FIJI
ASSOCIATION REMEMBERS SS SYRIA AND JOINS MANUKAU GARDENS CREMATORIUM
REOPENING CEREMONY
Manukau
Gardens Crematorium,
Manukau
Over
thirty members joined the Mayor Sir Barry Curtis at the Dedication
Ceremony and presentation of an artifact from the Association
to the Manakau Gardens Crematorium reopening29th June 2006. A
big Thank You goes to members who donated funds and attended the
function on a cold winter morning.
The
Association accepted an invitation from the Mayor of Manukau Sir
Barry Curtis to join in the dedication ceremony of the refurbished
crematorium, taking seating from one hundred and twenty in the
chapel, to nearly five hundred as well as state of the art audio
and video facilities.
The
Committee agreed to mark the special occasion by remembering the
S S Syria, which sank near Fiji on 11 May 1884. The Syria was
on its maiden voyage to the Pacific with one hundred and eighty
passengers from India.
On the evening of 11 May 1884, the vessel struck a reef near Nasilai,
just thirty miles from the coast of Viti Levu, the main island
in the archipelago.
Sixty
Indian nationals were lost in the raging sea.
However
the brave efforts of nearby Fijians led by Dr William McGregor
from the Suva Medical Post, saved one hundred and twenty. These
brave men risked their own lives many times over in the effort,
taking the survivors to their villages where they were cared for
and sent on their way to their destinations in various parts of
Fiji.
The
Association chose to gift the Mayor, for permanent display in
the crematorium foyer, a hundred year old tree trunk root, shaped
into a 2 m bench, with its look of something from a ship wreck.
The
tree root was recovered from the swamp.
Two
plaques were placed on it, in Hindi and in English with the Syria
story.
The
bench was handed to the Mayor after a dedication service to remember
the Syria victims and their rescuers and their descendants.
Speaking
at the Service on behalf of the Association, Dr Satendra Singh
told the large gathering that the Syria provided not just Fiji,
but everyone else with a great lesson in brotherhood.
Sir
Barry Curtis said the gift was a magnificent one and something
that would be treasured.
The
Vice President of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, said
in a message, "In remembering the lives lost, we also celebrate
the rescue of Indo Fijians by their Fijian brothers reminding
us always of our common humanity."
The
High Commissioner of Fiji to New Zealand His Excellency Mr Bal
Ram said he was extremely pleased and grateful the Association
had selected such an appropriate gift and in particular, the Syria
tragedy to commemorate.
The
High Commissioner of India to New Zealand His Excellency Mr K
Earnest said he was touched that the Association was remembering
the men women and children of India who were lost in the Syria
wreck. The High Commissioner was pleased to join with the Association
in commending the Mayor Sir Barry Curtis.
From
India, the Fiji High Commissioner in New Delhi, Mr Luke Rokovada
said he was delighted and moved that the Auckland community was
remembering such an important incident from Fiji's past in the
dedication and presentation of a gift to the Memorial Gardens.
The
artifact was gifted from donations received from members of the
Association.
Over
fifty members attended the dedication ceremony and expressed their
pleasure at the selection of the gift.
The
story was well reported in Fiji, India and New Zealand with photographs
in several leading newspapers, including the Fiji Post, Fiji Times
Shanti Dut, Manukau Courier, Indian Tribune and the Eastern Courier.
