A high school English teacher in Hobart, Tasmania, Veena has been in the profession for 35 years and is in Fiji working on an education-based project with the Rotary club of Bellerive, Tasmania.
"If you are not working with children, you lose touch with reality, with what is happening with children with their learning in education," she said.
"I feel it is important to maintain some teaching experience and maintain that credibility with what students are learning."
Veena has been doing charity work with the Bellerive Rotary club of Tasmania for the past eight years.
She is the brains behind the Lautoka Schools Project.
The project was set up in 2004.
"I came with a team in 2004 to help build houses at Koroipita Village in Lautoka," she said.
"While we were there I could see that we were going to have a huge village settlement, so while talking to Peter Drysdale (past president of Lautoka Rotary), I told him that building the shelter was one part of what these people need.
"We also need to have the other infrastructure and also education and health.
"I said I could help with the education part because that was my background.
"So I went to the school that most of the children were going to which was within walking distance.
"It was a coincidence that it happened to be the Ami Chandra Memorial School and my father was the first head teacher there.
"So I said to the head master there that I would love to bring a team the following year to help out in their priority areas.
"The head teacher at Ami Chandra told me then that his view was to have a school library."
When the team returned in 2005, they focused on Ami Chandra and other schools heard about the assistance being provided by the team.
She said the team of nine completed the library and medical room project valued at $37,825.
Last year, a team of nine completed the school's computer laboratory valued at $31,294 with 25 computers, along with computers for the staffroom, the school office and kindergarten at Ami Chandra.
She said once the team realised they could spread their wings by helping other schools around Lautoka, the project name was changed to the Lautoka Schools Project.
She said apart from Ami Chandra, the team has helped schools like Lovu Sangam, Saint Thomas Primary and Drasa Secondary.
A former Lautoka resident herself, Veena attended Lovu Sangam until her family migrated to Australia when she was 10.
Her father, Andrew Mudaliar was at that time the head teacher of Ami Chandra Primary School.
"In Australia, you do four years high school and then you do two years of senior secondary and then you have university or TAFE," Veena said.
"So I did that pathway and finished my teaching degree then I did part-time Masters in Educational Studies. Now I am working on my PhD studies," she said.
"I have been in the teaching profession for about 35 years. I should be retiring but just this year I have a new job as an education consultant for our school.
"My new job is to support that project. If I had retired I would still be doing something in the educational field and certainly this project that we have started here would be an ongoing project for me.
"I feel committed to the fact that to work with teachers you need the credibility because the world is changing so fast and education is changing so fast."
Adapted from Fijitimes Online

Saturday, September 15, 2007

MEET NAFIZA ALI OF NADI

AS the saying goes beauty is skin deep, Nafiza Ali believes that everyone, no matter their looks or size, should always look presentable all the time.
Fiza, as she is known to her family and friends, took up beauty therapy as a hobby while in high school.
She said if anyone ever thought that beauty therapy was the last resort in hooking a job, she should think again.
She said beauty therapy was a profession to be taken seriously and not the last thing any person would do if all avenues failed.
She said she started in the business of beauty therapy as a part-time thing on the side at high school.
Fiza has been in the business for the past six years and has never regretted getting into it.
"When I was in school, I used to have a friend whose mum was from Pakistan and was a beauty therapist," she said.
"I would go over to their place and watch what she would do and try it out now and again.
"I studied with her for one year and then started to try it out on my own."
By profession, Fiza is a sales and marketing officer.
She was born and raised in Nadi and is the second eldest of five siblings. But her skills as a beauty therapist do not stop there because she also takes classes in the profession part-time.
"I took up this profession as a hobby and because I have a passion for it and I have not looked back."
"I usually do part-time work in resorts and hotels or on appointments just because of word of mouth.
Fiza said with her job she has been able to travel around the place and meet a lot of people.
"I took up this profession because I like talking to people and helping them to look good no matter what the occasion is.
"This profession also allows me to be an individual and I have more freedom compared to a desk job with a boss."
Fiza said young school-leavers should not shy away from the beauty therapy profession because it is a brilliant career.
She said it would allow the person to expand her creativity and knowledge.
"It's a constant source of education and also keeps you in touch with the latest products on beauty trends and the fashion world.
"I would not change my hobby for anything else because I love what I do.
"People should appreciate the way they are because it is true when they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Fiza attended Namaka Public School and then went on to Nadi Muslim College and then on to Sangam SKM College.
After completing her secondary education, Fiza went on to complete English corresponding courses and beauty therapy.
"I am a Jane of all trades as I have been an examination supervisor, a tutor," she said.
"My future plan is to settle down one day and also have my own business in beauty therapy."

Adapted from Fijitimes Online

Friday, September 14, 2007

MEET LIVIA LALAGAVESI OF LABASA

THE money earned from selling fish parcels over the past four years has helped Livia Lalagavesi put her daughter through a teacher training institute and furnish her home something she previously could not afford.
Although her business involves selling fish, she has no regrets.
No regrets in the sense that when she first started, her friends and relatives used to ask her if she ever got embarrassed selling fish parcels in the streets of Labasa.
"A lot of people used to ask me whether I was embarrassed to sell fish parcels and sit outside on the street selling," she said.
"At times I must admit I felt quite embarrassed especially when friends and relatives come around every day to ask me the same question which didn't help at all."
But after a few days of seeing the good earnings received from the business, Livia knew she had to make a choice between her family's welfare and remarks from friends and relatives.
"My two children matter most so I decided to stay on and today those friends of mine have not said a thing because they have seen how my family has benefited from this business," she said.
"My eldest daughter is a school teacher in one of the schools in Namosi, while my younger son is in primary school. I have been able to fill my house with furniture and electrical appliances and that's all because of this business," Livia said.
On a week day, Livia can take home $140 from selling 40 parcels at $3.50 each but on Saturdays, her earnings can be $200 selling 50 or more parcels of fish from her table by the riverside of the friendly town, towards the market area.
Her earnings helped meet her traditional and church obligations over the years.
"Before I started this business it was difficult for me to attend church gatherings in Viti Levu especially the Methodist Church Conference because my husband was the only one earning money from farming.
"After I started the business, with the money received, I have been able to attend all the church conferences and meetings every year, help my relatives and friends who come around to ask for assistance and also install a telephone at home," Livia said.
"Why should women be embarrassed to sell fish parcels or food in the market or in public when the money earned from it helps a family."
Livia said running a small business had many benefits and one of it was being her own boss.
"I decide what time I come to sell my parcels and when I take my days off and don't worry about paying other staff as it is a small business that requires only one person.
"But with those benefits, I don't abuse my business because I believe the success of this business comes from dedication, honesty and sacrifices.
Livia said that from Monday to Saturday, her working hours begin at 10am and ends at 4pm.
"I get up at 5am, peel the cassava and about 7am I start frying the fish and eggs and make the salad.
"When all that is done I pack my parcels and by 10am I am at my stall with the parcels and if they are all sold by 3pm, I finish work early, otherwise it's 4pm or sometimes 5pm," Livia said.
On her days off or leave, Livia said these were only taken for deaths and the church conference.
"For other events and obligations, I make sure that the parcels are sold first before I attend because I don't want to disappoint my customers for without them my business earnings will not be good."
Adapted from Fijitimes Online

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

MEET PRICILLA KANT of Suva

What's in a name? There are many people who know Priscilla Kant personally as she is the friendly face of the Fiji Broadcasting Commission Limited.
But do you know the actual spelling of her name does not correlate with how she has been addressed by thousands of people since birth.
The spelling of her name according to her birth certificate is 'Pricilla', without the 's'.
There may be some confusion over how it is pronounced, but she says it does not make a difference how her name is spelt.
However, she has been using 'Priscilla' for formal and informal occassions.
"It does not make a difference to me either you use the birth certificate one or the one I have been using because people know me anyway," she said.
Mrs Kant, 54, has been doing the same job for 30 years for the same company and says she is honoured to be doing something she loves.
She is the receptionist at FBCL in Suva. She is also the oldest and most well known staff of the company. She said being a receptionist was the best job for her and it was something she never got tired of doing.
"I love my job and I never get bored with what I do. This is what I have been doing for more than 30 years and this is where I belong," she said. Before joining FBCL, she was a receptionist at Sea Trans Fiji Limited. She was in her early 20s back then and worked for about two years at that company.
"That was my first job and I have done nothing else apart from handling a receptionist's job. I never felt like looking for another job because I found myself so attached to what I do," she said.
"I meet so many people in a day, I make friends and some people are surprised that I still work here. Joining this company was a big achievement for me and I enjoy working here.
"I am responsible for answering calls at the switchboard. I take messages and pass it to the required person. I enjoy meeting people and serving customers. I also check and update weather news and pass it to all the six stations. Doing this has become easier now as we have computers," she said.
Mrs Kant says she was offered better opportunities at other departments at FBCL but she rejected it. "I don't want to go and do something else. With this job, I feel like I am the boss of myself and nobody gets to rule me. I do things on my own and how I want this is what gets me going," she said. As years went by her responsibilities and expectations grew.
"Now I am also responsible for taking death messages and this has to be done very carefully. You can't afford to make any mistake and have to be very careful when noting down the message and then passing it on to the stations. I take messages on the phone and also in person when people come here directly," she said.
Seeing her enthusiasm about her work, I had to ask her if she ever got irritated by some calls.
"No and never. There are times when I get some phone calls by rude people and some even swear but I take things very lightly. I have to be polite to them no matter what and this is what I have been telling myself and others who come to do the same job. I don't get irritated and I just brush aside their rude remarks," she said.
"When I first started here I used to work on different shifts and I am glad my family adjusted to it. I worked from 5am to 1.30pm, 2.30pm to midnight and from midnight to morning. I even used to work at the weekends but I never complained about my shifts and neither did my family. I had three small children at home and depended heavily on my husband to look after them. I am grateful to my husband who was looking after the children when I was working on all these shifts and somehow we managed. I told myself that I could do it because this is what I always wanted to do," she said. Things have now changed for the better for her as she is now working a normal shift from 8am to 4.30pm excluding weekends.
She lives in Toorak the place where she was born and was married in. "I will be retiring next year and I think it is time for me to give more time to myself and I am looking forward to meeting my relatives and children who are overseas," she said. Working honestly with patience is what she believes in.
"Whatever you do in life, it is very important to have patience because without this, there will always be frustration," she said.

Adapted from Fijitimes Online

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

MEET VANI VEIKOSO OF GAU,LOMAIVITI

Ni sa bula! My name is Vani Veikoso. I come from the village of Navukailagi, Gau in Lomaiviti. I am a vasu of Natogadravu Village, Tailevu Province. I currently live and work in Istanbul, Turkey.

What is your educational background?
I attended Levuka Public School, Nuku District and Adi Cakobau School. I did my tertiary studies at Lautoka Teachers’ College. Then I did some TESL studies at the University of the South Pacific, and my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia.

What is your job title, and why did you choose that particular field?
I am a Primary Teacher. My extended family is full of teachers and teaching being a noble profession for my family, it was not difficult to make the choice to go into teaching. In addition, I believe that my personality and the way I view life makes it easier for me to relate to young children. Also, the pleasure and reward I get at the end of a school year knowing that I have touched at least one of my student’s life and their family, is one I treasure. It shows to me that I have made a difference in a young life and hopefully they will carry it with them for as long as they live.

What subjects (secondary school to tertiary) are required to do the field of work that you do? At secondary school level, I did English, Maths and the three Sciences. At teacher’s college, it diversified to curriculum and child development and the theories of teaching and learning. At undergraduate and postgraduate levels, I began to specialize in early childhood education, curriculum development and research in education.

What is your view of being a woman doing this work?
Primary teaching is full of women. Although teaching can be seen as an extension of being a mother or a female carer at home, the dynamics and strategies change because I am not only directly responsible for the well-being of my three children but 16 (or more) other children and their families. Therefore, I have to be adaptable, flexible, understanding, patient 24/7 as long as the children (and their families) are in my care.

What other opportunities are available in this line of work?
There is directorship/headship in primary schools or whole school. It may also lead onto research work at universities if that is a path you may want to pursue.

What is a major highlight of your work that you would like to share?
The highlight of my work is that I get to live (and travel) in different countries and teach children from different cultural backgrounds and experiences. It allows me the opportunity to share my Fijian culture with them. But my major highlight, is when at the end of the year, I get a parent and their child saying, “Thank you for making a difference in my child’s life. We will always remember Fiji because of you!”

What are your plans for further studies? What opportunities are there for you?
I plan to pursue my doctoral in education degree so I can get into more research in education, which is my passion.

Any advice you would like to give our youngsters who may be interested to follow your footsteps?
f you choose to go into teaching, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

“Teaching is the profession that creates all others.”

So follow your dreams and Travel with God!

VINAKA VAKALEVU SARA


"Vakanuinui vinaka Vani mai vei keitou na timi ni Fijituwawa"

VIEW THE CREATIONS OF ASHOK KUMAR OF BA

COMMUTERS travelling to and from Lautoka will notice brightly coloured pots on display at Velovelo.
At first glance you might think the pots are made of clay but they are not. They are made of fibre glass.
They are the creation of boat builder Ashok Kumar.
The 43-year-old from Nailaga said the pots were a hobby he promised himself he would make one day.
"I started a year ago and so far it has been going all right," he said.
"It took me 10 months to mould a design of the pot but it now takes me a day to put two to three pots together.
"The structure is made of fibre glass and finished with coral sand."
Mr Kumar said the materials were imported from Malaysia.
He said he decided to use fibre glass because it was unbreakable and the original designs remains.
"Fibre glass does not decay and will not smash like clay. In the sun the colour will be retained and can be used for various purposes as in storage of water. The pots can fetch up to $200 and we supply schools, supermarkets and other places in the west."

Adapted from Fijitimes Online

Sunday, September 9, 2007

MEET RISHI RAM OF BA

ORIGINALLY from Ba, Rishi Ram attended St Teresa's Primary School and then Khalsa Secondary School.
"My school was very close to my home and I remember walking home after school with my friends because we spent our bus fare home on bun and ice blocks," he said.
Coming from a family of seven brothers and eight sisters, Mr Ram had to learn to work for his expenses from an early age.
Reminiscing about his school days in Ba, Mr Ram said he used to return home from school everyday and start working in his vegetable garden so he could sell the fruit of labour and earn some pocket money.
"Gardening has been my hobby and it used to give me some income during my school days," he said.
"I remember planting vegetables like dhania, tomatoes, bean, cabbages and other vegetables and I would come back from school and bundle them and take them out to the villages and settlements in my area and sell them.
"Even today I have the habit and I have grown all kinds of vegetables in my garden at home," he said.
Compared to the life he led, Mr Ram said kids today had an easy life.
"I think life has changed so much because the luxury that kids these days have is so different from the life we had.
"We were given bus fares and my school was six kilometres from my home.
"We used to catch the bus to school but from the other side we would use our bus fare to buy bun and ice-block and we used to walk back home.
"Then there was the kind of school bags that we used to have and we didn't have shoes to wear to school."
Mr Ram said when he thought back about the time when he was at school and the life his grandchildren were leading, he felt children these days "have everything but they do not appreciate it".
"Then, there was so much discipline both at home and in school. "After school we used to come home and work in the gardens, tether the animals and feed the chickens but these days the children just come back from school and sit in front of the television till 7pm.
"My grandson, who is 10 years, comes back from school and just sits in front of the TV until 6 or 7pm and if we tell them to do anything, they will just say no.
"In those days if our parents asked us to do a task and we refused, we were disciplined," he said.
But Mr Ram said it was not all about discipline but about respect as well because if children respected their parents and their elders, they would learn to listen to them and behave.
Mr Ram said his three children had an easy life but they were and are respectful to their elders and to him and that is one legacy he is very proud of.
"These days living in an extended family is hard because when a lot of people live together quarrels are bound to happen and then families don't talk to each other.
"But I have been very lucky in the sense that my son and his family live with us and we get along so well.
"My son shares the same interests as me and we go fishing together and we play golf together.
"My grandchildren are so attached to me and my grandson Nikhil always fights with me to tag along with me everywhere and I keep chasing him to go home but he just keeps coming back to me," he said.
Mr Ram and his wife Sarla have three children — two daughters and a son, all of whom are now married.

Adapted from Fijitimes Online

Sunday, September 2, 2007

MEET RICHARD BROADBRIDGE

LIKE most of the journalists in the country, founder of Skylite Productions Richard Broadbridge started his career straight out of high school and has never looked back.
Today he is the owner of a new but successful production company and is the chairperson of the Fiji Audio Visual Commission.
Mr Broadbridge started his career in 1993 as a journalist with the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited which used to be Radio Fiji.
"I kind of asked the Editor of Radio Fiji, who was Frances Herman at that time, for a holiday job," he said.
Mr Broadbridge said he got the holiday job in December 1993 and worked there as a reporter for 104FM for one year.
"When the holiday had expired, but I had nothing else to do, I stayed around and they paid me holiday job rate for twelve months," he said.
Reminiscing about his first few years Mr Broadbridge said he could still clearly remember when he got a job with Fiji television which had started operating then.
"I clearly remember it I was about 19 or 20 years old and then about half way through my job at FBCL, Fiji TV was setting up and the Editor at that time Ric Carlyon approached me," he said.
"In fact I approached him and sort of pestered him and kept asking him to give me a chance to try it out and he gave me a chance."
He said he started working as a cadet reporter with Fiji TV and he was the first local reporter when they started Fiji One News in April 1994.
"I started as a cadet reporter then went to become a senior reporter to news editor, news director then head of current affairs.
"A lot of it (success) is about me being at the right place at the right time. The industry was just starting and I took the opportunity.
"You know it is a hard life and we are paid next to nothing but we still manage to survive and go out," he said.
Mr Broadbridge said he worked hard at his job and he also lived his life and went out with friends and colleagues.
"I used to go out a lot but the one thing I made sure of was going to work the next day.
"And I think that a lot of my colleagues slowed down their careers because they didn't go to work the next day.
"They didn't set goals for themselves and didn't aspire to be the best. I competed with myself and I competed with my colleagues for the top story," he said.
Mr Broadbridge said he had some really good colleagues and one of them was Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and one or two are still at Fiji TV.
"There would be annual award systems and the ability to be able to compete in the newsroom kept me inspired to a daily deadline," he said.
"Somebody asked me how I was able to manage and do quite a lot more. It's the ability to divide your time well and make sure that you manage your time."
Mr Broadbridge said he found his niche in journalism and he actually enjoyed doing his job and had a lot of fun as well.
"Most of us in the journalism field tend to buckle under the pressure of every day running, being chased away by people without interviews, having to hound them for interviews or just a few comments," he said.
And it adds up to the pressure if one is straight out of high school or at times university and after a few days or even months, they are ready to quit.
But this was not the case for Mr Broadbridge even though he joined the media straight out of high school. When asked about how he handled the pressure of the industry at his young age Mr Broadbridge said, "I don't know how to tell you this without sounding boasting but sometimes you feel that you are born for something.
"I happened to find the career that I really love and every day I come to work.
"There's never been a time in my life where I have said I think I made a wrong career choice," he said.
Mr Broadbridge is one of the pioneers of television broadcasting in Fiji and there are many of his stories that people might still remember.
But according to him one of the highlights of his career and his life was an exclusive interview with the late statesman Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
"This was an exclusive interview with him before his death where I had the chance to ask any question that I wanted," he said.
"It was a life changing experience. I got invited out to Lakeba to interview him. Over the period of four days we would talk for three hours a day and it was just before he passed away that I got this exclusive interview.
"It was a big experience for me and it came out on TV after his funeral," he said.
He said prior to the interview with Ratu Mara he had to get a lot of ground work done before he was allowed to interview him.
"I had to earn the man's trust and then we went to the island on the navy ship and we had to ask for permission from the elders in the village for asking questions to Ratu Mara."
Mr Broadbridge said while on the island Ratu Mara made him feel welcome and also tried to make him comfortable so that he could ask him questions.
"Some times there would be people watching us but he will make sure that I was able to ask him questions."
Mr Broadbridge was also behind the helm at Fiji TV news during the 2000 coup.
"We covered the 2000 coup and we had news every hour for 56 days straight. I think we proved that at the time we stood firm on our ability to report correctly and I guess some people just didn't like that.
"But along the way there have been so many fantastic stories," he said.
RICHARD Broadbridge found his "compass in life" when he married Judith two years ago.
He said when he resigned from Fiji TV in 2001, there was nothing working for him.
"At that point I had resigned from Fiji TV, my wife was pregnant and all the factors were working against me," he said.
"Now I have been married for two years and I have a daughter who will be two next month and along with my wife came a beautiful 7 year old girl. So I got a package deal.
"My wife Judith is an accomplished photographer and she runs her father's boat building business in Vatuwaqa."
Mr Broadbridge says he tries to spend as much time as he can with his two daughters.
"I try and spend as much time as possible with them in the morning. Normally the baby goes to sleep at half past six in the evening every day but I still have time to play with her," he said.
"Both my girls are really precious to me. Some times clients would call me at home and they expect me to respond to them and so I would be seen having my laptop on, my Broadband going on and my babies running around while I do my work," he said.
This might come as a surprise for people who do not know him well but Mr Broadbridge learnt music at high school and is a very keen piano player.
"I also have a passion for music and I can play the piano. I studied music at school for 10 years and I studied French for eight years."
He was the captain of his athletics team and he was also deputy head boy of Sacred Heart College in New Zealand where he completed his final high school years. "I was a student at Marist Brothers High School but then I sort of misbehaved and I was sent to New Zealand where I repeated Form Six."
Although he grew up in Delainavesi and had his family home there, he was sent off to boarding school at MBHS.
He said his parents felt that it would be a good thing for him to stay be a boarder and study.
But then when he was sent to New Zealand, he said staying in the boarding school there felt like he was staying in a resort.
"I enjoyed my school years and studied hard and I managed to score the highest mark in geography at high school.
"I have got two sisters who read music but despite my best attempts I have not been able to do it. In fact I spent 10 years studying music but I just went no where with it.
"But I can listen to music and play it."
Mr Broadbridge has a younger sister who is a doctor, a younger brother who is a pilot and another sister who is an accountant.
"I have got a big family and I have got half brothers and sisters and some of them live in Australia.
His mother has been the guiding force in his life while his father Keith Broadbridge has been his inspiration to work hard and excel in the field of journalism.
Mr Broadbridge senior is a journalist with the FBCL and he has been in the profession for over fifty years now.

Adapted from Fijitimes Online