![]() "It's sort of becoming more outward looking, playing its role in the region, and certainly more in world affairs." He said the Solomon Islands did remain undeveloped and unsophisticated, but things were now starting to develop. "It's just the naturalness and cleanliness, and the loyalty and kindness and hardworkingness of these people." Known abroad as the 'happy isles', Mr Saunders has long been charmed by the cheerful and hardworking locals, and the lush green environment. While Mr Saunders recently made a fond visit back to his Mid North motherland, he said the Solomons were now his home, and he will keep being active on the islands. "It's just part of being Baha'i, we believe that service to others is the most noble thing a man can do and I guess we've spent a life of helping and serving in the community." He said his commitment to the community stemmed from following his Baha'i principles- a faith not common in the Mid North, but long adopted by Mr Saunders. "There had been monuments to the allies and the Japanese but none to the Solomon Islanders, whose exploits were fundamental to the survival and victory of the US Marines and Allied soldiers," Mr Saunders said. More recently, he's been at the forefront of a project to erect a monument honouring Solomon Island wartime heroes, an initiative seen as helping reinforce pride and national identity among citizens. He has also been prominent in broader social projects, such as the establishment of a civil society network in the Solomon Islands in 2000.Īfter a coup caused years of social unrest and disintegration of public institutions, this civil society initiative helped empower Solomon Island men and women to participate in restoring peace and order to the country. His community work has spanned from being the vice-Chairman of the Honiara Chamber of Commerce, to a foundation member of the Lions Club, and a board member of the Rotary Club of Honiara. "In recent years I'd be the only one living here as an expat of Australian descent who's received one," Mr Saunders said. It is not a common honour in the Solomons, where only the appointed Government General and a few other internationals have received knighthood. "I know when I first got it I thought there was a mistake here, I didn't know what to think." "Never ever in a million years one would have thought that," he said. Mr Saunders never expected these efforts would amount to receiving a knighthood during the recent Queen's Birthday Honours Awards, on the recommendation of the Solomon Islands Government. In this time, Bruce and his wife have done more than just dip their toes into tropical life, offering years of passionate volunteering to community organisations, governance groups, and social projects. From South Australia's Mid North ranges to Pacific Ocean isles, Bruce Saunders has been living and working in the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara for around 45 years.
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