MISS Suva City Council Asenaca Nawagalevu was one of the first few to graduate with a degree in town and country planning, according to an article published by Fiji Times on August 7, 1991.

Ms Nawagalevu took on a new challenge when she participated in the week-long Air New Zealand Hibiscus Carnival.

Nawagalevu, 24, was the assistant town planner with the SCC, a responsibility she shouldered with confidence.

“When I first started, I felt a bit uncomfortable about having someone older working under me and, of course, being a woman, but I have overcome that now,” the article stated,

“I think being brought up by my grandparents also helped me in that, it gave me a sense of maturity.

“I also knew that when I took on the job, I had to have a thorough knowledge of my field, and I’m confident of that.

“You could say that, in a way, I stumbled onto my career, and I had good geography teachers who perhaps contributed to the interest I developed in my field.

“I also wanted to do something that women didn’t usually do.”

The article stated that her hobbies were baking, reading, singing, and jogging.

“While I was at uni I took singing training once a week and I sang with the Auckland Orpheus Choir,” the article stated.

She had no new role in singing as before she went away, she sang with the Kadavu Choir for four years.

She admitted to having a mezzo-soprano voice, which is a voice between a soprano and contralto (the lowest female voice), but she had no time for any singing at that moment because she was too busy.

The article stated that while they were talking, the journalist noticed a stack of files beside her desk (she looked through everyone) and asked her how she shouldered the responsibility.

“One thing that I feel is important is organisation and the ability to get along with people.”

It was later learned that she was the head girl at Dudley High School, which perhaps accounted for her mature manner and fluency.

But she had made time in her busy schedule (she was acting town planner for two weeks) to prepare for the carnival.

“With the exception of my evening wear, I am getting all my clothes here.”

Nawagalevu joined the SCC in February of that year after graduating from the University of Auckland the previous year.

Her work involved processing development applications, writing reports for different committees, and attending to grievances that members of the public had.

Nawagalevu received her primary and secondary school education in Fiji before she went to New Zealand and did seventh form at Baradene College in Auckland.

In Fiji as a destination, she had said she would focus on the friendliness of the people.

“Visitors coming here have an opportunity to enjoy the multi-culturalism that we have to offer.”