NEWSPAGE 14 October
2009

(Photo: Daily Telegraph)

NEW ZEALAND: Tonga confirms team to face Kiwis in Rotorua

(Photos: Alpha Tuigamala)

SAMOA: Theology graduate returns home to further studies at Malua
Source: Alpha Tuigamala

Filemoni Tuigamala hails from the villages of Vailuutai & Faleatiu (Samoa).
His wife of 22 years, Alpha Tuigamala (nee Talataina) hails from the villages of Saoluafata, Falelima & Asau Savaii (Samoa). He has five children, a son-in-law and a granddaughter.

He has been studying at the University of Auckland, where he attained his Bachelor of Theology degree, and is currently the Secreatary for EFKS Le Savali o le Filemu Mangere Bridge.

Filemoni has now received his Malua Theological College entrance exams result, which he passed. He and his family will be moving to Samoa next year, so he can further his studies at Malua.

He wants to continue using his life for God’s work and to fulfil his calling for God's will to be done in any way possible to use is ability, gift and talent to spread God's love and care to others who are in need and to make this world a better place to live in.

We hope and pray that we will do well in God's work and be able to fulfil his will the best possible way with love and faith, honour and respect.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Filemoni at the the graduation ceremony.

Photo 2 - (L-R) Rev. Lale Peter, Filemoni, Professor Helen & Muaau Vaamao Tuigamala.

(Photos: Riamoana Pasifika)

AUSTRALIA: Memorial service for the suffering
Source: Riamoana Pasifika Press Release

A Multicultural Memorial Service was held on Sunday, 10th October for those that were lost in the Tsunami in Samoa and also for the losses in Indonesia, Philippines and Tonga. There was a great array of colour with over a thousand people attending the service in the Holy Cross Cathedral at Rothwell, Redcliff. The different flags and cultures highlighted the significance of people of different races sharing a common sorrow and moving toward healing together.

According to main organiser and President of South Pacific Youth Justice, Theresa Tevaga Butler, "I received a call from Queensland Ministers requesting that there was a need for a healing service last week and I, with the help of the Aiga Samoa worked quickly together to make it so."

Ministers that were present on Sunday included, Member for Redcliff, Lillian van Litsenburg; Member for Morayfield, Mark Ryan; Member for Longman, Jon Sullivan and Member for Murrumba, Dean Wells.

Reverend Michael McCarthy welcomed local leaders followed by a heartfelt welcome by President of Pan Pacific Oceania, Samatau'a Hanamen Hunt.

People who attended this beautiful display of togetherness and sharing of deep emotion felt the connection that could was described by Rev. McCarthy as 'Love'. The three choirs sang a collection of different songs which although had different words, carried the same spirit of the loss and beginning of healing for people affected by tragedy.

Honorable Lillian van Litsenburg gave an emotional speech ,"We need to pray for our communities that they have the courage and strength of conviction to move forward as there is hope for our loved ones for a better future."

One of our Aboriginal Community Leaders, Uncle Bird also offered, "You have suffered loss of family, relatives, kin and friends. We are Aboriginal People and we share in your pain, agony and disasters and we are very sorry for the loss that you have suffered."

The service also performed an Ifoga which a large fine mat was used to cover community leaders for a minute of silence to pray and reflect upon all that has happened in affected parts of the Pacific and the World.

President of the South Pacific Youth Justice, Theresa Tevaga Butler commented that, "This day was very,very special to some people, it was an opportunity to bring the community together, because the suffering is affecting not only us Samoans but also the Philippines Community, the Tongan and Indonesian Communities."
 

(Photo: Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry)

HAWAII: Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry celebrates 20 years
Source: Honolulu Advertiser

Each year, thousands of people of all ages are diagnosed with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases. Many of them will die unless they get a bone marrow transplant from a matching donor. Seventy percent of people do not have a donor in their family and depend on the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry, and other national marrow donor programs, to find a match to save their life. Since it began in 1989, the Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry at Hawaii Medical Center East has successfully matched nearly 300 patients and built a list of over 70,000 potential donors.

"We've not only been able to find bone marrow matches for patients in Hawaii, but across the nation," noted Roy Yonashiro, recruitment specialist for the Registry. "Because the markers used in matching are inherited, patients are more likely to match someone from their own race or ethnicity. With donors from Hawaii's ethnically diverse community, the Registry is adding more donors from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, including multi-racial, and increasing the likelihood that all patients will find the match they need."

The Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry conducts between four to six registration drives a month from shopping centers to county and community fairs to employee health awareness events. The registration process is quick, simple and pain-free. "A swab of the cheek cells inside a donor's mouth is taken, and the sample is collected and then sent to the National Marrow Donor Program repository for testing and storage. Donors need to only register once to become part of the registry," said Yonashiro.

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Registry will hol3d "Give 2 Live," a 70s-themed dance party to help raise funds to support the organization's mission on Friday, November 13, 2009. The evening will feature food, raffle drawing and live music from Powerhouse and musicians from other bands, including Aura, Elements, Glass Candle, Greenwood, H2O, Natural High, Phase 7, RKSB, Shining Star and Soulz.

Tickets for this special event are $50 ($20 tax deductible) or $500 for a reserved table for 10 or $600 for 12. For ticket information, please contact Annie Yonashiro at (808) 741-1222 or send an email to Lisa Wong at [email protected]
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Community)

TONGA: Pacific countries and territories back SPC
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

All 22 Pacific Island member countries and territories of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) voiced strong support for the organisation yesterday as its governing body - the Conference of the Pacific Community - approved plans for changes that will add significantly to SPC’s size and scope.

Representatives of Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States at the meeting, opened by Tonga’s Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, also offered continued backing for SPC, which over the past four years has developed a growing network of regional and country offices across the Pacific.

Their combined support augurs well for SPC. Under a reform process for regional institutions directed by Pacific Forum Leaders, the organisation will grow from having 390 staff in 2009 to 540 in January next year when most of the Suva-based Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and all of the South Pacific Board of Educational Assessment (SPBEA) merge with SPC.

Niue Premier Toke Talagi said the important role of SPC was appreciated but with increased resources and financial requirements it was unreasonable to expect poor Pacific Island countries to contribute more than they do already.

Conference chair, Tonga’s Prime Minister, The Honorable Dr Feleti Sevele, invited representatives of the development partner countries present to address the meeting.

Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Development Assistance, Bob MacMullan, said that while his delegation was mainly attending SPC’s Conference to listen, they had welcomed the outcomes of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) in Nuku’alofa last week.

Having seen the outcomes of CRGA, Australia was ‘very positive’ about the role of SPC. Australia was particularly interested in the evolution of SPC’s joint country strategies, how they fitted in with Australia’s bilateral relations, its Pacific Partnerships for Development programme and the requirement of the Cairns Compact (an outcome of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in August) for coordinated assistance in the region.

The year was very important for SPC, he said, and he looked forward to the two dominant Pacific regional organisations - SPC and PIFS- working together.

The joint country strategies outline the scope of SPC’s planned assistance to each of its 22 member countries over a defined period. SPC Director-General Dr Rodgers said SPC aimed to complete strategies with Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu in 2010.

He informed CRGA that other Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) are increasingly participating in missions to develop the strategies, noting that this could be the start of a process that could lead to a number of CROP agencies having one integrated strategy with member countries.

The delegate of France, Ambassador Patrick Roussel, said his country ‘trusts SPC implicitly’ and approved of the joint country strategies and the other recommendations from CRGA. These included supporting SPC’s efforts to securing long-term, sustainable funding for the organisation.

SPC has a large number of separately funded programmes and projects in areas such as agricultural research, tuna stock assessments, public health, human rights, gender issues, youth issues, culture, statistics, economic development, shipping and communication technology.

In the context of ensuring long-term funding, Ambassador Roussel said it was an excellent idea for SPC to identify its core functions.

New Zealand’s delegate and High Commissioner in Tonga, Ms Christine Bogle, welcomed the theme of the Conference - Maximizing impacts of regional programmes at a national level - adding that in the context of SPC’s need for sustainable funding, it was in everyone’s interest that SPC operated efficiently, and it was countries’ responsibility to support SPC and help it work out its priorities.

The delegate of the United States, Mrs Alcy Frelick, said ‘we are in a global world where aspirations need to fit into the larger context’. There were enormous opportunities for regional organisations like SPC to address the challenges of climate change and its impacts in the region.

She said the US welcomed the opportunity to be present at a meeting where there were ‘huge hearts and good minds’ wanting to make improvements in the world. “We are at a marvellous point in history,” she said, adding that the United States had its ‘first Pacific president’ in office. (President Obama was born in Hawai’i.)

Dr Sevele told Conference that at a meeting of Pacific Islands’ delegates with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the recent United Nations General Assembly in New York two weeks ago, she had said it was President Obama’s wish that the United States re-engage with Pacific Islands countries.
 

(Photo: MoneyGram International)

WORLDWIDE: MoneyGram International temporarily eliminates money transfer fees
Source: MoneyGram International Press Release

MoneyGram International (NYSE:MGI), a leading global money transfer company, announced today that it would temporarily waive its money transfer service fee from Australia and New Zealand to Samoa and Tonga, as part of a coordinated effort with its money transfer agents in response to the tsunami and earthquake that hit Samoa and Tonga on Tuesday.

“MoneyGram is eager to help these communities continue their recovery and respond to the urgent needs in Samoa and Tonga following the devastating earthquake and tsunami,” said Janice Ong, regional manager of Australia and Oceania. “In addition, MoneyGram understands how vital it is for families and friends to support one another especially in times of great need. To provide the greatest immediate benefit to affected families, MoneyGram is temporarily eliminating fees for transactions sent to Samoa and Tonga from our Australia and New Zealand agents.”

The no fee money transfer is available until Oct. 31 at all Australia and New Zealand MoneyGram agent locations.

“We hope this effort by MoneyGram and our agents will assist our customers in maximizing the funds sent to loved ones,” Ong said. “Westpac Bank of Samoa and Westpac Bank of Tonga have remained open since the tsunami and earthquake to ensure funds are available for the people who need help the most.”

Funds can be collected at any MoneyGram location in Samoa or Tonga including all Westpac Bank locations, Money Exchange Limited in Samoa and Alfred Cowley Company in Tonga.