In Vanuatu, one young man without knowledge or interest in archives was introduced to archiving not because of any reward. His love for the work has grown over the last five years.

Augustine Tevimule, who is now the Acting Archivist for the National Archives of Vanuatu hails from a small bush village on the island of Pentecost in Vanuatu. And like most young minds, his dream was to become a lawyer.

“In 2009, I decided to move to Port Vila to pursue my Foundation Studies at the Emalus Campus of the University of the South Pacific (USP).”

It was within the early years of his studies that Augustine discovered a passion for archiving.

“I love to read. I decided to find a quiet place away from the University campus, away from the noise and tempting friends, so I can focus and learn from my reading.”

“I found the National Library of Vanuatu as the most comfortable place to read and study.”

“At this time, the National Library consisted of a crowded, poky little room on the top floor of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre.  Two ladies had already spent four years re-establishing this library and developing a wonderful collection of national literary treasures.  The National Archives was left unattended three years earlier and in September 2009, the National Librarian was asked to re-establish the National Archives.”

Augustine, who spent his childhood and teenage years living on the small bush village, learned the traditions and culture of his North Pentecost community. He is proud that his village and his island has retained their own language and customs and are fiercely independent Melanesian people.

His pride and knowledge of his culture and his love for reading, Augustine believed that the National Archive of Vanuatu is worth reviving and saving.

“In February 2010, I was asked if I wanted to volunteer to help salvage the thousands of documents abandoned in the derelict National Archive building.” 

“I jumped at the chance.”

“When I was not studying, I was pushing wheelbarrows of dusty, unsorted documents to a shipping container, where I cleaned them and put them in boxes, ready for sorting and proper processing.”

“After seven months, I became a daily-rate paid Trainee Archivist in a workforce of only two staff members.”

“From 2010 to 2013, we worked in a small cubicle on the ground floor of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre.  We took as our motto: Holem Taet Memori Blong Nesen- Preserving the Memory of the Nation. During that time we salvaged, cleaned and sorted a great number of national records, including those of the Supreme Court - whose building was burnt down.”  At the same time the National Librarian and Archivist had submitted a proposal for the funding of a brand new, two-storey National Library and Archives building. 

The Australian Government very generously gifted the cost of this building project to mark the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of Vanuatu’s independence in 2010 and we went head on, to salvage documentary knowledge and heritage of Vanuatu”.

The state-of-the art National Library and Archives building was officially opened in August 2013.

Augustine successfully completed his Foundation Studies and became an Assistant Archivist on permanent terms.

From the period of 2011-2014, he was fortunate to receive assistance for professional development in preservation of valuable documents from Brandon Oswald the Executive Director and Archivist of the Island Culture Archival Support based in California, United States of America.

In 2012, he undertook a two weeks attachment with the National Archives of Fiji particularly to enhance his skills and knowledge on document conservation.

In 2013, he attended the Pacific Regional Bureau of the International Council of Archives (PARBICA) Conference in Solomon, as his first time. In this Conference he was elected to be a PARBICA Bureau member for the period 2013-2015. In 2015, he again attended the  PARBICA Conference in Auckland New Zealand and was re-elected as a PARBICA Bureau member for the period 2015-2017.

“In June of this year, 2015, the Chief Archivist, at the venerable age of 75, decided it was time to retire and I became the only Archivist responsible for preserving and safeguarding the nation’s documentary treasures, with my own Trainee Archivist.”

“I love my work, especially the conservation work on repairing of rare and very important maps and records.  I love helping the numerous clients who visit us each day to do research.” 

With the opportunity to represent Vanuatu at the Sub regional Consultation on the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme that was held in Suva Fiji from October 20^th to the 22^nd, he feels honoured and enthusiast, to learn more about the vision of the  Memory of the World programme to ensure that Vanuatu becomes a living, vibrant part of it. 

In 2013, Vanuatu and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland submitted the Arthur Bernard Deacon Collection (1903-1927) for inclusion on the Memory of the World Register. This collection contains original drawings and notes recording the language, customs, traditions and illustrations on the famous sand drawing traditions of the Vanuatu islands. It is a collection of great value to the people of the islands of Vanuatu eager to retain knowledge of their heritage.

‘The Memory of the World Programme, is an important programme that can give the National Archive of Vanuatu and its documentary heritage wider recognition from all levels and so it will be supported’

Augustine hopes to inspire our younger generation to appreciate our documentary heritage and become part of its preservation.