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Does anybody remember the old M/v OLOVAHA - 1970 to 1980
Sad but true, another opportunity to have our history recorded by a palangi (and in this case a history buff with real enthusiasm for the subject.)
I don't have any memories of the 1st MV 'Olovaha (or the national debt incurred for a sizeable benefit for everyone while we were incurring the debt?)
We left Tonga for Australia and 1974, and my memories of the water were of much smaller boats, and avoiding the large boats at Uafu Vuna while trying to get my 'line' onto a fish that was just waiting down there for me.
Dear all
I am writing to you in the hope that you can assist me with a piece of Tongan history.
Between 1971 and 1982, the first M/v OLOVAHA sailed the Tongan Islands acting as a ferry and cargo ship. I actually served on this ship when she was in Australia under the name Queen of the Isles. I know she sailed between Tongatapu and the outer islands of Haapai and Vavau.
I have set up a website tracing her history from being built and serving in UK, through Tonga (cargo and ferry), New Zealand (floating Casino), Australia (Cruise ship on the Barrier Reef) and finally her demise in the Solomon Islands.
All I had for the Tongan years was a postage stamp and a story about her sinking, but Matangi Tonga were kind enough to publish my request and I managed some great feedback!
I was hoping that someone there (or one of your readers) may be able to assist me in finding a little more about her times in the Friendly Isles! Any advice would be much appreciated.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Andy Newland
Export Sales Manager
Elster Metering Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 438056
Mob: +44 (0) 7793 442965
If you have some photos or a story, Andy's collection on the above site seems such a grand way of collecting them for later generations to enjoy.
What I remember of large ships (from the perspective of a 7/8 year old in Tonga) at the Uafu Vuna was dad telling me not to play around with the walkways to the vessel. Walkways are like in the old black and white movies with a step/plank over the side of the boat lowered to the wharf that moves sideways, up, down constantly with the movements of the vessel due to the sea.
Within a space of days of those sagely advice highlighted itself, one of the kids playing at the wharf decided that playing under the walkway was fun and was caught with the walkway dragged onto him as the boat rocked and the steps rolled onto him (obviously after a few screaming moments the adults finally got him free worse for wear.)
The 2nd advice was not to panic if I fall in the water but to try and breath by letting myself sink to the bottom kicking up. Hold your breath, do not panic, and someone will get to you before you get into trouble. Thankfully we didn't have to test that one.
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