SUGAR FESTIVAL 2011 PAGE 18 GOLDEN Y<strong>EARS</strong>
<strong>of</strong> <strong>generous</strong> <strong>giving</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> Foundation The Junior Chamber <strong>of</strong> Commerce (<strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees) were the founding organisers <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> in the 1960s and the funds raised in those years were allocated to charitable organisations such as the Fiji Crippled Children Society. The very first <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> was held in 1961 under the leadership <strong>of</strong> Mr Y P Reddy, President <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees, Mr Keith Marlow, the Mayor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lautoka</strong> and Mr U C Shinivasan, Chairman <strong>of</strong> the Organising Committee. A total <strong>of</strong> 14 contestants vied for the 1961 Miss <strong>Sugar</strong> title and a variety night was organised from all sections <strong>of</strong> the community as part <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Festival</strong> activities. The first Miss <strong>Sugar</strong> title winner was Betty Benjamin who was sponsored by Combined Banks, Sports and Social Club. The <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees continued with the <strong>Festival</strong> in 1962 and 1963. According to the Fiji Times, the 1962 <strong>Festival</strong> was known as the ‘Great North-West <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>’ and was held from October 1 to 8, 1962. A total <strong>of</strong> 13 participants vied for the Miss <strong>Sugar</strong> title. The introduction parade was held on 2 October 1962 at 7.30 pm in front <strong>of</strong> a large crowd at the famous and well-known venue <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lautoka</strong> Globe cinema which was located just opposite the current <strong>Lautoka</strong> market. The <strong>Festival</strong> <strong>of</strong>fered more than five hundred pounds in prize money for Miss <strong>Sugar</strong> title including a fortnight’s holiday in Honolulu as a VIP Guest <strong>of</strong> Canadian Pacific Airlines. The 1962 <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> was <strong>of</strong>ficially opened by the Mayor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lautoka</strong>, Cr R B Ingleton. The Churchill Park in <strong>Lautoka</strong> was packed with nearly 4,000 enthusiastic crowd. As reported in the media, the Commissioner Western, J A C Hill was joined on the opening night by Y P Reddy, National President <strong>of</strong> the Jaycees and Garry K Allen, President <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees. The <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> became the main attraction in <strong>Lautoka</strong> and was attended by people <strong>of</strong> all ages and background from Fiji and abroad. Fiji’s sugar industry did not allow those who were present at the <strong>of</strong>ficial opening to forget that the <strong>Festival</strong> lauded the keystone <strong>of</strong> the country’s economic structure. As Mr Allen was announcing the appearance <strong>of</strong> the 13 aspirants to the crown <strong>of</strong> Miss <strong>Sugar</strong>, his words were drowned by the clamour <strong>of</strong> the diesel locomotive hauling the Ba sugar train to the <strong>Lautoka</strong> mill. The <strong>Festival</strong> program included many activities including Indian night, European and Chinese night, Fijian night, soccer, water carnival and fishing, cycle race, hockey, SUGAR FESTIVAL 2011 PAGE 19 choir competition, cession ceremony, best dressed window, trade exhibition and bula shirt competition. The 1962 Miss <strong>Sugar</strong> Crown was won by Miss Nanise Nasilasila who was sponsored by Reddy’s Wines and Spirits. Miss Anne Wong (sponsored by the Chinese community) shared the second place with Miss Livia Rose Chongsu who was sponsored by the South Pacific <strong>Sugar</strong> Mills. On 22 July 1964, a Committee comprising <strong>of</strong> Cr R B Ingleton (Chairman and Mayor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lautoka</strong>), J L Kimber (Secretary and Town Clerk) and J Robertson (Treasurer) suggested that the running <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> be managed by three service clubs (<strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees, Apex and Rotary). The <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> was held from 8 October to 10 October 1964 in close collaboration amongst the <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees, the Rotary and Apex Clubs. This was the early signs <strong>of</strong> cooperation and goodwill amongst the service clubs in <strong>Lautoka</strong> to turn the <strong>Festival</strong> into an annual event. The <strong>Festival</strong> was <strong>of</strong>ficially opened in 1964 by the Mayor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lautoka</strong>, Cr R B Ingleton. In his message to the community, Cr Ingleton said that in previous years, the <strong>Festival</strong> had been run by the <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees at a minimum <strong>of</strong> expense to be enjoyed by all sections <strong>of</strong> the community and to give to young members <strong>of</strong> the club experience in the organisation <strong>of</strong> public functions and public relations. The 1964 Miss <strong>Sugar</strong> Crown was won by Miss Shirley Anthony <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lautoka</strong>. She was sponsored by the British American Insurance Company. Prizes for the best dressed shop window went to Guraji’s Store for the second year in a row. Mr Guraji himself won the best bula shirt contest with a special creation <strong>of</strong> his own depicting the spirit <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>. Interestingly, the best dressed building prize was awarded to the <strong>Lautoka</strong> Post Office. The <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> continued as an annual event under the stewardship <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees until 1980 when it was announced that the running <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Festival</strong> would be handed over to a public committee. In announcing the change, <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees President, Mr Nitin Punja said that a motion had been passed by the <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees to phase out their control <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Festival</strong>. Eventually, the service groups including <strong>Lautoka</strong> Jaycees decided to hand over the control <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Festival</strong> in 1981 to <strong>Lautoka</strong> <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> <strong>Association</strong>. Several volunteers have worked tirelessly since the 1960s with a few remaining to relive the memories <strong>of</strong> the humble beginnings <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>. Mr Raymond Moti was the first President <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> <strong>Association</strong> in 1981 and continued in this position until 1983. Mr Moti is now the International Director <strong>of</strong> Lifebread International, an Australian mission based at the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. During the 1981 <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>, the former Prime Minister <strong>of</strong> India, Late Mrs Indira Gandhi was the guest <strong>of</strong> honour together with then Prime Minister <strong>of</strong> Fiji, Late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Following the retirement <strong>of</strong> Raymond Moti in 1983, the following individuals then became the former Presidents <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Association</strong>: Joseph L Dass Late Benjamin Shri Bhagwan Late Mili Ah Tong Steven Singh Late Lakshman Prasad Maharaj The <strong>Festival</strong> was not held in 2000 due to the upheavals in the country. However, it was through the leadership <strong>of</strong> the then mayor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lautoka</strong> city, Late Mr Lakshman Prasad (LP) Maharaj that the festival was reactivated in 2001. Mr Maharaj served as the President <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Association</strong> from 2001 to 2003. The committee is proud to be continuing the vision <strong>of</strong> Mr Maharaj which was to keep <strong>Lautoka</strong> alive through <strong>Festival</strong>s and many other activities in order to draw people closer to the city. Apart from the Executive Committee and co-opted members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Sugar</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, there is a fully equipped <strong>of</strong>fice that is open throughout the year to assist the <strong>Association</strong> in its operations. Miss <strong>Sugar</strong> (Miss Betty Benjamin), (centre) with her ladies-in-waiting Miss Lena Harman (left) and Miss Tui Muni after the crowning ceremony at Churchill Park on Saturday night October 9th 1961.
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