Where do I even start?

Like her family, her workmates, her former media gang, her Yasana Vakaturaga o Kadavu, us her alumnae, I have lost a dear friend, a beautiful Fijian girlfriend in and out – a truly sad circumstance in this life that has left an unforgettable mark in my aching heart.

Paying tribute and trying to self-massage my low-spirit today is my way to appreciate and honor Kiti’s (Wainikiti Waqa Bogidrau) contribution to my life, like she’s done to countless others.

As time goes on, I will deeply feel her absence but the impact of how our great relationship as girls of Suva at one time, as Old Girls of Adi Cakobau, as media colleagues and as Tauvu (Ra and Kadavu) will always remind me of what we shared, the memories cherished, and the unwavering support she rendered me and mine.

Our beautiful friendship started during our heydays as young reporters in Suva, her at The Fiji Times and me at Independent Radio News of FM96/Navtarang/VitiFM, which went hand in hand during our days as young OGs with the Suva Office Workers Branch of Adi Cakobau School Old Girls Association in the early 1990s.

When I joined The Daily Post in 1993, our friendship went seamless.

If I was missing from work on a Friday or a Saturday, my Editor would know where I was – with Wainikiti at her Laucala Beach apartment with our dear girlfriends or when the Fiji Finals (Coca Cola Games today) was on. Work was good.

Press Club was excellent. Athletics was too good. The QVS Club was a good meeting place.

Partying as young and restless Suva girls were natural.

The newsroom was our habitat. Our followers knew our indelible marks in our respective stories at our respective opposing newspapers.

They also knew how stubborn we were when it came to breaking stories. They knew how strong we both were in as far as headlines and good content. Our editors, I felt cringed at our friendship because we worked in competition.

Nope, Kiti and I forgot about that when the dailies were running on the print machines at 9pm because our conversations were on other topics.

We were friends first, loved our friendship and became serious in the Newsroom the next day. I don’t know what you all will say if I tell you here that life is harmonious when we get quality from the kind of friends we keep.

I had a good friend who made my life’s adventure sweet, because Kiti saw me through her own lens, and accepted my vulnerabilities, my terrible mistakes in life, my boisterous façade, my bad financial situations, my weaknesses. I return the favour.

Yep, when she had her lows, we would cry over beer. Prayers were far from us in those days but I now know, God was preparing us for our better days. Her Mom and Dad never spoke a word against us. I was rather blessed to enjoy Mr and Mrs Waqa’s love for their famous daughter. We went from Laucala Beach to Narere then to Saioni. Mr Waqa realised Kiti and I were unstoppable!

Fast forward to many years later, I went to New Zealand to organise a community newspaper for our media colleague, the late Mere Lomaloma.

When Mere was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of World Netball Championships 2005, I returned to become her Director of Communications. Kiti was involved with Nasinu Netball then. She worked as a writer for George Rubine’s PR (Public Relations) firm.

When the December 2006 coup occurred, the opening for her at FNPF (Fiji National Provident Fund) came through. She told George I should replace her. She went to FNPF and I got her job. That was Kiti: our friendship and our sanity to remain focused on what we were, was always on her mind.

I told her I was leaving GR PR. She asked why. I said there was an opening as Media Liaison Officer at the Ministry of Health. Ok, good luck. Our friendship had truly blossomed and I always sought out her advice on many things. Bad decision too, because she refused to let me withdraw my FNPF money on frivolous stuff.

She would say, “You will be happy if you follow my advice!” I was.

When I left Fiji for the United States after the 2006 coup, her main advice was for me to focus on my retirement.

I turned 55 in 2018, fired her a message from California. I’m 55. She laughed loud. I will miss that guffaw.

Well, she opened my bank account and moved my retirement funds across. I still question this power to this day. Kiti was a powerful woman. A thinker. A go-getter.

She was able to pay me two great visits in California – Rugby 7s World Cup at the grand AT&T Stadium in Downtown San Francisco, AND a special invite from me as Chair of the ACS 75th Anniversary Dinner for our alumnae at The Hilton in Sacramento as one of two guests of honour. She gave a magnificent speech!

When I returned home in November 2013, she drove across three rivers, according to her Facebook post, to be the first friend to visit me in my village Nananu.

We exchanged Christmas gifts and parted, rekindling the flame of this great relationship.

Our last dance, with a lot of laughter, was to “Ob-la-di-ob-la-da” made famous by the Beatles in 1968 at their class’ Christmas dinner at Tanoa International.

We parted that weekend enjoying great friendships with our dear friends. She baci pack a box of food for me to take to Nananu.

I will no longer see my friend again, but I know her spirit will be ever present to cheer me on in my journey as I grow old, with her legacy, the fragility of life, the lessons she imparted, and the love she showered on me.

Moce Kiti – my tribute is my deepest respect and honor for you as I celebrate your life, for you made the journey seamless.

To Ma, Yaca, Sevu, the kids, Nei Viri, Tau Pau Naituivau, and Lomaji and Kabariki, Nabukelevu, Kadavu, thank you for sharing Kiti with me.
Wainikiti Waqa Bogidrau passed away on Tuesday. She was 56.

She was a former journalist and communications specialist.

The late Bogidrau was the Oceania Netball president and a World Netball regional director during the time of her passing. She will be laid to rest next Friday.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj