Rebuild Veidrala Ra - Ground Zero
Donation protected
Veidrala Village
Devestating before and after pics of our beautiful paradise
February 20th 2016, the day that will be embedded in the hearts of the Fijian people forever.
This is the day that Tropical Cyclone Winston tore through the country and devastated the lives and homes of so many Fijians. No one was prepared for the horror it would cause or the trail of destruction it would leave behind.
Many people may not have heard of Veidrala Nakorotubu Ra. It’s where our great grandparents, grandparents, parents and many other family members have originated from and have made a home for not only for us and our children but for many others too. Our Grandfather was a very respected, hardworking man in the village and brought up kids who still to this day live there.
Bubu Tagane (Grandpa) in Veidrala in the 80s
Veidrala is a beautiful isolated oasis away from the mainland, a place of peace and relaxation for anyone lucky enough to visit. It is 176kms from Nadi, 122kms from Suva and the nearest main town being Rakiraki 61kms away. Veidrala is accessible by a 1 hour boat ride.
Approaching Veidrala
A view from the village. A hidden paradise.
As Tropical Cyclone Winston ripped through most parts of Fiji Islands, our little village was unfortunately in its direct path, copping up to 325km winds for 4 hours! People were forced to lay under mats for protection, as they watched their houses blow away from around them and into the ocean. Just imagine the true horror our people went through, laying there the whole time praying and hoping for daybreak to come. Veidrala was tragically wiped out! With a population of up to 250 people, they are forced to take shelter in the only 3 houses left standing. The rest of the area is reduced to rubble and debris- described as looking like a "rubbish dump". Sadly, our Grandfathers house and Mums bure are amongst the rubble. The damage Cyclone Winston has caused are beyond words...
Before the cyclone. Mums little bure (hut) and Bubu Taganes house
Photos of the destruction Winston caused.
Our family live a very basic but happy life, surviving off the food they grow and fish they catch. All their crops have now been destroyed including coconut plantations grown by our Grandfather. These plantations have been there for many years and were the main source of income. It will be a long time now until they will be able to produce revenue for the village.
This whole ordeal has left us all heartbroken. It has shattered our Mums heart, as she has lost not only her childhood home but many memories that blew away with them too. She is the only one in Australia from her immediate family and feels so helpless, not being with the family in their desperate time of need.
Early 80s- Mum back home in Veidrala.
Mum looking down at the village in January 2016. She was only back in Australia for a few weeks, before the cylcone hit.
We are raising funds for our family so they will be able to purchase basic necessities ie: water, tarps, toiletries, clothes, food, fishing items, lamps, kerosene, gardening tools, building materials, kitchen items, anything to help them start rebuilding their lives. We want them to know that we care and are here to help.
Temporary shelters made from salvaged materials, after the cyclone.
Relocating is simply not an option for our people, this is their home, it has been for years and it holds not only many decades of special memories but also where our Grandparents and loved ones are laid to rest.
Our wish for Veidrala and our family is to give them hope and help with the first stages of rebuilding their homes, lives and community. We want our Mum and family to know that we love them and they are not alone. Starting again will be hard but achievable, with a future for the next generations to come.
Our thoughts are with you all. Stay strong and never give up!! You are always in our hearts.
Much love always Rai (Rachel), Mindi (Susana) and Bubz (Belinda)xx
As of 25th Feb 2016 Ra has been declared GROUND ZERO by the Fijian Government where no village has been spared and all has been lost. - See more at:http://fijione.tv/tikina-of-nakorotobu-ra-declared-ground-zero/#sthash.PNhoIJYO.dpuf
Bubu Tagane (Grandpa) with our Aussie adopted Nanna Dot on her visit to our village in the 80s
The church in the 80s
And the same church years later.. Look at the difference! Something so old and precious to the village, just gone in seconds!!
Devestating before and after pics of our beautiful paradiseFebruary 20th 2016, the day that will be embedded in the hearts of the Fijian people forever.
This is the day that Tropical Cyclone Winston tore through the country and devastated the lives and homes of so many Fijians. No one was prepared for the horror it would cause or the trail of destruction it would leave behind.
Many people may not have heard of Veidrala Nakorotubu Ra. It’s where our great grandparents, grandparents, parents and many other family members have originated from and have made a home for not only for us and our children but for many others too. Our Grandfather was a very respected, hardworking man in the village and brought up kids who still to this day live there.
Bubu Tagane (Grandpa) in Veidrala in the 80sVeidrala is a beautiful isolated oasis away from the mainland, a place of peace and relaxation for anyone lucky enough to visit. It is 176kms from Nadi, 122kms from Suva and the nearest main town being Rakiraki 61kms away. Veidrala is accessible by a 1 hour boat ride.
Approaching VeidralaA view from the village. A hidden paradise.As Tropical Cyclone Winston ripped through most parts of Fiji Islands, our little village was unfortunately in its direct path, copping up to 325km winds for 4 hours! People were forced to lay under mats for protection, as they watched their houses blow away from around them and into the ocean. Just imagine the true horror our people went through, laying there the whole time praying and hoping for daybreak to come. Veidrala was tragically wiped out! With a population of up to 250 people, they are forced to take shelter in the only 3 houses left standing. The rest of the area is reduced to rubble and debris- described as looking like a "rubbish dump". Sadly, our Grandfathers house and Mums bure are amongst the rubble. The damage Cyclone Winston has caused are beyond words...
Before the cyclone. Mums little bure (hut) and Bubu Taganes housePhotos of the destruction Winston caused.Our family live a very basic but happy life, surviving off the food they grow and fish they catch. All their crops have now been destroyed including coconut plantations grown by our Grandfather. These plantations have been there for many years and were the main source of income. It will be a long time now until they will be able to produce revenue for the village.
This whole ordeal has left us all heartbroken. It has shattered our Mums heart, as she has lost not only her childhood home but many memories that blew away with them too. She is the only one in Australia from her immediate family and feels so helpless, not being with the family in their desperate time of need.
Early 80s- Mum back home in Veidrala.Mum looking down at the village in January 2016. She was only back in Australia for a few weeks, before the cylcone hit.We are raising funds for our family so they will be able to purchase basic necessities ie: water, tarps, toiletries, clothes, food, fishing items, lamps, kerosene, gardening tools, building materials, kitchen items, anything to help them start rebuilding their lives. We want them to know that we care and are here to help.
Temporary shelters made from salvaged materials, after the cyclone.Relocating is simply not an option for our people, this is their home, it has been for years and it holds not only many decades of special memories but also where our Grandparents and loved ones are laid to rest.
Our wish for Veidrala and our family is to give them hope and help with the first stages of rebuilding their homes, lives and community. We want our Mum and family to know that we love them and they are not alone. Starting again will be hard but achievable, with a future for the next generations to come.
Our thoughts are with you all. Stay strong and never give up!! You are always in our hearts.
Much love always Rai (Rachel), Mindi (Susana) and Bubz (Belinda)xx
As of 25th Feb 2016 Ra has been declared GROUND ZERO by the Fijian Government where no village has been spared and all has been lost. - See more at:http://fijione.tv/tikina-of-nakorotobu-ra-declared-ground-zero/#sthash.PNhoIJYO.dpuf
Bubu Tagane (Grandpa) with our Aussie adopted Nanna Dot on her visit to our village in the 80s
The church in the 80s
And the same church years later.. Look at the difference! Something so old and precious to the village, just gone in seconds!!Organizer
Mindi Eremasi
Organizer
Noranda WA
