Fiji Honours : The Order Of Fiji Home, The Collection, Go to Order Page, Mailing List

Fiji Honours : The Order Of Fiji:

Before the advent of Europeans, the indigenous people of Fiji had a tribal honours system.Warriors were given titles to reflect their success in battle, such as, for example, "Koroi na Qaqa kei Koroniyasaca","Koroi naVunivalu" or"0 Koya na Leba-i-Valu", to acknowledge the warrior whose courage won the battle at Koroniyasaca, or the victorious warlord who commanded the joint forces of several tribes, or the warrior who slaughtered his enemies as if he was simply parting tall grass, left and right with his war club.
These were not dissimilar to the former British system in which peerages were granted for notable achievements, such as those awarded to Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, Lord Montgomery of El Alamein, and Lord Mountbatten of India.

When Fiji became a British colony in 1874, it was included in the British Honours and Awards system. Many Fijians won decorations and awards under this system, until Fiji was declared a sovereign democratic republic on 7 October 1987, following the second military coup of that year.
Notable was the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, who was serving in the 3^ Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment in the Solomons in 1943. Other military honours won by Fijians include the Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, Queen's Gallantry Medal, and mentions in despatches. In the field of service to the nation and humanity, such awards as Knighthoods in the Orders of Saint Michael and Saint George, British Empire and the Royal Victorian Household, were bestowed on Fijians.

The National Order of Fiji
When Fiji was declared a Republic, its citizens could no longer be honoured or decorated by the British sovereign as it had its own Head of State, the President of the Sovereign Democratic Republic of the Fiji Islands.
On 8 March 1995, His Excellency Ratu Sir Kamisese Kapaiwai Tuimacilai Mara, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ, MSD gave his Presidential Assent to Act No. 7 of that year establishing the Honours and Awards of Fiji.
This Presidential Assent brought to fruition many years of painstaking work by the husband and wife team of Brigadier Ian Thorpe, CBE, MSD and Mrs Pat Thorpe, an avid artist. Brigadier Thorpe has a long association with the Fiji Military Forces. He was Adjutant of the Ist Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment in Malaya (later Malaysia) when the late Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau, GCMG, KCVO, KBE, DSO, KStJ, MSD was a Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of the Battalion in 1955-1956.
He was later contracted to command the Royal Fiji Military Forces from 1979 to 1982 after retirement from the New Zealand Army, and was recalled to establish the Fiji Military Forces Officers' School after all foreign military assistance was cut off as a result of the military coups of 1987.The idea of a National Order system was proposed by Brigadier Thorpe while he was the Commandant of the Officer Training School.
To honour their long-standing association with the late Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, Brigadier Thorpe and his wife decided that the design must include the beautiful tagimaucia (Medinilla waterhousei) flower, which is emblematic of Ratu Sir Penaia's home island of Taveuni.The colours of the ribbon therefore depict the bright crimson and white of the tagimaucia flower (illustrated on the first day cover).
The New Fiji Stamps

The College of Honour of the Republic of the Fiji Islands has announced that the Chancellor of the Order of Fiji, His Excellency the President, Ratu Josefa lloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, JP has graciously approved the depicting of the insignia of all classes of the Order of Fiji on a new issue of Fiji stamps.
In granting this singular honour, His Excellency is allowing the world to see the insignia of the National Order of the nation, and affording the people of Fiji a greater insight into the background and significance of the design of the insignia.

The Insignia
Chancellor of the Order of Fiji (First Day Cover). The President of the Republic is the Chancellor of the Order and wears the Chain of the Order, made up of two gold chains interspersed evenly with circular tagimaucia wreaths and the monogram of the initials of the Republic. The central wreath is joined by ring clasps to a suspended monogram, also joined by ring clasps to the main eight-pointed gold star with the basic Order insignia of a four-quartered shield with a central red cross dividing the quarters, surrounded by a tagimaucia wreath. Above the shield is a replica of Ratu Cakobau's war club, now the Parliamentary Mace. In the top left quarter is a Fijian canoe signifying the traditional maritime nature of the islands, the top right contains sugar cane stalks signifying the importance of agriculture. The bottom right quarter contains the 'dove of peace' that was a part of the flag of the short-lived Kingdom of Fiji prior to Cession in 1874, and the bottom left contains a crossed pick and shovel reflecting the significance of mineral resources, particularly gold mining, in Fiji's history.The Chancellor is entitled to the post-nominals 'CF'.
SOc - Medal of the Order of Fiji. The insignia for this class is an enlargement of the circular design in the star of the senior classes as a round medal of silver metal suspended from the ribbon with a bar clasp. This also is worn on the left breast. Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Fiji are entitled to the post-nominals 'MOF'.
65c - Member of the Order of Fiji. The star is the same size and design as that of the Officer insignia, but wholly of silver colour. It is worn on the left breast with the usual ribbon. Members of the Order of Fiji are entitled to the post-nominals 'MF'.
$1.20 - Officer of the Order of Fiji.This smaller star insignia is worn on the left breast suspended from the normal ribbon by a ring clasp. Officers of the Order of Fiji are entitled to the post-nominals 'OF'.
$2 - Companion of the Order of Fiji. The star in a silver metal is suspended from the ribbon by two ring clasps and carries the same tagimaucia wreath and shield design as the Chancellor insignia.This is a'neck' order worn with a 1.25 inch wide ribbon on investiture and subsequently with a miniature ribbon in normal wear. Companions of the Order are entitled to the post-nominals 'CF'.
The Military Classes Military personnel are also entitled to be recommended for the award of any of the classes in the Order.The military insignia differ in that the star incorporates two crossed swords replacing the diagonal points of the star, and the ribbon includes a thin red stripe in the middle of the white stripe in the centre.

$2.00	$1.20

$0.65	$0.50

Home, Go to Order Page, The Collection, Mailing List