NEWSPAGE 21 January
2011

(Photos: Pacific Media Network / Whitireia New Zealand)

NEW ZEALAND: Pacific Media Network signs MoU with Whitireia New Zealand

(Photo: Samoa Observer)

SAMOA: Church of Jesus Christ donates to Satupa’itea Primary School
Source: Samoa Observer

The Satupa'itea District is the happy recipient of brand new furniture in the form of desks and chairs for its Primary School, gifted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

In August 2010, the Church donated to Satupa'itea Primary educational materials including library books, reading books, texts books for English, Science and other subjects, reference books including encyclopedias, and self-filtering water bottles for students.

The donation was the result of the Ministry of Education’s nomination of Satupa'itea as one of the schools needing the assistance.

And it was at that presentation that the Satupa'itea District had requested the Church’s assistance in desks and chairs, as most of the more than 300 students were using mats on the floor.

The search for suitable furniture - undertaken by Pres. Otto Vincent Haleck of the Samoa Apia Mission - began locally then extended to New Zealand, Australia, America and China, taking into account availability time, quality and cost.

Satisfied with the design (through viewing photos), quality and cost, Pres. Haleck proceeded with the ordering of the furniture from China.

The unassembled furniture arrived in Samoa in a 20-foot container and taken to Savaii in three trucks where the Church’s thirteen missionaries in the Savaii Central Missionary Zone - assisted by villagers - worked hard to assemble them.

A total of 345 desks and 345 chairs which came in large, medium and small sizes
were gifted. There were 119 large desks and chairs, 136 medium desks and chairs, and 90 small desks and chairs.

President Laulu Mokesi Laulu of the Church’s Savaii South Stake spoke on behalf of the Church to formally present the assistance under the Church’s humanitarian aid programme.
“The Church’s assistance is given indiscriminately to those in need regardless of race, religion, and colour,” he said.

“As the school children are the future of your district and Samoa, the Church is happy to assist your school and district,” he said. “It is now my privilege and pleasure - on behalf of the Church - to formally hand over to you these desks and chairs for your school.

May these be a blessing to the school children, the principal and teachers, and your district of Satupa'itea.”

Orator Chief, Asiata Fualaga - the elderly Tuua of Satupa'itea - spoke on behalf of the district.

He said, “O le aso ua paia ma mamalu, aua e paia ma mamalu le Atua. O le aso ua maualuga, aua e maualuga le Ekalesia. Fa’afetai i le Ekalesia i le alofa mai. O le tala’aga o le nuu lenei, e tasi a le Ekalesia - na o le Metotisi - ae lua i le Mamona. Ma o le agaga lea o le itumalo lenei.”

Asiata thanked the Church for its most generous gift which he was sure cost a lot of money.
“Fa’afetai fa’afetai tele,” he said. “May God bless your Church and reward you many times over,” he concluded.

The presentation was attended by the district’s chiefs and orators, the school’s principal and teachers, and the aumaga and other members of the district.

Church leaders present were Pres. Otto Vincent Haleck and Pres. Laulu Mokesi Laulu. Other Church representatives there were Afoafouvale M. Moors, Papalii A. Fitisemanu, Tauvao T. Sefo, and Maiva V. Fuimaono.

Bishop Leoo Tone Faatafuga and members of the Church’s Mosula Ward in Satupa'itea and the District provided the taumafataga (food) for the occasion.

Photo Caption: President Otto Vincent Haleck with the chairs and desks donated to Satupa’itea village.
 

(Photo: Australia-Pacific Technical College)

AUSTRALIA: APTC welcomes new students for 2011
Source: Australia-Pacific Technical College

"On behalf of the Management and staff of APTC, welcome to the new student intake for 2011," said Mr Antoine Barnaart, APTC General Manager.

"As a part of this welcome, Orientation activities are planned at all APTC Campuses."

Students from Pacific Island Forum countries are arriving at the APTC Campuses in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea to begin studies in a wide range of courses.

The mobilization of these students has been the result of hard work behind the scenes by staff of the APTC Coordination Office in Nadi, Fiji, and the APTC Country Program Coordinators who are based in the students' home countries.

"I wish the students every success with their studies in the coming year," concluded Mr Barnaart. 

Photo Caption: Cross-cultural activities are an important part of APTC student life.
 

(Photo: The National)

PAUA NEW GUINEA: Basketball rebounds with PMMI assistance
Source: The National

The Port Moresby Papuan Blacks basketball team received some timely assistance yesterday (January 19, 2011) with a K25,000 sponsorship along with insurance cover from Pacific MMI Insurance.

The sponsorship will assist with the 15-member team travel down to Cairns for the Jan 28-31 Far North Queensland All Stars competition.

PMMI also assisted with a separate K2,500 funding for this weekend’s Port Moresby Invitational tournament at Sir John Guise Indoor Complex which will see five select teams showcase the basketball talent in PNG in a first-time event from tomorrow until Sunday.

The Papuan Blacks have been competing since 2007 and will play in the invitational as a warm up for the All Stars tournament.

The Cairns-bound side are a mix of young talent and several experienced players.

PMMI managing director Wayne Dorgan said the insurer had been supporting the team for the past four years.

This year comes as a blessing for the Papuan Blacks as it is their first time to have significant corporate backing.

The team’s objective is to expose some of PNG’s rising talent to high level competition before this year’s Pacific Games in New Caledonia and improve on their regional ranking of fifth place - achieved from 2005 mini SP games in Palau - to third and ultimately aim for the top spot in 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

Coach Ferdinand Daroya said since the formation of the club in 2007 they had developed as a group.

“I have coached many basketball teams and have never seen the commitment that the Papuan Blacks have portrayed during their preparations,” Daroya said.

He said every thing learned would be tested this weekend to fine tune skills and plays before the All Stars event.

Team manager Maj. Sere Kala in thanking PMMI added that attending overseas tournament would have a positive effect on the code especially when the Papuan Blacks returned to play for their respective clubs and share what they have gained in terms of skills and knowledge.

Senior player Wally Parapa endorsed that view.

“Four years back we found overseas trips quite tough but now we have a completely different ball game and things should work well for us.”
 

(Photo: Solomon Star)

SOLOMON ISLANDS: BBQ for floods on despite rain
Source: Solomon Star

Westpac bank yesterday managed to organise its barbecue fundraising event in Honiara despite heavy showers throughout the day in the capital.

A team dressed in red under a tent were busy sizzling and serving customers under the rain.

The tent was set up in front of the ITA Hardware allowing passing public to stop by and buy a quick snack.

The fundraiser was part of the bank’s goal to raise funds for flood victims in Queensland, Australia.

This was in response to an appeal by the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

It was not clear how much was raised at the fundraiser yesterday.

All the proceeds would be sent to the flood appeal account.

Nambawan Meat generously supplied sausages for the fundraising drive.

Westpac employees across Australia have also got into the spirit by dressing in red to raise funds in support of work colleagues and communities affected by the floods.

This morning Westpac staff will be holding a special staff morning tea to raise funds as well as auctioning off household items to employees.

Tonight two fundraising drives will be held at Honiara Hotel and Red Mansion as part of assisting flood victims in Queensland.

Photo Caption: The red tent in front of ITA Hardware selling hotdogs to raise funds for flood victims in Queensland.
 

(Photo: Oceania Football Confederation)

WORLDWIDE: OFC unveil new logo
Source: Oceania Football Confederation Press Release

As OFC usher in a newly elected President and Executive Committee, the Confederation has also revealed a new logo.

The rebranding proposal was one of the key decisions for the OFC Congress in Pago Pago, American Samoa, this week as OFC embarks on a new four-year term under President David Chung of Papua New Guinea.

In a region covered by vast ocean and spectacular scenery, the new logo is naturally blue and green in colour. Shades of yellow are also incorporated to represent the sunny skies and golden sands that have made the Pacific such a popular destination for holidays and events - with Tahiti set to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2013.

The contemporary curve design embodies OFC’s holistic approach to football development within its 11 Member Associations while the 'OFC' is bold and clear as people have become increasingly familiar with the Confederation's acronym.

General Secretary Tai Nicholas says it is a timely opportunity for the organisation to refresh its branding.

“2010 was a landmark year for us with outstanding results on the field,” says Nicholas. “We will continue to build on those successes and lift the profile of the sport with strong leadership from our newly elected President and Executive.

“This new logo represents a new approach for our Confederation while at the same time, as it is shaped on our previous logo, we still remember OFC’s proud history since becoming part of the FIFA family in 1966.”

The logo was unveiled and approved at the OFC Congress with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and other dignitaries in attendance. It will also be used at the OFC U-17 Championship at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium today as finalists New Zealand and Tahiti battle for a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011.