The 3^rd Annual “Battle of the Bands” is a music festival of ethnic youth and young people within Victoria. The night will include ethnic action dancing, sway of the pacific, the glitter of Asia, Bands from the church groups will range from heavy rock to gospel country.

Many of the stars of the music festival will be “Second Generation” Australian born children of immigrants and refugees as performers.

Everyone is welcome to come and join in the fun and audience members are encouraged to come in costume of your ethnic heritage which include Anglo, European background.(Dutch, German, Scottish, English, Wales, etc)

It is proudly supported by the Uniting Church in Australia.

Date 22 November 2008.

Location Box Hill Wesley Uniting Church in 2-6 Oxford Street, Box Hill, Melbourne.

Times 3pm to 9.30pm

parking details Street parking

Tickets secretary. Tee Makoni - talaheumakoni@hotmail.com

Adults $5.00

Young people 12 to 25 Goldcoin donation

Children under 12 free.

Food stalls will be available

New Performers wishing to join in should contact:

Don Ikitoelagi (03) 9251- 5287 email Don.Ikitoelagi@victas.uca.org.au

Isn’t it sweet that the Australian Government would like everyone to realise that we hold the moral high ground.

Time to end Bush’s wretched war. (excerpt)

Yesterday, the Australian Government, via the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, reiterated its opposition to the death penalty. "We urge countries who continue to apply capital punishment not to do so," he told the ABC, adding that Australia would co-sponsor a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly calling for a moratorium on capital punishment.

Just as we hold the moral high ground on all those other International Treatise signed on the rights of children, or the rights of asylum seekers, after which we close the doors from any critics and go ahead and literally drive people to self-harm, suicide, mental illness.

But we are white, and white is might, so it must be right.

The Pacific Solution.

Feb 2008: As promised prior to the 2007 Federal Election, the ALP on assuming government, quickly moved to shut down the Australian-run detention centre on Nauru in the remote South Pacific. However, it has not withdrawn the controversial September 2001 legislation that created the offshore detention and processing system that came to be known as the 'Pacific Solution'. Instead of transferring asylum seekers en route to Australia to Nauru, it now transfers all asylum seekers to the detention centre on Christmas Island off Australia's far North-West coast. They still have have no rights under Australian law and are processed separately.

Oh, and they didn’t get the chance to enact a new legislation with greater powers similar to what allows the above ‘solution’ because those fool citizens didn’t give the ALP a majority in the Senate.

Commenting on the announcement, James Thomson, spokesperson for the National Council of Churches’ refugee program, which coordinated the statement, said that if it were not for the sustained pressure that churches and community brought to bear in the debate, and the pivitol role played by key parliamentarians who stood their ground against the Bill, it would have been passed.

Flight from Nauru ends Pacific Solution

"The Pacific solution was a cynical, costly and ultimately unsuccessful exercise introduced on the eve of a federal election (in 2001) by the Howard government," Senator Evans said.

He said the department had spent $289 million between September 2001 and June 2007 to run the Nauru and Manus centres.

Mark Getchell, from the International Organisation for Migration, which ran the Nauru facility, said there were now no asylum seekers left on Nauru.

"It is the end of an era," Mr Getchell said.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) welcomed the end of the policy.

"Many bona fide refugees caught by the policy spent long periods of isolation, mental hardship and uncertainty - and prolonged separation from their families," UNHCR's Richard Towle said in a statement

Looks like it’s Tonga week over at Cumberland Newspapers with news through again through Glenn Mitchell.

1st Up: Royal Touch from the Mt. Druitt Standard

King George Tupou V (left) enters the church grounds in traditional style. He is accompanied by an unidentified security official. Picture: ARMEN DEUSHIAN

MORE than 2000 people turned up at Glendenning last week to witness the official opening of a new $7.3 million church by the King of Tonga.

King George Tupou V ushered in a new era for the Australian-Tongan community when he opened the King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Memorial Church.

Head on over to see the rest of the dialogue, including finding yourself in one of those kai polas?

2nd Up: Williams to fire up for Tonga from the Manly Daily, of all places?

Tonga's Tony Williams in action against Ireland on Monday night.

TONGAN World Cup coach Jim Dymock believes Sea Eagles 2009 recruit Tony Williams could be the “X-factor” in securing a win over rivals Samoa on Friday night. Williams will be named in Dymock’s 17-man squad on Wednesday.

I guess since William’s is running on for Manly next year, it’s appropriate that the locals there want to know what’s happening with their players (and we’re all ‘locals’ when it comes to news of the Tonga boys.

Local representation, national presence. Thanks to Cumberland Newspapers, so read you local daily/dairy.

p.s. I think they need to water-mark their photos, ‘cause we know how you young un’s love to share your favourite pics …

We won, and there were free tickets at some of the sports stores (although free is as in spend $100+ dollars and get a free ticket?)

Rugby league world cup match between Ireland and Tonga at Parramatta stadium. Picture Brent McGilvary

 

http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/photos/gallery/tonga-vs-ireland/

 

A few pics for you!

 

cheers,

One of the great things about a large economy is the fact that you don’t have to get your voice heard through the National Media. Fortunately there are a lot of ‘smaller’ news organisations out there (with significant readership, presence) who are more than willing to participate in your local / community activities. You just have to call them to make sure they know the dates and events your community group is organising.

I sometimes read our National Paper, but I always take a browse at the three local papers for the Bankstown area.

Which is all really a lead-in that the Tongan Congregation has some press exposure through the Mt. Druitt Standard. Well done!!!

We wanted to let you know that the Mt Druitt Standard has posted an article and photo gallery documenting the King's visit to the region.
 
Here is the link in case you'd like to include it on your site.
 
http://mt-druitt-standard.whereilive.com.au/news/story/glendenning-hosts-royal-visit/
 
Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like more information

And now we know that the new Saione is in the town of Glendenning. And for all those pretty, smudgy photos / film-clips pushed onto youtube and bebo, there’s really something to be appreciated when a good photographer takes the ‘snaps.’

Wish I was there eating with you guys, but a guys gotta make a living…

As I continue my mundane, but necessary, rituals of getting up in the morning slogging the way to the train station to get to work and back it’s good to be reminded of the mortality that is life. Lu’isa Tae Kami passed away over the week-end and having lived her life to the max, in such a short time, she’s given those around her a great opportunity to reflect on their own mortality, and purpose in life.

16 August 11:40pm... Gone Home...

Tae passed on in her sleep at 11:40pm this evening. She mentioned this morning she might be gone by midnight and kept her word. Heaven must be buzzing as she flies through its gates new body, new heart and spirit intact.

She has asked that the theme for her service be taken from the Bible -  Romans chapter 8 - "the whole chapter". Tonight I can only think of the verse: All things work for good for those who love the Lord, who are called according to His purpose...

You can follow the celebration of life, funeral proceedings on the above page. You can also find out a heck of a lot about her journey from the site, and on her Bebo page.  Included in the links on her Bebo page should be heaps of videos from all over the place (including Tonga and NZ Television) documenting her life and her influence on the Tonga and Pasifika communities.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Taholo and Sina, siblings and the rest of the clan and very very extended family from Tae’s ‘family.’

Tae’s journey with cancer has been draining and fullfilling for her immediate family and a new extended extended family that have grown out of her needs but especially because of the composure and faith she has shown “forged in fire.”

Walk on Walk Strong Tae, and may we meet with you again.

Tonga-now, reborn TongaReview.com has an article on 'Eua's new water system.

$3m 'Eua Water System produces muddy water

25/03/2008 12:16:18 p.m.

It has only been a week since the launch of the ‘Eua water system by His Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto’a Lavaka, and already the public are complaining about the muddy and unclean water produced by the new water system.

I thought it looked like someone had a glass of Orange Juice in the sink.

Must have been a translation problem somewhere along the way.

TONGAN RUGBY UNION CHAIR ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

The suspended CEO of the TRU Siosaia Fonua...says the Court is poised to bring in an administrator from the International Rugby Board for the next six months. (listen)

That was the suspended CEO of the TRU Saia Fonua.

But Sangstar Saulala says he's hoping his resignation will enable the Board to get on with business without any more involvement from the Court or the I R B.

He says Tonga's outstanding performance at the World Cup and in Sevens is a vindication of his policy to direct more funds to players. (listen)

Tell me again which of the players in which "he" invested were part of the Rugby World Cup Team? There sure was a lot of money disappearing (and under investigation) that supposedly went to local competitions, and we had so many of these players graduate to the World Cup Team? Or did Nili and 99% of our successful team all hail from overseas contracts?

Translation: The ride was fun while it lasted, but the rides derailed and its time to get off.

Maybe your election results will vindicate your position. The move to candidature in Tongatapu (as opposed to his last foray as a candidate for Vava'u) might be helpful (since this is where much of the Rugby money went) or not.

Ma'ata's school held their Meet the Teacher Night today so we trotted off with 'Ofa to get a briefing on ... 'something.'

Wow, there's a lot of teachers taking care of Kindergarten at Chullora Public School.

Anyhow, nothing drastic is happening, they just wanted us to have an idea of what they are doing and how we can participate with our children's education (i.e. it's a partnership between school and home, not a one way thang)

We asked the teacher if she can give us a list of the music cd's they are using so we can get a copy for Ma'ata (not not the torrent versions, although ...) Apparently Ma'ata's teacher is using stuff mostly from the ABC Shop, so they're quite accessible.

Of course, Ma'ata Ngalo'afe is a little behind on her "Advance Australia Faire" but she pumps out some gusto words of her own during these and other songs (she just enjoys singing even if the words aren't quite right.)

Peanut / Nut Allergy can kill. I remember a couple years back, here in Australia, reading the news about a boy who died at a camp because although he was allergic to nuts the camp played a game where children were given different tasks. The boy volunteered to eat the peanut sandwich because no one else in his group would eat the peanuts, and for the remaining hours of his life the camp participants (staff and children) could only watch as he suffered and died (they did not have the training or the medication on hand to deal with the sudden death.)

Deaths from peanut allergy

Approximately 125 people die in the United States each year from food allergies.^[8][9] Peanut allergy is the most common cause of death from food allergies. ^[10]

The dangers of peanut allergy are real, even if sometimes misrepresented in the popular press.

Australian schools (at least here in Sydney anyway) seem to have become seriously aware of the issues, as a consequence both Ma'ata's school (Chullora Public School) and Sisitoutai's school (Bankstown Montessori Center) are "Nut Free Zones" to encourage awareness and prevent failure to save children's lives.

Unfortunately, some parents just choose not to understand the severity of this ailment.

Being from Tonga, we don't recall ever hearing of anyone with this kind of food allergy (the only food allergy common in Tonga is obesity, ha ha ha) but we've stopped buying peanut products for the kids as there are plenty of other foods for energy etc.

One mother at tonights meeting just had to argue that her kids don't eat anything else but Nutella (i.e. chocolate with peanuts.) Pray tell, what is she supposed to do? She can't argue with her kids about their food selection, God forbid?

Knock knock, anyone home ?

We would rather that our kids get peanut butter in their sandwiches for additional nutritional content, but I wouldn't wish the pain of an allergy attack on my kids let alone someone elses. Get a clue, educate yourself.

I used to look up to our wizened elders and wonder

"will I contribute to this life a shadow of the amount they've contributed?"

Taholo Kami just sent out an email of some musical recordings by his daughter Tae. To know just a little about what the family, and Tae have gone through in the past couple of years is to wonder at the contribution that they have made to this life.

1 March 2008 Update

Tae singing His Eyes are on the Sparrow  Click to hear/download song

Tae is still in hospital this morning. Tae was smiling by the time I got to hospital last night - the small session in surgery to drain the infection beside her nose seemed to have worked out well and Sina had called for me to pick up a hot chocolate and fish fillet burger from Mcdonalds for her to snack on. We hope all goes well from here on - her breathing has cleared up a little but we have to see what the doctors say today.

We had a long discussion yesterday while she lay on the bed and she says to me "Dad - I've accepted the situation - have you?"  She then proceeded to explain that she has been so richly blessed in her short life, she's had her miracle and she has overcome all her challenges, she is ready to go home  if God decides its time. The surgeon was stunned by her frankness on issues and spent more time discussing life and faith issues with her yesterday  then her condition...

The guys from the studio dropped off samples of her song yesterday. There is a version of Tae singing "His Eyes are on the Sparrow" and the song she wrote "Walk on, Walk Strong". The studio guys also did their own version of "Walk on, Walk Strong" which was quite stunning. I will upload it once I figure how to do it. We hope the song can be used to raise funds for a "Tae Kami Foundation" which can  assist with cases of Pacific Island kids who face a cancer challenge .  Check soon for a download.

Thank you all for your prayers and support - I will post an update from Tae later

Visit with the Kami's on Tae's website, or find her on Bebo. Definitely inspirational and sometimes quite devotional.

Looks like we're making more headway into getting this up and running.

Hope to see everyone there, click on the timetable image to get a larger picture (possibly easier to read for those with ageing eyes, or artificially assisted eyes.)

Key Dates: Monday September 29th ~ Wednesday October 1st

Remember to bring your video camera, audio recording equipment etc. Best of all, make sure if you have a real job to get this booked on your calendar.

Minister of Finance asked to walk, and you have to wonder how long the Minister had been waiting for the 'cut-off' date to be rung?

Unfortunately for the former Minister of Finance, who seems to have been within the few generally respected both in and out of government, he was just too willing to let the opposition thinking be aired, and especially on the ever popular Tonga-Now (morphed) Tonga Review.

Good luck to Mssrs 'Utoikamanu and his family.

Just a ramble here that I thought would be good to get down in writing, even if it takes someone better to iron out the details.

The Government of Tonga is so concerned about the health of its citizenry that it has decided to prevent the importation of meat produce by individuals for their own consumption.

Meanwhile, heaps of 'copy' products come into the country touting to be from brands such as Coca Cola, Colgate to name a few consumables. Millions more of dollars are being spent by citizenry on eating foodstuff that no-one knows of their origins and there's heaps of Government regulation that can better control these 'copy' foodstuffs, but for some reason meat from New Zealand seems to be more interesting for Government.

We've been eating noodles with unknown content, candy that changes the colour of your mouth and tongue. We're even increasing consumption of baby products from 'copy' merchants.

Hard to see why the New Zealand meat market is so critical for citizenry health when we don't have knowledge of any food poisoning from previous importation practices. Of course the Ministry of Health can recall/ban products that overseas Governments have banned, but why is this part of protecting citizens reactive, but the NZ meat proactive?

Makes one wonder whether there's any truth in the paranoia assertions that someone up the Government customs foodchain is benefiting financially.

Saturday was a very very long day, at least it was for O4 who did most of the work (as usual.)

It was massively hot, which actually didn't make it a good time to be at the beach. The Ma'ufanga Sunday School had their annual Kai Me'akai on Saturday so we headed off to Hihifo/Samaletani Kolovai. The day was super-hot and the good shade spots were already taken up by another group that got in earlier.

Not that the kids cared much since all they really wanted to do was get into the water. While mum and dad were busy trying to keep them from turning red and de-hydrating.

We ran out of ideas to keep them cool and entertained under the little shade we were sharing, and Sisitoutai ran off with 'Ase to the sea anyway.

One of the wonderful traditions that I've always noticed about the Kai Me'akai Faka-Tonga is the traditional dunking of the elders. I remember as a kid seeing big men flying through the bushes chasing down elders and not too unkindly carrying them to the waterline where they summarily heave-ho and throw them in.

It's a tradition that seems peculiar to Tonga? There's no beach party without everyone having gone into the water. Those who are willing can walk on their own two feet, but must be given a shove into the water to lighten the moment up.

Those who are unwilling, can still enjoy the water trappings although not so graciously.

Mrs 'Elenoa 'Amanaki is Ma'ufanga FWC's Sunday School Principal, and she was ably assisted by fellow teachers and students into the water. Likewise Grandma also got a trip to the waterways.

The Sunday School had a great day, and we were hoping the snooze on the way home was going to give us some peace and quiet and a bit of time to catch a movie or something on TV. Zap, sorry, after we gave the kids a nice bath to get all the salt away their hunger came back and Sisitoutai and Ma'ata were bouncing off the walls again. We'd dropped off Senolita Jnr and Seluini and reports from their mum says she had the same problems.

How do you tire kids out so they sleep early ? Or, maybe you just have to tie-er them?

Ma'ata Ngalo'afe's auntie Saane Faka'osifolau had her 29th Birthday last night. At least, that's what she said was her age(?)

Uncle Semisi decided to have a BBQ, the romantic kind of guy he is, so they pulled in one of the largest gas-bottles for a BBQ and started slicing and flipping the meat.

This Saturday we're off to the beach again, this time with the church sunday-school to 'Otuhaka, run by one of the Nomuka peoples. The kids are all prepped and ready, but we also have to get some goodies for their going to school next week (as soon as we figure out which school they're going to.)

After a long week of preparations for the now passed Sapate Ako Fakaafe, we're all ready to cool down and relax. Apparently, 'Ofa got a huge box of ice-cream (note the word "box" not "tub" or "bucket", but "box") and everyone dug into it during the day, but most especially my son.

This time we went to a beach at Ha'ateiho (?) and the beach was just gorgeous, hidden away and a bit of a trudge to get to, but the sand was clean, white, and the water absolutely cold in the heat.

Sisitoutai broke loose from the mob as soon as we set foot on the sand, and he didn't get out until he was carried out of the water screaming and kicking.

Kid Talk: Daddy, daddy, .... 'Misi ... water

Definitely a beach we recommend you visit, next time your in town. Unfortunately, only for those who can walk unaided, and as climbing back up will require some negotiating rocks.

We went along with two heavy mum's carrying their babies, so the trek isn't impossible but if you've got gout or a bung knee then I suggest trying out another beach here in Tonga (or going on the diet to lighten up life for the knee.) 'Ofa brought along Sesilia who just loved not being able to walk properly on the sand (not that she can walk properly anyway) and Saane brought along Ma'ake who also slept part of the time but loved looking around in the new space.

The Uike Lotu is over, but now we're into the cycle in the Free Wesleyan Calendar called the "Pole" talitali malanga. In the "Pole" system, a family would ballot for opportunities (sic) to host the preacher (with or without) the church for a meal and discussions.

In the evolution of the Tongan Culture, the talitali malanga has become a serious affair. At our house, Mama Bear and Papa Bear host the Sapate Ako afternoon service. This Sunday, in the Free Wesleyan Calendar, is dedicated to promotion of education and the Free Wesleyan School System. Part of the day's program is for speakers to be allocated from the School System office to present speeches on various topics relating to education.

For the Ma'ufanga, kai fa'o, congregation this usually means a packed house on Sunday afternoon where children are dressed in their school uniforms and attend to listen to all these inspiring speeches (not.) After which, they can come on over to 'Umusii to Ma'ake lahi and Sesi lahi's residence for a huge feast.

Of course preparations begin well in advance, and fortunately for Ma'ake he's tended his fields and animals throughout the year so much of the expense such as the cow for the meat and food on the table comes from the fruit's of his own hands.

But food preparations aren't things that you can keep stored in the fridge for ever, so a lot of work has to be completed in a very short amount of time. This leads to strange things like boys camped around the front of a truck light digging up a huge grave hole for the ngoto 'umu.

We move from public display of incompetence by the Police Officers not chasing down the speedster on mainstreet, to downright corruption in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

O4's auntie left this week, and one of the kids had overstayed her visa by a month (the kid came earlier for the vacation.) At the Immigration check-point she was told to pay the Tonga fee of TOP$30.00. She had given all her local currency away, and only had US Dollars. I Immigration officer told her, give me what you got and I'll get change for you from outside later.

USD$100.00 equates TOP$200.00 for a TOP$30.00 fee.

Suffice it to say, O4's auntie said bye-bye to her change and some Immigration Officer is laughing herself silly.

It makes us wonder how many unsuspecting tourists have been treated likewise by the improved Public Sector Employees?

I didn't get around to all the eating this year, something to do with having an infant and all the rain that's been going down around here. Of course, considering that Sisitoutai is now officially the "pango tangata" of the clan, you can also appreciate it is hard to take the tug around.

As you know, this is that special time of year in Tonga where everyone (sic) spends their early mornings and evenings in church to meditate and pray. A week where you can really decide whether you want to follow through on those new-year resolutions that you keep on making each year.

It is also a special time of the year when you know that there's bound to be some feasting going on somewhere in the neighbourhood.

We started the week with Sisitoutai visiting with his Auntie 'Nesi's talitali at Kapeta, and finished the week at Ma'ufanga. I think somewhere along the way we attended one of the prayer meetings.

Driving down Nuku'alofa's main strip (ie longest straight stretch of road) when this white car goes revving past us at a well above the speed limit rush, dodging in and out of the light evening traffic. It looked like there were two cars burning up gasoline going from Pangai Lahi/si'i to the round-a-bout at Fanga, consuming the cheap benzine we sell in town.

O4 and I are discussing the mental deficiencies of the parties at play, when what do we see passing us on the opposite side of the road?

Yes, a police cruiser casually drives past us at the speed limit.

"'Oua pe te nau toe ta'ofi mai 'enautolu ha taha lele oma." says the maiden who was once stopped and booked for speeding.

There you have it, Lawlessness in the Kingdom doesn't exist because there's a lack of policing or personnel to notice and detract criminals from their behaviour. Lawless exists because the Police have something more important to do.

The police officers were probably just cruising anyway, even if they were in a Police cruiser.