Sir David laid to rest at St Barnabas Cathedral  

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Former Governor General Sir David Vuanagi was laid to rest today at the St Barnabas Cathedral Grounds after his death last Friday.

Thousands turned up to witness and pay respect to the country’s 7^th Governor General and a former Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia in Honiara at the St Barnabas Cathedral.

The late Sir David, aged 74 died on 7th March 2024 at his private residence at Okea, North East Guadalcanal.

His elder son Fr. Dudley Vunagi narrated a detailed tribute of his father— describing him as a man who served the education sector, the Anglican church and as the governor-general in the past five years.

From Samasodu in Isabel, late Vunagi was the only governor-general in the country’s history to serve under two British rulers—Queen Elizbeth II and King Charles the III, said deputy private sectary to the Government House Maxwell Banyo.

From his friends, Dr Transform Aqorau also provided a comprehensive summary of the late Sir David as a school teacher and the impact his life had on others.

On the church front, retired bishop of Malaita, Sam Sahu spoke highly of his leadership and late Sir David’s commitment to the education sector in the Anglican church and in the country.

The late Sir David was the 7^th Governor General from 2019 to 2024. He was unopposed for the election in 2019. Prior to that he served as the Archbishop of Melanesia and Bishop of the Diocese of Central Melanesia from 2009 to 2015.

From 2001 to 2009 he was the Bishop of the Diocese of Temotu.

He was a school teacher, deputy principal and principal of Selwyn College on several occasions and also taught at King Georg VI.

Sir David’s academic journey began at KGVI Secondary School (1968–1973). He held aDiploma in Education Science from the University of the South Pacific in 1976 and a Master’s in Biology Education from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1982.

In 1990, Sir David obtained a Bachelor of Theology from St John’s College, Auckland, and later, a Master of Theology from the Vancouver School of Theology in 1998.