Funeral of Joseph Malo John Chang. Photo:Golden Oak Productions
A good mate of mine died a couple of weeks ago. His name is Joe Chang. I remember meeting him in 2007, when I became regional director in Fiji. At the time, I decided that I needed to take at least one evening off each week. I knew about the Bilo Levu club which, at that time, had their meeting room in the crypt under Sacred Heart Cathedral, Suva. It also included a full-sized snooker table. The president of the club was Geoff Naruyn. So, on the evening of the day I moved down to Suva from Ba to take up residence in the central house, I asked Eddie Lockington, a Ba parishioner who drove me down to Suva, to introduce me officially to the members of the Bilo Levu club. Eddie’s brother was a member of the club. So, then began 6 years of weekly visits to the Bilo Levu club. The latter three years of that time, I agreed to be the official chaplain of the club.
The reason why I especially enjoyed Joe’s company was that he was the leader of the Bilo Levu band. He was an accomplished guitarist. There were always a number of other band members. They varied in number depending on who was there on any particular night. I used to enjoy singing with them. They had three songbooks. I knew most of the songs by heart. But I just enjoyed singing along.
Now the club was a charitable organisation. Subscription fees went toward supporting people in need and the club's upkeep. The club also supported fundraising events around Suva, including the Home of Compassion bazaar. The band was a central feature of these fundraising events. People would just come to listen to the band.
Joe [middle] and the Young Ones band. Photo: facebook.com/BeddoesM
Although the club no longer meets and the club room was given over to the archdiocese a number of years ago, remaining members maintain a Facebook page, and it is a way to keep in touch. We are all getting on in years but there is a strangely powerful bond between us. It probably relates to the official name of the club – the Father Peter Ryan Club. Father Peter Ryan worked in Fiji well before my time. He supported young men in Suva and helped them to find a place where they could gather and drink kava, share stories, play games, and sing songs. “Bilo levu” means “big cup”. It refers to the cup used for serving the yaqona or kava. It is strange how an Australian priest could make such an impact in the short time he was in Fiji and helped provide a gathering place for young fellows who could likely get into trouble otherwise.
Joe Chang was very much at the heart of this club. I like to imagine Joe enjoying the company of club members in the hallowed halls of heaven and maybe sharing a few heavenly cups of kava. May he rest in peace.
Fr Tom Rouse, Regional Counsellor Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Related links
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