Amali Calls It A Day - Prime Minister Acknowledges Life of Service
RETIREMENT
could be an anxious and an exciting time in a person’s life as it marks the end
of one chapter and the beginning of another.
For Mrs. Amali Ramacika Whippy, celebrating her 55th birthday was a milestone achievement as it not only marked her last day of work in the Ministry of Forestry’s Northern Division office after more than three decades of service, but also the start of her life in retirement.
The Suweni villager from the district of Wairiki in Cakaudrove joined the civil service on 20th March 1990 as a casual staff in the position of Recorder/ Typist with the Ministry. Mrs. Whippy retired from the position of Clerical Officer.
Special ‘Thank-You’ Message
Mrs. Whippy’s dedication and long service of 31 years in the Ministry did not go unnoticed as her work family organized a 55th Birthday and Retirement celebration on Friday 24th September, 2021 at the Grand Eastern Hotel in Labasa.
Prime Minister and Minister for Forestry, Honourable Voreqe Bainimarama also took the time to send her a ‘thank you’ video message along with a celebratory retirement cake.
“Ni sa Bula Vinaka Mrs. Amali Whippy,
I wish to take this opportunity to say a few words on behalf of all your colleagues in the Ministry, and also on behalf of the Fijian Government, on the occasion of your retirement.
I understand that you have dedicated 31 years of your life serving the people of Fiji through the Ministry of Forestry.
I have every confidence that you have given your best efforts and that thousands of people have benefitted from this, as it should rightly be because that is our calling as public servants – to facilitate the needs of the public so we can all enjoy a fulfilling and satisfying life.
Retirement is an exciting time in a person’s life. So while we are sad that you will be leaving, I know that the moments and memories you have had with the staff is something that they will remember and cherish forever.
When starting a job, one usually joins as the newbie or newcomer, but then as time passes you will agree with me that we all become a family. So this farewell is not a final goodbye but is a celebration of your service and a “see you later” as I’m sure the bond that you have with the staff of the Ministry will not be broken just because you’re retiring.
Amali, on behalf of the Ministry and the Fijian Government, I thank you most sincerely for dedicating your entire working life to the service of God and Country. And I also extend our sincere gratitude to your family, your husband Mr. Floyd Whippy and your children for their support of you during your services to the people of Fiji.
We wish you every success with life in retirement.
God Bless you and your family.”
When interviewed during her retirement party, Mrs. Whippy was surprised and lost for words.
“I did not expect a special thank you message from the Prime Minister because I am just a clerk, and to top it off he also ordered and paid for my retirement cake,” Mrs. Whippy said.
“I wish to thank my workmates in the Ministry for their support and encouragement. We work as a team and without them, the Prime Minister would not be thanking me today.”
Flashback - Vinaka Voresi
At the age of 24, Mrs. Whippy vividly remembers joining the Ministry as a Recorder/Typist with a starting wage rate of $1.84.
She said she applied for the post through the Public Service Commission (PSC) and civil servants received a wage increment if they sat and passed the in-service H1 and H2 level examinations.
The examinations were requirements for civil servants in the administrative cadre of any ministry to familiarize themselves with the procedures of Government machinery.
“As time passed by and I progressed with my work, so did my wages and I was able to support my husband Floyd and our children,” Mrs. Whippy said.
“There were some challenging times at work but I managed to live through it with the support and encouragement of my workmates.”
“My time in the Ministry has truly been a wonderful experience that I will never forget and I wish my colleagues the very best.”
Through it all, Mrs. Whippy said she performed her duties to the best of her abilities and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
Retirement Plans
At the home front, Mrs. Whippy is a mother of three children Samantha, Annabelle and Paul and a doting grandmother to three grandchildren Bill, Henry and her namesake Amali.
As her retirement was drawing near, Mrs. Whippy developed an irresistible urge to tick off the things she always wanted to do, and at the top of her the list is to spend quality time with her family especially her three grandchildren.
“I am looking forward to spending time with my grandchildren and most importantly supporting my two younger children with their education,” Mrs. Whippy said.
“I hope to use my retirement funds to invest in their education and support them to achieve more than what I have achieved academically.”
“I never got the chance to pursue a degree and I am grateful that my daughter has a chance to do so, and hopefully my son as well,” Mrs. Whippy said.
Mrs. Whippy also intends to renovate her home in Labasa and plans to also venture into a small business of selling mats to generate income.