Vạivao John Elcombe Antonio was born in Suva and hails from the districts of Noa'tḁu and Oinafa. Though raised in Fiji, most of his life was spent in New Zealand and Australia.
He gained academic qualifications from Auckland University and worked in the field of Social Welfare in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
While in New Zealand, he was the president of the Rotuman community and was the Fijian / Rotuman editor for Mana.
His life and heart were dedicated to people and to the improvement of their lives. Yet, he never forgot his home Rotuma, and to this end, he lobbied for the Fiji government to issue commemorative postal stamps for Rotuma's cession to the UK, which was realised in 1966.
For his work and service to Pacific peoples, the Australian government awarded him the Order of Australia in 1988. The name of Rotuma is made sweeter and more famous because of this great man's deeds.
Illustration by India Taberner, based on a photograph courtesy of the Antonio family