Reigning Miss Hibiscus Priscilla Reddy considers a chance meeting in 2009 with Jim Irwin – a former Australia-Pacific Technical College Fiji Country Manager - as “divine intervention”.
At the time, Priscilla was battling a rheumatic heart condition and juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. She could not afford a higher education. Priscilla met Jim while working at I-Crave Cafe in Suva and had no idea who he was.
“Jim arrived at the cafe with a group of people before we were ready to open so I seated them inside the cafe instead of letting them wait outside,” said the 23-year-old.
“He gave me his card afterwards and said I should apply to study at APTC.” Jim was “thrilled” to learn that Priscilla’s “bright sparkling personality has continued to shine” and that she has now “received widespread recognition in Fiji” as a Miss Hibiscus with “a great future ahead of her”.
“Some of the other APTC Trainers who met Priscilla at I-Crave remarked to me that she displayed passion for the provision of quality customer service and had well-developed food and beverage service skills,” he explained. Under the guidance of trainers Ashley Nugent and Tom Catterall, Priscilla completed Certificate IV in Hospitality (Supervision) at the APTC campus at the Tanoa Rakiraki Hotel.
“I used to be sick a lot because of my medical condition but my trainers were very supportive,” said Priscilla.
Jim revealed that Ashley and Tom had noted in their reports that Priscilla devoted herself to the hard work necessary to achieve competence in all course units.
“During an important APTC review held in Rakiraki, she spoke sincerely of the life-changing opportunity that her studies and the achievement of her qualification represented,” Jim said. He added that Priscilla’s story “impressed everyone at that meeting”.
Jim is confident that she will serve as an inspiration for others to take up higher education opportunities and to work hard towards achieving their goals.
Priscilla says anyone who wants to enter the hospitality industry should train at APTC.
“APTC has played a big role in educating me. It helped develop and guide me towards my purpose in life which is charity work,” she said.
Priscilla won the 2013 Miss Hibiscus crown in the annual Hibiscus Festival after she mesmerised everyone with her passionate presentation on animal cruelty and depression. She will represent Fiji in the Miss South Pacific Pageant later this year.
Apart from working on a number of charity projects, Priscilla also volunteers at the Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals and has taken up further studies in Human Resources and Psychology.