June 2005

Niue Overseas Communities continue to Offer Cyclone Relief Aid

Premier Young Vivian received a Bank Draft of NZ$15,737.00 yesterday from the Niue Community of Western Australia [NCWA], a donation that is tagged with a special request to assist with buying equipment for the home hospital of our tupuna who are too old or infirmed to care for themselves that is currently being built with the new hospital project. Mrs Olga Kamupala Wilson, the President of the small Perth-based Niuean Community in Australia, is a regular visitor to Niue and is currently on the island visiting her elderly father, presented the gift on behalf of its members.

“I consider the Aged Care section of the hospital equally as important as the rest of the new hospital complex,” Premier Vivian told Mrs Olga Wilson, “and any donation that pledges equipment and facilities that will add comfort and well-being for our elderly is particularly welcome. I thank you and your community for this generous donation.”

The present donation is by far the largest ever received by the Government of Niue from overseas Niuean communities to help with the rebuilding of an important infrastructure that was damaged by cyclone Heta in January 2004. “Our small community in Perth has been fundraising for the past year especially for facilities for th is part of the hospital,” said Mrs Wilson. “We acknowledge that some of our elderly do not want to leave their ancestral homes when the rest of their families migrated overseas. We are therefore determined that they live the remainder of their lives here as comfortably as possible.”

The donation is tagged with guidelines attached so that the funds are to be used only for the necessities that will enhance the well-being of the elderly. “We asked of two conditions to be attached in the way the fund is to be administered,” explained Mrs Wilson. “That a Trustee Committee be in place and that has already been set up to administer the funding requests by the Hospital Aged Care Facilitator for approval by NCWA before the money can be used. These conditions are necessary prerequisites to prevent the funds being used for ‘other things.’

There are indications that most of our elderly will choose to remain on Niue, preferring warmer and more familiar home environments as they grow progressively older. As with most societies when it comes to priorities the elderly are usually the last in a long list of concerns or needs. Mrs Wilson and her group are adamant that this will not happen in Niue to our tupuna.

The Government of Niue would like to acknowledge the members of the Niue Community of Western Australia for the benevolence that they have shown in providing the funds that will augment the comfort and well being of our tupuna who will be in need of care.

The families and members of the said Niuean Community are included and acknowledged as is required by our traditions and customs.

President: Olga Kamupala Wilson

Vice President : Tina Versteg [Siakimotu]

Secretary: Ianeta Johnston [Tukuitonga]

Treasurer: Malam Kauhiva

Past Treasurer: Pepe Halatau

Foundation Members:

Individual Families: Olga, Alan, Atuvalu, Hiram and Miliama WILSON

Miriam Nicholas and Co’rina KAMUPALA

Tina and Yop VERSTEEG

 Mark, Ianeta, Natasha, Christine, Stephanie, David and Emily JOHNSTON

 Saipipi TUKUITONGA

 Dion, Brenna, Ti Ala, and Deanne HALATAU

 Malama KAUHIVA; Warren, Jenny HALATAU and family

Jeff and Rebecca HALATAU and family; Graham HALATAU

Tom and Jenny HALATAU

Brandon and Leone IKIMAU

 Alo and Hifoau KAPISI

Pose and Val Miliona FAKAHOA

Steven and Jenny Miliona FAKAHOA

Stanley Motu FAKAHOA

Mary O’LEARY [Pasene]

Tongia, Alex and Reesjan PASITOA

 PASITOA family

Tom and Shelley TAMATOA and family

Sally HEGOTULE and family

Laka TOGIAPOE and family

Vaine TOGIAPOE and family

Vaine, John, Caitlyn and Zack WATKINS  [Pakieto]

Kulatea and Vidi TUKUNIU and family

Roman WATKINS [Pakieto and family]

Sinitama TUKUNIU

Charles nd Judy TUTAVAHA

Jenny tUTAVAHA and family

Hafonua, Vahega and Judy POLIMA and Family

Albie and Karin FOLAU

Pasi and Richard CONNOR [Pasitoa]

Public Relations Office

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