Lelean Memorial School

Lelean Memorial School
Nausori, Fiji
Information
Type	Co-ed, boarding & day students, Methodist Church
Motto	Seek Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding [1]
Established	1942; 83 years ago
Principal	Napolioni Silatolu [2]
Colors	Navy blue, royal blue, sky blue, white
Nickname	Korodredre, Davuilevu Sukulu, Lelean Knights, Blues, Home of the Brave
Website	www.leleanmemorialschool.com

Lelean Memorial School was established on March 3, 1943 ^[3] and is run by the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma. It is co-located at the Davuilevu Methodist Compound with the Davuilevu Theological College and the Young People's Department, which runs training for Methodist catechists.^{[ citation needed ]}

The school is named for Charles Oswald Lelean (d. 14 September 1942), who was a Methodist missionary in Fiji for 34 years. ^[4]

In 2017, 200 students in Year 9 were displaced when a fire destroyed five classrooms at the campus. ^[5]

In 2022, Lelean had 1,200 students in 29 classrooms. ^[3] In 2025, 1,500 of the school's cadets participated in a parade in Suva. ^[2]

Rugby

Lelean has won the coveted Deans Trophy for the FSSRU Under-19 competition 14 times, and has drawn five times since it entered the competition in the mid-1940s.^{[ citation needed ]} Lelean last held the Deans Trophy in 2014. Their previous victory in the Fiji secondary schools' competition was in 2010, ^[6] having also won it in 2009. ^[7]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Lelean Memorial School alumni

Government

• Pita Nacuva - former speaker of the House of Representatives ^[8]
• Mitieli Bulanauca - former senator ^[9]
• Sailosi Kepa ^[10] - former high court judge and attorney general
• Pita Nacuva - former ambassador to USA and Canada
• Viliame Navoka - former consul general, Sydney, Australia
• Jjoji Kotobalavu - former ambassador to Japan, Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, later CEO, Prime Minister's Office
• Joeli Nabuka - Member of Parliament
• Jone Usamate - Minister for Employment Opportunities, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Fiji First Government
• Semi Koroilavesau - Minister for Fisheries, Fiji First Government
• Timoci Lesikivatukoula Natuva - former Minister for Defence, Fiji First Government
• Sakiasi Ditoka - Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management

Sports

• Seremaia Bai
• Waisea Daveta
• Apisai Domolailai
• Ravai Fatiaki ^[11]
• Saiasi Fuli
• Sailosi Kepa
• Iliesa Keresoni
• Tevita Kuridrani - Australia
• Fero Lasagavibau
• Eroni Mawi
• Pita Nacuva
• Napolioni Nalaga
• Sireli Naqelevuki
• Eparama Navale
• Akapusi Qera
• Alipate Ratini
• Joe Ravouvou
• Joe Rika
• Apolosi Satala
• Manasa Saulo
• Waisale Serevi
• Metuisela Talebula
• Dale Tonawai
• Suliasi Vunivalu - Melbourne Storm

Other

• Paula Niukula - 9th President of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma. First Fijian Principal of the Davuilevu Theological College. First Masters recipient of the University of the South Pacific. Founder of the Fiji Council of Churches Research Group which evolved into ECREA - Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy.

• Jimione Samisoni ^[3]
• Apenisa Kurisaqila ^[3] - former national health minister

References

1. "Site coming soon". Lelean Memorial School - Seek Wisdom And Spiritual Understanding. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
2. Toganivalu, Pita (August 14, 2025). "1,500 students participate in Lelean Cadet Passout". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
3. Laddpeter, Meli (2022-03-29). "Back in history: Lelean marks golden jubilee". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
4. "Sep 15, 1942, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
5. fijivillage. "Five classrooms at Lelean Memorial School destroyed in fire". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
6. "Lelean makes Dean history - Fiji Times Online". www.fijitimes.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-02. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
7. "Lelean sing the blues - Fiji Times Online". www.fijitimes.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-02. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
8. Amrit, Ajay Bhai. "A beloved son of Fiji". Fiji Times .
9. "RURAL VOTERS | Fiji Sun". fijisun.com.fj. Archived from the original on 2019-02-06. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
10. "Sailosi Kepa - Teivovo.com". ducke.free.fr. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
11. "Ravai Fatiaki". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 2025-12-19.

• Colin George, History, Australian Defence Force Academy, UNSW. Awarded by, University of New South Wales – Australian Defence Force Academy. School of History, 2000. Raicakacaka,'walking the road' from colonial to post-colonial mission, the life, work and thought of the Reverend Dr. Alan Richard Tippett, Methodist missionary in Fiji, anthropologist and missiologist, 1911-1988.
• Garret, John, To live among the stars, Institute of the Pacific Studies; 1985
• Baleiwaqa, Tevita, 1996, ‘Josua Mateinaniu/Ko Josua Mateinaniu’, in Thornley and Vulaono 1996:20–30
• Kanailagi, Tomasi, 1996, ‘The Life and Work of Rev John Hunt/Ko Jione Oniti’, in Thornley and Vulaono 1996.
• Meo, Jovili, 1966, ‘Methodist Education/Na Vuli e na Lotu Wesele’, in Thornley and Vulaono 1996:160–76.
• Thornley, Andrew, and Tauga Vulaono, 1996, Mai Kea Ki Vei: Stories of Methodism in Fiji and Rotuma, 1835–1995, Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma.

18°2′11″S178°31′36″E / 18.03639°S 178.52667°E / -18.03639; 178.52667