Vowase Naivalu deeply wished his mother was still alive to watch him graduate as a firefighter.

When he was younger, he completed his secondary education with a goal to join the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces (RFMF).

After serving with the RFMF under the Territorial Force (TF) for few years, the Yasawa native served in Iraq for one year.

Upon his return he joined the Fiji Airports Rescue Fire Fighting Services in 2011 as a cadet.

Mr Naivalu spoke about how he battled through the pain of losing his mother in 2012 and trying to accomplish his goals.

“I miss her and I wish she could be here to see me, she was my motivator,” he said.

“My father told me that joining the Fire Rescue Services at the airport demanded a high fitness level, but I guess I was prepared because I had been in the RFMF.

“I grew up around the airport and there is a special feeling about joining the firefighting service.”

He is among seven firemen who successfully graduated from the Station Officer three weeks course at the Nadi Airport fire base.

Edited by Percy Kean

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