On November 1, 2025, I interviewed Bruce Erceg at Waitara church, NSW, about a project he is passionate about. Bruce is the son of the legendary fly’n’builder Robbie Erceg. On numerous occasions in the 1980s and 1990s Robbie led teams on fly’n’build projects, building schools and churches throughout the islands of the South Pacific. His legacy is matchless, but his son Bruce is keen to take over where his dad left off.
Bruce’s current project is situated at Hovi Adventist School, on Santa Isabel Island, Solomon Islands—about 10-12 hours by boat from the capital Honiara.
Beginning with medical missionary volunteers soon after the turn of the 19th century, and later due to the work of pioneer Pastor GF Jones and the mission boat, Melanesia, there has been a significant Adventist presence on Santa Isabel since before World War I.1
With approximately 200 students from surrounding villages boarding at Hovi school, the school attracts Christian children from the surrounding communities and has a significant witness.
The dining and common areas just have thatched roofs. Both are affected by rain and vermin and are greatly in need of upgrading. When Bruce was there in 2024, his heart went out to the students.
The aim is to raise approximately $A100,000 to upgrade the kitchen, dining and common area facilities for the students. The finished building will be a prefabricated steel structure on a concrete slab 35 metres x 15 metres.
A similar project recently built at Betikama Adventist College, Honiara, is shown for comparison.
This is a costly project, as all the materials need to be transported by boat to the island and the steel structure and other building materials will need to be supplied and transported to the Solomon Islands from Australia. The transportation costs are quite substantial and could run as high as $A20,000.
The school students and local villagers have been trying to raise funds for some time and they are very willing to help Bruce’s team with the work needed to erect the building. There is a small team of builders lined up to go and do the work with the local community, so the main area of need at this stage is financial support.
In 2024 enough money was raised to reroof the girls’ dormitory and boys’ woodwork room. Bruce is hoping to get started on this new project in April/May and have it completed by the end of 2026.
It will need to be done in three stages. First will be the concrete footing and slab, secondly the erection of the prefabricated steel building and walls, and finally the kitchen facility installation.
To support the project, scan the QR code.
- “An Interesting Letter” Union Conference Record July 27, 1908. (https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19080727-V12-30.pdf)
Dr David Pennington is a retired plastic surgeon living in Lindfield, NSW.
