Ratu George Cokanauto Tuisawau OBE (18 August 1901 – 14 September 1961) was a Fijian chief and politician. He was Roko Tui of Rewa from 1936 until 1961,[1] and spent two decades as a member of the Legislative Council.
George Tuisawau | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Roko Tui of Rewa | |
| In office 1936–1961 | |
| Preceded by | Joni Mataitini |
| Succeeded by | Ro Lady Lala Mara |
| Nominated Member of the Legislative Council | |
| In office 1937– | |
| Member of the Executive Council | |
| In office 1946, 1948, 1953 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 August 1901 Rewa, Fiji |
| Died | 14 September 1961 (age 60) Suva, Fiji |
| Children | Ro Lady Lala Mara Ro Teimumu Kepa |
Biography
editTuisawau was on 18 August 1901 in Rewa to Lutunauga Bativuaka Tuisawau and Adi Teimumu Vuikaba.[2] He was educated at the Queen Victoria School.[3] In 1921 he started working as a clerk and interpreter, before being moving to Levuka in 1925.[3] In 1926 he married Asenaca, with whom he had two daughters,[3] He later married Flora Black, with whom he had a son, and Miliakere Lewavaro, with whom he had another daughter.[2] In 1928 he moved to Ba, and later in the year started working for the Secretariat for Fijian Affairs.[3]
Tuisawau was appointed Roko Tui of Rewa in 1936, succeeding Joni Mataitini, who had died two years previously.[4] He also became Roko Tui Dreketi, succeeding his father.[2] In 1936 he was nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs as a potential member of the Legislative Council,[5] and was selected by the Governor to join the council,[6] going on to spend two decades in the body.[7]
During World War II, he commanded the First Docks Company of the Fiji Labour Corps, serving in the Solomon Islands.[8] He also served in the Executive Council during 1946, 1948 and 1953.[9][10][11] He was made an OBE in the 1951 New Year Honours.[8]
Tuisawau died on 14 September 1961 at the age of 60.[12][7] His daughter Lala succeeded him as Roko Tui of Rewa.[2]
References
edit- ^ Jonathan Fraenkel & Stewart Firth (2007) From Election to Coup in Fiji: The 2006 Campaign and Its Aftermath, ANU E Press, p219
- ^ a b c d Roko Tui Dreketi World of Royalty
- ^ a b c d Who's who in New Zealand 1951, p234
- ^ Picturesque Native Ceremonies Mark Installation of Fijian Official Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1936, pp58–59
- ^ Fijian Chiefs Would Hand Over Land to Government Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1936, p63
- ^ Fiji's Legislative Council Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1937, p63
- ^ a b Deaths of islands people Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1961, p141
- ^ a b Pacific recipients of birthday honours Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1951, p101
- ^ Fiji's Legislative Council at work Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1946, p33
- ^ Fiji Executive Council Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1948, p13
- ^ Colonial Office, The Church House, S.W.1. The London Gazette, 3 July 1953
- ^ Fiji Royal Gazette 1961, p368