HIS EXCELLENCY RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
CF, KStJ, LVO, OBE (Mil), CSM, MSD
President of the Republic of Fiji
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ADDRESS AT THE HILTON INAUGURAL ART EXHIBITION
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The Play House Wednesday,27 August, 2014
SUVA 6.00p.m.
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• The President, Mr Rajendra Kumar
• Mr Sean Stratton, Head of ANZ Retail Banking
• Board members of the Hilton Organization
• Mrs Sureni Perera, Chief Executive Officer of the Hilton Organization and Secretary of the Fiji Crippled Children Society
• Ms. Merelesita Qeleni, Head Teacher
• Participating artists
• Distinguished guests
• Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening, ni sa bula vinaka, salaam alaykum, namaste.

It is a pleasure to join you this evening at the inaugural art exhibition for the Hilton Organization.

You will all have noted that with only 20 days remaining before the General Elections on 17 September, most fundraising events we hear about now are geared towards raising funds for political campaigns. And so they should since we are embarking on the most important election of our time.

But I am grateful to you for your invitation to be in this fundraising event – indeed I am honoured – to be involved with raising funds for children with disabilities. And so I thank you for your invitation for me to officiate this evening.

Many people in Fiji would have heard of the Hilton Special School and the great work it has been doing since the 1960s. But very few know much of the school’s history or that the Hilton Special School is part of a bigger group which includes the Hilton Early Intervention Centre and the Hilton House Hostel.

All these three distinctive units form the Hilton Organization and they have been specifically set up to provide services to children with disabilities.

The growth of the organization to what it is today is a direct reflection of the dedication, the compassion or the ‘big hearts’ so to speak, of all those who were involved in its initial establishment and during its development over the years.

I wish to acknowledge the group of concerned citizens of Suva who started the organization in their quest to care for the survivors of the poliomyelitis epidemic of 1958, and the survivors of meningitis and birth injuries.

Their concerns led to the formation of the Suva branch of the Fiji Crippled Children’s Society which later opened up the opportunity for the special education system in Fiji.

Three interesting personalities of Suva at the time, the late Len Usher, Mavis Israel and Nancy Aidney formed the first board of management which organized clinics at the Red Cross hall for a mixed group of children.

The work progressed well and in 1963 the society opened its headquarters at the cwm hospital. The room they operated in was named the Betty Keene room in honour of a dedicated volunteer at the clinic who was instrumental in setting up the services that were available there.

In October 1963, the clinic was registered as the first special school when a teacher from the Ministry of Education in the form of Mrs. Shiu Prasad was appointed to be the first special education teacher.

Two years later in 1965, the school roll increased to 25 and a special education teacher from Australia, a Miss Diane Clark, was seconded as the head teacher.

It was in 1967 that the couple, whose name is now used by the school, arrived in Fiji and they showed us the way and were instrumental in raising public awareness to the needs of special education for the children with disabilities and helped greatly to shape the course of special education in Fiji.

Mr. Frank Hilton came on secondment as the head teacher under the Commonwealth co-Operation on Education Scheme.

Frank’s wife, the late Mrs. Honora Hilton, became the first teacher of the blind at the Hilton Organization and from which later stemmed the Society of the Blind. They were a formidable and loving couple. They were admired and were loved by all.

Mr. Hilton went on to become the Chairman of an Advisory Committee on Special Education from 1994-2004 and he was also instrumental in setting up a partnership with Shriner’s Hospital in Honolulu, United States, to assist the children of Fiji, which still continues today.

A combined council for the different branches around Fiji, assisting children with disabilities was established by Mr. Hilton in 1975.

He also helped to set up the Fiji Rehabilitation Council in 1979, which created a sheltered workshop and established a production unit that provided training in woodwork, sewing and daily living skills.

In 1989, Mr. Hilton became a member of the initial Steering Committee of the Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons. His involvement has continued over the years and he remained the President of the Hilton Organization until recently, when he retired due to ill health. Mr. Hilton remains fully committed and is still passionate about providing exceptional education to children with disabilities.

It is very pleasing to hear that the Hilton Organization currently caters for over 130 individuals, and aims to do much more. I am advised that the core function of the organization has been identified as early intervention and that the Hilton Organization aims to provide a holistic, multi-disciplinary child-centered programme to address the needs of children with disabilities and their families at the earliest possible time in a child’s life.

The services offered include physiotherapy, early childhood education, primary education, nutrition, transportation, medical health clinics, hostel facilities and parent support groups.

As Fiji’s Special Representative on HIV and Aids and having been involved for the past decades in advocacy work towards the prevention of HIV/Aids or the early intervention to help manage the effects of HIV and Aids, I fully understand and appreciate the aims of the Hilton Organization.

In fact, I can say that I have a close affinity with Organizations like the Hilton and the services they provide.

Early intervention in many developed countries like the United States of America is defined as a, quote: “system of coordinated services that promotes the child’s age-appropriate growth and development and supports families during the critical early years.” Unquote.

I am aware that in America, some early intervention services to eligible children and families are federally mandated through the individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Right here in Fiji, our new constitution provides a vastly expanded bill of rights for all our people including especially the rights of persons with disabilities. I hope that Fiji will be able to progress this right to include the right to early intervention.

I say this with the conviction that early intervention will help a disabled child’s developmental, social, and educational gains and can, in the long run, help to reduce the future costs of special education, rehabilitation and health care needs.

And ultimately, early intervention will help children with disabilities grow up to become fully productive and independent individuals of society. I have no doubts that the benefits of early intervention are far much greater than the costs of providing such services.

This evening, i am also pleased to hear that the Hilton Organization proposes to establish the first Audiology and Speech Therapy Unit in Fiji, by early 2015.

This is a most welcome initiative which I have every confidence will be supported by the government as part of the ongoing efforts to raise the standard of services and care provided to all the people in Fiji, irrespective of our socio-economic background or abilities.

Fundraising activities have accordingly stepped up considerably in order to cater to the present functions as well as future expansions of the organization. Today’s fundraising event – and the most recent - in the form of an art exhibition aims to raise funds for the audiology unit which will provide hearing testing for infants and children as well as speech therapy.

The art exhibition features many local artists who have on display their painting and who are going to donate 20% of their sale value towards the Hilton Organization.

Many have also offered to donate their work for auction this evening - the proceeds of which will go towards the organization.

The event also provides an opportunity for our local artists - some of whom are here this evening - include Craig Marlow, Warwick Marlow, Anare Somumu, Waqa Vuidreketi, Mason Lee, Irami Buli, Lori Absell , Maria Rova, Sharon Light, Pravin Sen, Reapi Blyde – just to name a few - to be recognized and applauded for their contribution to the arts.

Ladies and gentlemen

In conclusion, let me once again say that it is an honour to be part of this evening’s event. I want you to leave here this evening with the important understanding – and I emphasize this to all Fijians - that our disabled are a part of our society and not a separate community.

i now take great pleasure in declaring the proceedings officially open.

Thank you, vinaka vakalevu, sukria, bahoot dhaynavaad.