Tonga High School Ex-students Newsletter Volume 3 Issue

Tonga High School Ex-Students Web Site Newsletter
Date: August, 2001
Volume: 3, Issue 8

WORDS FROM THE WEBMASTER & THE THSESWS NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
Welcome to the THSESWS monthly newsletter for the month of August 2001. This month has been very interesting in more reasons than one. It is one of those months that nothing spectacular really happens. Everyone seems to be plodding along with life without too much fuss. This month's newsletter is again dominated by our friends from New Zealand. The celebration of the school's birthday next year is really the major event everyone is thinking about. It will be an event that will live in our memories in years to come!

'Etuate Saafi and the Auckland Chapter are working tirelessly in preparing the programmes and activities for next year's celebration. Accordingly, we are very grateful that Auckland has supplied us with the programme for next year well in advance so that other chapters can start making arrangements for this major event. One would hope that the great work done so far by our New Zealand colleagues are appreciated by all ex-students. Preparing an event such as that of the celebration of Tonga High School's birthdays is not an easy task by any means. There are a lot of things going on behind the scene in preparing for an event of this magnitude. The driving force(Auckland's Committee) must be congratulated for what they have done so far. New Zealand has promised to surprise everybody with their thorough preparation. From what we have gathered so far, we would like to reassure you all that the end product or the final show that our New Zealand colleagues are working on will be second to none!

Despite the New Zealand All Blacks' loss to Australia in their Bledisloe Cup show-down in Dunedin, our New Zealand colleagues' morales had not been dampened in any way, shape or form. They still want their Australians counterparts to come to New Zealand without any fear of being treated any differently to other overseas chapters. We might be enemies in sport but very much inseparable friends in spirit. Fielau he 'oku lahi ange 'a e lotu moe fa'a kaataki ia 'a e tamiki Aotearoa he kautama me i Down Under!

Auckland has also awarded their scholarships to two students currently studying at Tonga High School(see below). This may be a trend for other chapters to do something for Tonga High School and in particular; to help the current students.

The most anticipated visit to San Francisco by the Executive Committee president; Dr Viliami Fukofuka occured this month. However, due to lack of communication from Tonga, Dr. Fukofuka arrived in San Francisco and left without meeting the San Francisco Chapter. This was not Dr. Fukofuka's fault but a break-down in communication. As usual Tonga has missed a vital opportunity to take full advantage of the plans and projects overseas chapters do have in order to help them and the school. What a pity!.
According to our correspondents from San Francisco, it was very disappointing not to meet Dr. Fukofuka. This was definitely a chance to discuss a few issues regarding the roles play by the Executive Committee in relation to our global community. It is believed that Dr. Fukofuka's visit would have really helped in bridging the gap between overseas chapters and our Executive Committee in Tonga. A visit of this kind must be encouraged and become a frequent event! The potential benefit to all is enormous.

Finally, the THSESWS has not received a copy of the second edition of the "Tefua 'a vaka Lautala". The THSESWS would like to ask anybody in Tonga to please give us a copy so that we can publish it here for everybody. We believe that the second edition of the "Tefua ' a Vaka Lautala" has been released and would dearly love to have a copy. Can someone out there, please send us one!

Faka'apa'apa atu
Loseli Ma'ukie Hafoka & Miss 'Amelia Piutau
NEWS FROM NEW ZEALAND:
TONGA HIGH SCHOOL EX-STUDENTS COMBINED CELEBRATION PROGRAMME
FOR JUNE 2002: AUCKLAND - New Zealand

FRIDAY 31^ST MAY

SATURDAY 1^ST JUNE

SUNDAY 2^ND JUNE

6:00 pm: Arrivals

Registrations

Kava Ceremony

7:30 pm: Devotion

8:00 pm: Supper

Introductions

Socialising

09:30am: Cup of tea

10:00 am: Meeting Convenes

Reports from various Associations

12:00 pm: Annual General Meeting

1:30 pm: Lunch

Entertainment

7:30 pm: Dine & Dance (Ball)

With special Guest speaker
10:00 am: Worship Celebration

Birthday thanksgiving

Remembrance of the deceased

Roll call

1:00 pm: Group / Year photos

1:30 pm: Lunch

Birthday cake

Farewells

This is a copy of the programme put together by the Tonga High School Ex-students (NZ) Association Inc. executive committee for the combined celebrations in June 2002 to be held in Auckland, New Zealand. Note the dates of the celebration are from Friday 31^st May - Sunday 2^nd June 2002. As further information becomes available it will be posted on this web site so please keep checking for updates.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EX-STUDENT CHAPTERS ATTENDING CELEBRATIONS:

1. Would each overseas group attending please prepare:

1 x cultural item for Saturday afternoon

1 x choral item for Sunday's worship

2. Would each visitor please indicate by email whether they require:

Help with identifying affordable & available accommodation in Auckland (Hotels, Motels, Hostels, Uncles house etc.)

Transport on arrival

Tour arrangements

The NZ executive committee expects to be notified regarding all registrations, accommodation enquiries, transport requirements, tour arrangements, sight seeing arrangements, if required, by 1 April 2002. Please help make our job easier by making your enquiries before the above date. Any further suggestions or enquiries please contact the NZ executive committee via email on nzths@ihug.co.nz. or at the postal address: P. O. Box 109-093, Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand or ring 'Eseta Finau (Assistant Secretary) directly or leave a message on (09) 373-7599 Ext: 2365. The final programme will be printed in April 2002. No more suggestions accepted after 1 April 2002.

OTHER NEWS FROM AUCKLAND & NZ CHAPTER: AUGUST 2001

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING:

The Tonga High School Ex-students (NZ) Association executive committee had its monthly meeting for August last Tuesday 14^th August at 7pm at 2 Boyle Crescent, Grafton as usual. The major issues of concern during the meeting were based around planning and organisation of the combined get together for June 2002.

TONGA HIGH SCHOOL FEE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS FOR 2001:

The Tonga High School Ex-students (NZ) Association Inc. is pleased to announce the awarding of their 2 fee Scholarships for the year 2001 to:

1. Meliame Vulangi

2. Taniela Litili

According to the principal of Tonga High School, Mrs Lata 'Akau'ola Langi, Meliame and Taniela are 2 very outstanding 3^rd Form students well deserved of these two awards.

The NZ THS Ex-students Association would like to congratulate Meliame Vulangi and Taniela Litili on their outstanding academic prowess and would like to wish them continued success in their future academic endeavours at THS and beyond.

The NZ Association would also like to thank the principal of THS Mrs Lata Akau'ola Langi and her staff for her correspondence and guidance in choosing such deserved recipients.

SOCIAL SUB-COMMITTEE BBQ:

The Social sub-committee headed by Ex-students Fitalika Kula and Tania Tonga'onevai Fe'ao held a BBQ at Cornwall Park on Saturday 11 August from 11am until papahias(very late at night). Despite the drizzling rain and the un-neighbourly hiding the All Blacks received from the Wallabies on the same day - there was plenty to eat, enough shoulders to cry on and also volleyball to keep them occupied from being too disappointed about the AB results. Ko Loseli 'ena and the Australian Ex-students 'oku nau kata'i mai e kau NZ.

EX-STUDENTS FELLOWSHIP & POT-LUCK:

The fortnightly NZ THS Ex-students Fellowship & Pot-luck is becoming very popular in such a short period. And we are not at all suprised for nothing stands in the way of the Holy Spirit - and no wonder why this group is becoming so successful. We start right - we end right!!! The last fellowship was on Friday 17^th August at 7pm at 22 Harmony Ave, Otahuhu. Please feel free to come join us for our fellowship together and "hufia" next year's combined get together. For further details regarding our fellowships, please contact either one of these two: Kasalanaita Puniani (KPuniani@adhb.govt.nz) or Tavake Tupou (rev.tavake.tupou@clear.net.nz) for future fellowship dates.

NEWS FROM MELBOURNE:
Our chapter is pleased to welcome one of our fellow ex-students; Dr. Faka'osi Pifeleti. Dr. Pifeleti is here in Melbourne on a medical course until late November or early December. It is always a pleasure to see some of our ex-students and to catch up with them after so many years.

Prior to his visit to Melbourne, Dr. Pifeleti was based at Vaiola Hospital and he is now attending a course at Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital. We all wish Dr. Pifeleti an enjoyable time here in Melbourne. Loseli has invited Dr. Pifeleti to attend our get together function on September, 28 and this is a chance for ex-students to have a free medical consultation. Dr. Sisifa will be there and maybe Dr. Maka Katoanga as well.
Once again, Dr. Pifeleti - the Melbourne chapter would like to welcome you to the world's most livable city!
Finally, we would like to remind all Tonga High School Ex-students here in Melbourne that our September get together is drawing near. Everyone must make sure that they are free for this night so that we can all come together and have a great time!

NEWS FROM SAN FRANCISCO:
According to the secretary of the San Francisco Chapter, they have just finished another one of their scheduled meetings for the year; this afternoon(Sat, 19 August). It was a very nice meeting and a few things were discussed.
The ex-students from the Golden Bridge have decided to kick-start their "Book Drive" with a concert on Friday, 19 October at the familiar venue(Fale Sotia) in San Bruno. The aim for this concert is to raise enough funds to buy books for the Tonga High School library.
San Francisco has already received a list from Tonga High School detailing the type of books they should buy. Therefore, this scheduled concert is to buy all the books needed by Tonga High School which are on that special list from Tonga.
Apart from the preparation for the October concert, San Francisco's committee members are working tirelessly on finding out places where they can get all these books from. The idea is to order these books in advance and when the money from the concert are collected then it is just a matter of paying for the books; ready to be sent to Tonga. It is hoped that all ex-students from the Bay Area and perhaps others from nearby areas would come along and support this fundraiser. Tonga High School needs us now and therefore we must support them as this is for a very good cause.
Until next time, please take care everyone!