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Avele College celebrated its 78th anniversary in April this year. The school was founded in 1924 as a school of technology and workshops for men before it became a college.
In 1940's during the Second World War, the school was shifted to the grounds of Vaipouli at the bigger island of Savaii, as the Marines needed the Avele buildings at Vailima for residence. At the time, Avele was teaching carpentry, farming and agriculture.
The move to Vaipouli is remembered through a Samoan song that was composed to remind of the scenery of Vailima. Now days the same song is sung by students to recount the many years of struggling for education and the historical achievements of the school and its pupils.
Avele School was later re-established in Vailima after the Second World War. Lately girls were introduced into the school as a co-educational institute, marking another milestone in its history.
Students that were educated at Avele included some from Tokelau and Tuvalu.
In
celebrating and marking the 78th birthday, we have not only a sense of
pride for its students, but we also commemorate all those who have contributed
to the success of the school.
The
events of the day included drama performances, traditional songs, and
comedies about the operation of the school from its beginning to the present
day.
Old
students were re-united and class reunion was a major agenda through out
the celebrations.
One of the unforgettable sights during the Samoa Independence celebrations each year is the march pass by Avele College. School boys with bare chests in their green school 'lavalava' with yellow shell necklaces and a yellow 'sei pua'.
A musical album has recently being released by the Avele Old Boys Association in New Zealand. The album is a compilation of old Samoan songs that were composed about Avele and sung over the generations by its students.
Congratulations to Avele College for the hard work and encouragement in
serving the young people of Samoa. Happy 78th
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