It was a wonderful feeling entering Monte's gates after 49 years, visiting my old alma mater was a special treat. I was pleasantly surprised at how it had grown, with state-of-the-art facilities and buildings nestled quite comfortably beside the iconic Chapel and what was once the Convent and College Hall.

My visit to the College ignited many recollections, and I reflected back to a day in July 1969, when we were ushered into the new high-tech science laboratory to watch Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the moon; it was the most ‘scientific’ thing we had ever seen. Warm memories of our then Principal, Mother Baptista also came flooding back, along with other teachers who impacted greatly on my journey at Monte and I remember fondly Mother Declan, Sr Helen, Sr Regis, Mrs Grieves, Mrs Almgren, Mrs Nelson and Ms McLeod.

I was newly arrived from Fiji when I first enrolled at the College, and my simple, working-class parents were honoured to continue working to ensure that myself and my younger brother received the best education they could afford.

Life has never slowed since graduating from Monte. Returning home to a newly independent Fiji in the 1970s, I was privileged to be part of the newly formed women’s movement and anti-nuclear Pacific movement. As a journalist, I was the first local woman on the Fiji Broadcasting Commission, to read the news and current affairs while hosting my own programs.

Rugby Union then took my husband and myself to Redcliffe in Brisbane where we spent 10 happy years. It was during this time that I was called on to assist with the Fiji Pavilion at World Expo 88. It was a wonderful time; Fiji had just gone through its first coup in 1987 and it was our job to entice tourists back to Fiji from Australia. I have since been part of the Pacific's participation at International Expositions in Seville, Spain in 1992; Taejon, South Korea in 1993 and Shanghai, China in 2010.

My journey has also included time in three interim administrations following the overthrowing of governments over the years. This encouraged me to stand for election in 2006, which I won - becoming the Deputy Leader of a two-member Opposition and Chair of the Accounts and Finance committee! This was a very trying time as we were overthrown seven months later and I became part of the military line-up holding three portfolios (held by three men in previous governments), Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, Minister for Tourism and Minister for the Environment.

I am no longer in government and my work with the women's movement and the community continues with passion. I look forward to returning to the College in 2019 to attend the Masalou Lunch, celebrating 50 years since graduating, and to thank Monte for the wonderful years she afforded me whilst I was there.