Davuilevu
Encyclopedia
Davuilevu, the name of the site upon which three Methodist Church of Fiji institutions (Davuilevu Theological College, the Bible School for Catechist training and Lelean Memorial School
) are located, can be translated as "the large conch shell".
The use of the adjective "large" in this context is used by the church to convey the significance of the duty bestowed upon church members who attend the Davuilevu institutions, which surpasses even its physical size. It is the premier institution of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma. The Giant Conch Shell (Charonia tritonis
) is customarily used as a horn by indigenous Fijians to herald important events such as the birth and death of a high ranking chief.
Davuilevu is located at Nausori
, Fiji
.
It was the home station of Reverend Thomas Baker
who was matyred and killed in 1867 by cannibals at Nubutautau in the upper reaches of the Navosa hills. His famous words still ring true to those who enter Davuilevu. When warned of a possible plot against his missionary party, he replied in Fijian that "sa yawa vei au ko Davuilevu, ka sa voleka vei au ko lomalagi". Translated it means, "Davuilevu is yet far, heaven for me is closer".
The Methodist Church moved its Theological College for Ministers and Bible School for Catechists from its former location at Navuloa to Davuilevu in 1907. Fiji's first technical and engineering school was also established here. Later the colonial government asked the assistance of the Methodist Church to help in setting up the government technical school. It was named the Derrick Technical Institute, after the founder and Principal of the Davuilevu Technical School, Mr R.A Derrick, and who was asked to set up the government technical school at Samabula, Suva. The Derrick Technical Institute was later renamed the Fiji Institute of Technology
.
Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School is one of the largest co-ed schools in Fiji today. It was established in 1943 and is run by the Methodist Church of Fiji. It is co-located at the Davuilevu Methodist Compound with the and the Young People's Department, which runs training for Methodist catechists...
) are located, can be translated as "the large conch shell".
The use of the adjective "large" in this context is used by the church to convey the significance of the duty bestowed upon church members who attend the Davuilevu institutions, which surpasses even its physical size. It is the premier institution of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma. The Giant Conch Shell (Charonia tritonis
Charonia tritonis
Charonia tritonis, common name Triton's trumpet, is a species of very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ranellidae, the tritons.Also see Charonia or Triton .-Distribution:...
) is customarily used as a horn by indigenous Fijians to herald important events such as the birth and death of a high ranking chief.
Davuilevu is located at Nausori
Nausori
Nausori is a town in Fiji. It had a population of 47,604 at the 2007 census, the most recent to date. This makes it the fourth most populous municipality in the country. Situated 19 kilometers out of Suva, it forms one pole of the burgeoning Suva-Nausori corridor.Nausori grew up around Fiji's...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
.
It was the home station of Reverend Thomas Baker
Thomas Baker (missionary)
The Reverend Thomas Baker was a Methodist missionary in Fiji, known as being the last missionary in that country to be killed and eaten, along with seven of his Fijian followers. The incident occurred in the Navosa Highlands of western Viti Levu in July 1867, and the axe used to kill Baker is...
who was matyred and killed in 1867 by cannibals at Nubutautau in the upper reaches of the Navosa hills. His famous words still ring true to those who enter Davuilevu. When warned of a possible plot against his missionary party, he replied in Fijian that "sa yawa vei au ko Davuilevu, ka sa voleka vei au ko lomalagi". Translated it means, "Davuilevu is yet far, heaven for me is closer".
The Methodist Church moved its Theological College for Ministers and Bible School for Catechists from its former location at Navuloa to Davuilevu in 1907. Fiji's first technical and engineering school was also established here. Later the colonial government asked the assistance of the Methodist Church to help in setting up the government technical school. It was named the Derrick Technical Institute, after the founder and Principal of the Davuilevu Technical School, Mr R.A Derrick, and who was asked to set up the government technical school at Samabula, Suva. The Derrick Technical Institute was later renamed the Fiji Institute of Technology
Fiji Institute of Technology
The Fiji Institute of Technology is a university based in Fiji. Its has 4 campuses in Suva, Ba, Nadi and Labasa. It was established in 1963 to provide Technical and vocational education aimed at training students in technical disciplines to meet the engineering human resource needs of Fiji...
.