Anaseini Qionibaravi
Anaseini Qionibaravi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 1970–1976 | |
| Prime Minister | Kamisese Mara |
| Succeeded by | Joeli Nacola |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1939 Bua Province, Fiji |
| Spouse | Mosese Qionibaravi |
| Children | 4 |
Anaseini Qionibaravi (born c. 1939)[1] was a Fijian politician. She was the first woman to serve in the Senate.
Biography
Qionibaravi was born in Bua Province and was educated at St Mary’s School, Labasa and Adi Cakobau School.[1][2] She then trained at the Nasinu Teachers College before studying at the Auckland Teachers’ College on a two-year government scholarship, specialising in home economics.[1] Qionibaravi worked as a home economics teacher and radio announcer at Radio Fiji, also becoming the first chair of the Fiji Consumer Council.[1][3] She was a member of the YWCA.[4]
When the Senate was established in 1970, Qionibaravi was appointed for a six-year term as one of Prime Minister Kamisese Mara's nominees. She was the only woman in the Senate, alongside 21 men.[5]
In 1973 her husband Mosese Qionibaravi was elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji.[6] The couple had four children.[3]
In 1978 she resigned as chair of the Consumer Council, claiming it was underfunded.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d "153 years on: First woman senator". Fiji Times. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ ACS Old Girls Celebrate 65th Fiji Sun. 31 August 2013.
- ^ a b She's consumed with zeal Pacific Islands Monthly. December 1972. pp. 24–25.
- ^ Walker, Anne S. (5 April 2018). A World of Change: My life in the global women’s rights movement. Australian Scholarly Publishing. p. 1925. ISBN 978-1-925588-63-7.
- ^ They're the new Senate Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1970, p26
- ^ People Pacific Islands Monthly. January 1974. p. 11.
- ^ Fiji consumer head drops out Pacific Islands Monthly. March 1978.