Our stall at the 2011 Agricultural Show attracted much interest in the media this year, due to the hard work of our volunteers.
The 2011 Agricultural Show from the 20th-23rd, last month, was a successful outing for NatureFiji-Mareqeti.
Our enthusiastic volunteers (Leone Koronisaku, Oscar Billings, Rachel Fiu, Videi Koroduadua, Timoci Naivalurua, Richard Jitoko, Lote Lutuvakula, and Rachel Nunn) worked hard to keep the crowds of young and eager students happy.
Literally hundreds of students and teachers passed through the stall during the four days, taking with them booklets, pamphlets and informational cards about our various conservation projects. The stall was so busy that at times there were lines waiting outside to get the opportunity to walk inside to have a look at the informational material and herpetofaunal specimens.
Our young visitors from Hilton Special School led by their capable teacher, Ms. Heffernan, were enthusiastic and excited about the information they received at our stall.
When interviewed by daily newspaper, Fiji Sun, they highlighted the importance of conserving our forests,
“Don’t cut down trees because we need them.”
Oscar Billings, was also interviewed and spoke at length about the endemic species that we are centering our current research efforts on: the kacau-ni-Gau (Fiji petrel), the mirimiri (Fijian fruit bat), and the soga (Fiji sago palm).
His parting message that “We should preserve our (natural) heritage because… if we don’t then we might not have a future”, impressed the daily news editor so much, that the editorial of Fiji Sun’s July 23rd issue focussed on our stall and our message of conservation for a future Fiji.