 Timeline |
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| O le Fa'alupega o Matai ma Ali'i o Asau. |
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Asau, Savai'i, Samoa.
ASAU
Tulouna a oe le Pule
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Lau faatufugaga
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Le atiatipa o Salafai
Tulouna a le fale sefulu ma le lua
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Le Si’u o le fanua
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Le Falefia
Afifio ma Tufuga ma Masoe
Susu mai sa Moeleoi
Tulouna le Falefa o Usoalii
Tulouna a lau fetalaiga a Vaisigano
Afio mai lo outou Ma’upu, o le Afioga a Tupua ma le aumaga ma le aiga sa Taneavae
Afifio mai ia le aiga o Mavaega
Susu mai sa Lilomaiava
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| 21st July, 1945. Utuloa, Asau, Savai'i, Samoa. |
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 Mum is born in Asau, the village of her mother, She is Fuifui Tufuga's first born to Tauvae Tuiletufuga, from Apia. Tauvae Tuiletufuga was the son of the High Chief of Apia. Mum, at birth, is named Tumema Siala Tauvae. Mema was the only child to this conception. Mema only has half siblings on both matrillineal and patrillineal sides. In otherwords she was really an only child to Tauvae and Fuifui.
Asau Harbour pictured above has a deep water wharf; an Airstrip; a hotel, which is owned and operated by the Va'ai Clan, (The late Kolone Va'ai (PM), was the former Prime Minister of Samoa, then became a member of the Counsel of Deputies (Fautua), or primary advisor to the Head of State, (Lau Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili, le lua, le Ao ole Malo) The late Kolone Va'ai was heralded from Vaisala). The Va'ai family own The Vaisala Hotel; then there is Sataua hospital; a government owned sawmill, which is important for me because the sawmill is on my great grandma's land, in Utuloa; a post office; a picture theatre; some shopping outlets, etc; so as to sustain a population of some 6,000 villagers.
There are three parts to Asau. Vaisala, to the north west, Matavai, (in the centre) which is the main township area, and, Utuloa, to the North East, all envelope the Matavai Harbour, or Asau Harbour.
Moreover, Asau harbour, is very picturesque and panoramic. It is better being there during the 1970s, when I was a child. My great Grandma the late Nive Tolua Tufuga, from Utuloa, re-married to a son of the High Chief of Asau, Tolua Tufuga, from Matavai, she owned a beach called Fo'a, in Utuloa, in which, nowadays, only her descendents are permitted to swim there. It is not accessible to anyone, there is a Sawmill in the way. The government owned sawmill is on our, that is to say, the descendents of Nive Tolua Tufuga's people's property. (Pictured here is Rochelle Tufuga and her mother the late Mema Tufuga in 2 Wallace Street, in Crestmead, in Logan City, Queensland, Australia). |
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| Moves to Tuloto, Lalovaea, Apia, to stay with grandma Ta'a Fidow. |
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  Kalameli Ta'a Fidow is Fuifui Tufuga's oldest sister. Ta'a Fidow is the Taupou o Asau. The Maiden of the Asau Village (A quasi Princess).
Ta'a Fidow is the daughter of Lopao'o Pagia, and Nive Lopao'o. Lopao'o Pagia passes away then Nive re-marries to Tolua Tufuga, a son of the High Chief of Asau. Lote and Fuifui, as full blood sisters, are the only daughters of Tolua and Nive Tufuga, since they are the only offsprings to this conception.
Therefore, Ta'a is really the half sister of Fuifui. More importantly, is that Lote and Fuifui are grand daughters of the High Chief of Asau. Through birthright it is really meant to be Lote or Fuifui who should be conferred the title of the village maiden of Asau through their blood lines to the Sa Tufuga line. However, the much younger sisters' were too young to argue their bloodlines inheritance.
The above picture of Grandma Ta'a Fidow was taken in front of Waltham Primary School, in Waltham, Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1967.
In 1974, we flew from Wellington, New Zealand, with Grandma Ta'a down to Christchurch. We stayed at Viva Fidow Sila's place which was then at Waltham Street. in Waltham, in Christchurch, New Zealand. The above picture of Grandma Ta'a and Aunty Viva was taken in the Christchurch Airport in 1974. 1974 would be the last visit by Grandma Ta'a to New Zealand.
Also in 1974, Maria Lamosi, and Don Kerslake, were then at Canterbury University studying.  Maria is Grandma Ta'a Fidow's granddaughter to her eldest daughter, Fotu Fidow Lamosi
from Solosolo. Mr. Don Kerslake LLB (QC) becomes Lau Afioga Tuala Don Kerslake, the Minister for the Environment, and a front bench Cabinet Minister, within the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) government, during the 1990s. Mrs. Maria Kerslake, B.Nurs. M.Sc. (Flinders University), becomes the HOD, in Sociology, at the National University of Samoa, in Papaigalagala Campus, Apia.
(Pictured Solosolo beach the only surfing beach in Samoa).
Mema moves to Apia and lives with the Fidow family in Tuloto, Lalovaea, Apia, until she is 18 years old and it is decided, presumably from Ta'a Fidow, that her niece, that is to say Mema, should migrate to New Zealand to live with Viva Fidow, a daughter of Ta'a Fidow, in Christchurch, New Zealand. This would occur later on in 1964.
The Fidow family are catholics.
Mum was brought up a Methodist in Utuloa, Asau. Mema Tauvae's father, Tauvae Tuiletufuga, is a member of the Lotu Poesi congregation, a splinter Congregational church denomination, and, therefore, the Apia clan are protestants.
Fuifui Tufuga, and, even her older sister, Ta'aipuleonoiSalafai Lopao'o Fidow, or simply Ta'a Fidow, were originally Methodists. Nive Lopao'o, then Nive Tolua Tufuga and the entire Utuloa clan from Asau, were Methodists. However, Ta'a Lopao'o converts to catholicism through her marriage to Niko Fidow, from Safotu, Savai'i, Samoa.
Notwithstanding then, as a child, my mum reluctantly converts to Catholicism through the Fidow family influence in Tuloto, Apia.
Mum does not go to her father, Tauvae Tuiletufuga, in Apia village, who lives with his subsequent wife Avea, and their children, some ten or so kilometres north west from Tuloto. Mum only visits him occassionally. |
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| 1964, Migration to New Zealand, at age 18. |
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My mother travelled to New Zealand by ship, embarking from Apia port to Suva, Fiji. Then from Suva to Auckland port, New Zealand. She was 18 years old, single and alone. She met up with some extended family and would soon reside in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Enclosed is a recent picture of Apia, population 35,000, capital of Samoa, Rochelle and Tim Tufuga's real father, Faimanu Tausisi Amituana'i, still works in the tall white building with a brownish dome on top, as an Auditor, in 2006.) |
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| 20th November, 1965. Christchurch, NZ. The birth and death, three days later, in fact, of Lawrence August Tauvae. (still a stillborn then?) |
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At age 20, mum was living with her cousin Viva Fidow Sila, in Waltham, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Mema, is also known as Teresa, (a transliteration of Tumema) she meets and befriends August (Aukuso) Smith, a scholar from Samoa. She falls pregnant and then gives birth to Lawrence August Tauvae, on the 20th of November, 1965, but, he is stillborn?, or at least he eventually does die officially in three days time, on the 23rd of November, 1965. Lawrence August Tauvae, is then buried on the 25th November, 1965, in Ruru Cemetery, within Bromley, in Christchurch, New Zealand.
My mother has purchased an unmarked quarter plot, as indicated by the official Cemetery records as sent to me from the Christchurch City Council. (See Enclosed).
The would be father was August Smith, who was then studying at Canterbury University on a scholarship from Samoa.
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| 3rd January, 1967. |
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Rochelle Christine Tauvae is born in Keneperu Hospital, Keneperu, Porirua, New Zealand. The father is Tausisi Te'o (Fa'imanu Tausisi Amituana'i). A Saint Bedes college old boy and a Bacholar of Commerce undergraduate on a scholarship to Canterbury University, in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Rochelle Tauvae is baptised as a Catholic, at the Holy Family Parish, in Mungavin Avenue, Porirua East, New Zealand, in 1967.
Her godfather is one of the Smith's in Porirua.
 
The present Cardinal of Wellington, Cardinal Thomas William's Wellington Parish, is the Holy Family Parish in Mungavin Avenue, in Porirua.
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| 29th April, 1968. Tim Brian Tufuga was born as Tim Brian Tauvae. |
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Tim Brian Tauvae, is born in Saint Helens Womens Hospital, in Christchurch (Christchurch Womens Hospital), on the 29th April, 1968. The father is Tausisi Te'o (Fa'imanu Tausisi Amituana'i).
Father Brian from Christchurch baptises Tim Tauvae. Mum decides to name Tim after Father Brian, and, henceforth, is known as Tim Brian Tauvae.
Tim Tauvae is baptised in the Barbadoes Cathedral, Christchurch.
His godfather is Herman Ah Khoi.
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| 1968 Conversion to Assembly of God faith, move up to Wellington, and onto Porirua. |
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Mum converts to the Assembly of God faith, whilst she is still in Christchurch, through her friends Vanu and Va Toma.
Mum, then moves back up to Wellington to stay with her cousin George and his first wife Margaret Fidow.
Mum meets with Pastor Fereti Ama, from the Wellington Assembly of God Church, then having services in Vivian Street. Pastor Ama moves to Porirua and mum and her two children in tow move to Porirua as well.
Mum is amongst the foundation members of the Porirua Samoan Assembly of God Church.   
Amongst Mema Tufuga's services to her congregation apart from being one of the original members of 'The Team', included being a Sunday School teacher, and as the official dressmaker of 'The Team''s uniforms. My mother was a talented dressmaker/tailor, her younger half sister, Nive Tolua Tufuga, would continue this family tradition.
She did work in Wellington, for New Zealand Post, doing the graveyard shift, for a while, but, during the day mum was a full time mother.
Mum had 'babysitted' three young boys Mata, Etuati, and Junior Lafaele. As 'a favour' to one of the members of 'The Team' vocalists, and the future Pastor of a Assembly of God congregation, in Honolulu, Hawai'i Mr. Tali and Liaina Lafaele, from Siumu, Upolu, Samoa. The Lafaele family were then working at the recently opened 'Todd Motors', in Porirua. It would later on become known as The Mitsubishi Motors.
The three brothers became my surrogate younger brothers whilst I was at Windley Primary School, and Porirua East Primary School during the 1970s. My mother was strict and yet tolerant of the mischevious anctics of the Lafaele brothers. I was less tolerant sometimes giving them a decent serve. We played war games and go on adventures through the farm behind our backyard. Messed up the house so mum had something to tidy up. Mum was a very adept cuisine chef/cook, and she had even worked as a caterer. People enjoyed her treats when mum prepared them for functions.
My uncle Philip, who is only two years older than I, my sister, and I, together with the Lafaele kids, partook in our family White Sunday plays throughout the years. Mum was always the script writer/director/producer.
Mum was notorious as a director of Sunday School plays she was loud, strict, but fair, she would always reward her charges with presents/goodies and very nice food, after White Sunday plays, or sunday school presentations, and term exams. As a Sunday School teacher she continued this strict but fair treatment of her pupils. She should have been a drill sargeant. Mum was notorious as a practitioner of 'Tough Love'. She did not spare the rod at all when disciplining her own kids. This is not atypical of most Pacific Island cultures. It is the only true blemish of mum's authoritarian regime. Later on after her strict religious regime, and very long winded lotu's, or family prayer sessions, which deterred everyone from wanting to become christians. Mum had become authoritative when she was dealing with more sensible people. She loved singing and she would encourage everyone to end up becoming vocalists or musicianists.
Mum enjoyed watching sport, including rugby league, and rugby union. Her favourite event was watching swimming in the Commonwealth games.
The three young Lafaele boys have since married, with families of their own, and are now leaders within the Assembly of God evangelical movement, in Hawai'i. We have lost contact with them a long time now, since 1979, when the Lafaele family migrated to Hawai'i. (Pictured is Eteuati sitting, Mata standing, and Junior Lafaele sitting, eating Splender apples) 
The Porirua Samoan Assembly of God congregation expands to over four hundred congregation members, throughout the years and, finally, the congregation builds a very pricy a million dollar church, in the corner of Fantame Street, Porirua. Most of the original congregational members have since moved in a dispora throughout the world, similar to the Lafaele family, or have passed away.
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| 1973, Mum brings her mother to New Zealand. |
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In 1973, Fuifui Tufuga migrates to New Zealand and is sponsored by her daughter, Mema Tauvae. She arrives with her son Philip and resides with Mema, and her two children, in Hampshire Street, Porirua East, New Zealand.
Since Mema Tauvae's children were the only New Zealanders present, we were effectively the real sponsors of our grandmother and Philip into our country. Mum was still a Samoan citizen in New Zealand on a permanent residency status visa.
(Below is a photo of Grandma Fuifui Tufuga and her grand daughter Rochelle Tufuga taken, in 2001, in Brisbane)
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| May, 1974. Mum executes her deed poll name change. |
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In May, 1974. In Wellington, Mum executes a statutory declaration notary name change and renounces and abandons her father's name as her surname, Tauvae, and assumes her mother's surname of Tufuga. Her offsprings are too young to execute their deed poll name changes as well. So, officially, in our passports and birth certificates, we remain known as Rochelle Tauvae and Tim Tauvae respectively. Unofficially, in school records and every other identification purposes we assume Tufuga as our surnames and using mum's deed poll as evidences of our bona fide identities.
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| December-January 1974-75. The TEAM Tour to USA. |
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Mema Tufuga becomes a backing vocalist in the first Samoan gospel group in New Zealand, under the leadership of Mr. Mata Robertson.
'The Team', as they were known, tour New Zealand introducing people to their blend of Samoan gospel music for the first time. They introduce electrical instruments, drums, lead and backing vocals with a popular style, with r and b, some country and western, soul, and blues, style, to church music. Their influences include, Jim Reeves, Andre Crouch, The Gaither trio, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggert, Elvis, etc.)
Later on, more gospel teams are formed in each AOG church. My mother was in the 'original team'. 'The Original Team' then became known as the 'Porirua Team'.
They are very popular and then it is decided that they should tour USA and introduce the Team to America.
Mum departs Auckland airport on a Pan Am DC10 flight to Papaete Tahiti. Then she flies to Honolulu, Hawai'i. She then flies to the West Coast of America, California. Arrives in LAX. Travels up and down the West Coast and the group even goes to Tijuana, Mexico. They are popular in America.
Mum returns to New Zealand in January 1975.
The above picture is yet another version of 'The Team'. Later on known simply as 'The Porirua Team', because there are more versions in each churches. |
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| December 1976-January 1977. The return to Samoa. |
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Mum and her two children travel to Samoa. We depart Wellington Airport on a NAC flight to Auckland. We then fly in a Pan Am DC8 flight to Nukualofa, Tonga, then onto PagoPago, American Samoa. We connect onto a Fokker Turbo Prop flight to Faleolo Airport, in Mulifanua, Upolu, Samoa.
My first time in American Samoa I see black uniformed Samoan policemen with side arms for the first time. The American flag flying next to the bold eagle American Samoan flag. So I had assumed that it was America I had arrived at. Mum said this is not the Samoa we belonged to but the western islands. So we embark our flight to Western Samoa.
We stay in Tuloto, Lalovaea, in Apia, with grandma Ta'a Fidow. Le Afioga Masoe Joe Fidow, is promoted to the rank of Superintendent of the Samoan Police Service, our uncle, is now the head of the Fidow family in Tuloto. His older sister, Fotu Lamosi Sio, the original residents of the Tuloto property moves to Solosolo with her husband.
Ta'a Fidow purchases the Tuloto property outright. Masoe Joe Fidow is now a parity High Chief of Asau, through the Sa Masoe title, therefore, the Fidow family are now, finally, in parity to the Sa Tufuga line, or are now in parity to my grandmother's lineage.
We meet up with the rest of the Fidow clan, including Masoe Fidow's brother Frank Fidow, a landsurveyor, from the Department of Lands and Survey, in Togafu'afu'a, and his children. A very large family.
Fuifui Tufuga's offsprings are the least numerous, in Asau, and in Apia. In fact, the entire legacy of Fuifui Tufuga's offsprings, are no longer in Asau anymore but are all in Brisbane, Australia except for one son in Sydney. Fuifui Tufuga's offsprings in Brisbane are Frank Tufuga and Nive Tolua Tufuga Fanene. In Sydney lives, Philip Tolua-Bourne. (aka Philip Tufuga). They are my late mother, Mema Tufuga's younger half siblings. (A recent picture of Nive Tolua Tufuga Fanene)
There is no one left in Samoa. My grandmother has land in Asau but this land has been enveloped by the descendents of Lopao'o and Tae'i Lopao'o. (Picture of Lopao'o ma Tae'i taken in 1976).
She, Fuifui Tufuga, can return to Asau to reclaim what is her inheritance, which may also include the right to stake a claim for one of her descendents to claim the Sa Tufuga title for herside of the family.
It is highly unlikely thoughthat such a claim be made in this lifetime. Such is life.
The late, Lau Afioga Tufuga Pisa, is buried in Utuloa, Asau. He was the uncle of the present Afioga Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Efi, Le Tui A'ana. This picture is Tufuga Pisa, his wife Moe Tufuga, and their children, taken in Utuola, in 1976.
Moe's eldest son Mareko (Mark) Tufuga, returned to Texas, USA, to be with his father. I knew Efi and Mark , Moe's sons, in 1976 as my mates when I was visiting Asau as an 8 year old.
  
Mum introduces Rochelle and I to Grandpa, Tauvae Tuiletufuga, in Apia village. A very powerful looking man with grey hair who spoke kindly to his daughter. I had seen the village in which the capital of Samoa is named after. Tauvae Tuiletufuga is the son of Le Afioga Tuiletufuga Liu, the High Chief of Apia, and, in thus, the real pulenu'u (rulers) of Apia, or 'Vaimauga i Sisifo'. The original sitting member in Parliament from Apia, which is really known as Vaimauga I Sisifo, was the holder of the Sa Tuiletufuga title.
The designation of the 'Apia' electorate there are two electorates designated as Apia electorates, as Faipule (MPS), they are , in actual fact, are really non-customary landowners, or Palagi electorates.
(Pictured above are mum's half sister Polita, and her daughter, then the late Mema Tufuga, her father, the late 'Grandpa' Tauvae Tuiletufuga, and the late half twin brother of Mema, Talisa, in front is Ben another brother of mum. Mum is still the oldest of Tauvae's offsprings.) The real Apia landed gentry.
Faiaga Tuiletufuga's wedding in New Zealand. She becomes known as Faiaga Tuiletufuga Sekai. She is a soprano in the Taimane O Aotearoa. A traditional Samoan folks-music band.
Moreover, the real landowners, and, therefore, the real 'rulers', 'pulenu'u', of Apia, are those people eligible to vote in the 'Vaimauga I Sisifo' electorate. To clarify further, it is only the direct descendents from the Vaimauga area, (Apia proper), who are eligible to stand for elections, and or to vote, in national and local elections.
So my mum, and, therefore, my sister, and I, are true descendents of the true rulers of 'Apia proper'.
Moreover, the 35,000 people who live in Apia are merely freehold landowners, or renters, who are merely migrants from outside of Apia, which may, in this instance, include the entire Fidow clan. 
(The enclosed picture is them, The Fidows, when they were kids seeing my mum, sister, and I, back to New Zealand. Mathew Fidow is tucked behind Oliver, he is married now, has kids of his own, and also lives in Crestmead, in Queensland. In fact, everyone is married, and have families of their own in this picture).
We used to give these kids, as Kiwi Samoans, our clothes, money, and things, when they were kids. Ironically, some of these people have since become Australian citizens, and have Australian born children of their own, but more importantly, they almost know absolutely nothing of their parents upbringing. Paradoxically, I am still a Kiwi residing in Australia for he past twenty five or so years.
Moreover, from a political historical point of view, outsiders, or people who are not by birthright included within the Apia gafa as listed within the fa'alupega, then these people and their families are ineligible to vote in the 'Vaimauga I Sisifo' electorate. Unless, of course, they marry into the real Apia clan, and to enjoin within the gentrified fa'alupega gafa (or, the gentrified geneological agnation lines of Apia, and Vaimauga i Sisifo), these people are not regarded as the 'tagata o le nu'u', therefore, the Sa Tuiletufuga line, would also include my late mother, my sister, and I. Our present day family ties, from our ancestors are, intrinsically, a crucial part of the Apia fa'alupega.
We, that is to say, Mum, my sister, and I, returned to New Zealand, on January 1977. Mum and I plan to return again for 1977-78 period. |
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| 1977-78 return to Samoa again. |
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Mum and I return to Samoa. Rochelle remains in New Zealand this time because she had measles from her first trip and could not stand the heat and the water.
Mum is attends a Assembly of God conference, in Pago Pago, Tutuila. At age 8 years old I fly alone onto Faleolo Airport. Mum meets up with me after the conference.
I meet up with my father for the first time. Tausisi Amituana'i, an accountant. He works for the Audit Office, in the Treasury Department, in Apia. He is married with three children to Sonalote, an office typist. Then five children in 1986.
Sonalote Laufau, from Auala, Savai'i, was the eldest daughter of the Minister of the Auala Congregational Church. Her younger sister is married to Sala Vaimili, le lua, Tafaese Uili, from Vailele, a business entrepneur, and as the former Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, to the late Prime Minister of Samoa, Tofilau Efi.
Le Afioga Tofilau Eti, (PM), was in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM), meeting in 1997, and was hospitalised for cancer, the Samoan Prime Minister would return to Samoa and would pass away soon afterwards.
Therefore, Sala Vaimili, le lua, Tafaese Uili, as the former Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, is the brother in law of Fa'imanu Tausisi Amituana'i's, Rochelle and Tim Tufuga's real father.
In 2006, my father, Lau Afioga Fa'imanu Tausisi Amituana'i, at 66 years of age, is still working as an accountant, and chief auditor, at the Audit Office, for the Samoan government, in the Eleelefou, in Apia, Samoa. He is almost due for his golden handshake.
My father's credentials.
Ole fa'alupega o Sala'ilua, Savai'i, Samoa.
SALA’ILUA
Tulouna a oe Salemuli’aga
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Oulua matua o Tuato ma Tolova’a
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Lau Afioga a Leulua’ialii
Susu mai alii o Paepae
Tulouna a lo outou aiga Alo o Sina
Afio mai lau Afioga a Lealaitafea
Tulouna le aiga sa Amituana’i
Susu mai lau susuga a Savaiinaea
Tulouna a oulua suafa o Mulipola ma Mulipola
Susu mai lo outou aiga sa La’ulu
Alaala mai oe le nuu faigata ma lau fetalaiga a Faatoafe
Ole Fa'alupega o Fogatuli, Savai'i, Samoa.
FOGATULI
Tulouna lau Afioga a Afualo ma ou alo to’afa
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Lau fetalaiga a Fa’imanu o le fofoga o Usoalii
We return to Asau, Savai'i, once again, and back to Apia. travel around Upolu sightseeing. |
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| 1981 migration to Brisbane, Australia. |
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In 1981, after spending seventeen years working and being a mother in New Zealand rearing up two children on her own. My mother migrated to Brisbane, Australia, where she was employed in the Leo Josephsen clothing and textile company as an examiner in Milton, Brisbane. Later on she sends her two offsprings to be with her in West End, South Brisbane.
Whilst remaining in Porirua, Rochelle and Tim were under the guardianship of their aunty Nive Tolua Tufuga and their Grandmother, Fuifui Tufuga. This was until mid December, 1981 when Rochelle Tauvae, Tim Tauvae, and, Nive Tolua Tufuga's first born daughter, Reejoice (Fotu) Tufuga, (Fotu, then, was just over one years old then), had departed Wellington International Airport for Brisbane to meet up with Mema Tufuga. Later on, Baby Reejoice Fotu Tufuga becomes known as Reejoice Fotu Fanene, when her mother weds her father Tovi'o David Fanene.
In 1982, I, Tim Tufuga, was enrolled in Brisbane State High School. We were all suffering from cultural shock and my sister was fortunate to return to NZ in January, 1982.
My sister, Rochelle, returned to Brisbane, in 1984. Before she arrived my mother had finally become naturalised as an Australian in 1984.
Mum's workmates at Leo Josephsen, manufacturers of Lee Cooper clothing wear, in Milton, Brisbane, now relocated in NSW.
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| 1984 Australian Citizenship for Mema Siala Tufuga. |
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In June, 1984. Before Lord Mayor Harvey, Miss Mema Siala Tufuga, becomes naturalised as an Australian citizen.
Her offsprings are still in New Zealand. Rochelle had returned to New Zealand on January 1982. Tim returned to New Zealand in December 1982.
We insisted that mum returned to New Zeland but she refused because of work commitments. Mum still works in Milton, Brisbane.
Later on, in 1984, Rochelle leaves Aotea College, Porirua, and returns to Brisbane and remains in Brisbane never to return to New Zealand.
Tim, begrudgingly, returns to Brisbane, in May, 1985. Leaves Aotea College, after form 4 and 5, then enters form 6, but leaves mid term to return to Brisbane. Re-enrols into Brisbane State High School, mid semester, as a grade 11. |
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| 1986 moved from West End and Dutton Park to Beenleigh. |
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Mum moves to Wardell Crescent in Beenleigh. She remains here until 2000 when she moves to Crestmead. Crestmead is her final place of residency before she passess away. |
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| December 1986- January 1987 Mum's final return to Samoa. |
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We return to Samoa from Brisbane this time. We travel via Noumea, New Caledonia, and land in Faleolo Airport, Samoa.
I meet up with my father once again whilst he is playing lawn bowls at the Tanoa Bowls Club, in Apia Park. My father, although a CPA Accountant, represents Samoa in Lawn Bowls.
I visit Fa'imanu Tausisi Amituana'i's residence, in To'omatagi, Apia.
We still remain in Tuloto, Lalovaea, Apia, at Masoe Joe Fidow's residence. Grandma Ta'a Fidow has passed away, she died in 1982, her grave is in the Tuloto residence.
Le Afioga Masoe Joe Fidow is now the Chief Warden of the Tafa'igata Prison, the national prison of Samoa. I, Tim Tufuga, would travel with my uncle to Tafa'igata to inspect the prisoners and the guards. He is third in rank from the Commissioner of Police in Samoa.
There is yet another AOG conference in the Apia Park Stadium. Rochelle performs live by singing a song before hundreds of Samoans from all over the world, she is a representative from the Australian delegation.
Mum visits Asau for the last time. People are aging and are dying. The next generation local villagers do not recall the existence of my mother, and even my grandmother.
It is a somber return to Beenleigh, Queensland, Australia. Mum will never return to Samoa. |
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| 1988 Tim leaves home and lives with his father in Samoa. |
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Mema and Rochelle do not return to Samoa for this Christmas season. Tim travels to Samoa and lives with Fa'imanu Tausisi Amituana'i with his wife and now five children in To'omatagi, Apia, Samoa.
Dad insists that Tim assumes his surname whilst he is living with him in Samoa. Henceforth, I am known as Tim Amituana'i whilst in Samoa at University and whilst playing rugby league and international rugby league during the Pacific Cup, at age 20.
I travel back to Brisbane to spend Christmas with mum and sister.
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| 1989 Tim leaves Beenleigh once again for Samoa. |
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Cousins visit mum in Beenleigh, including Ivoga Fidow, Masoe Fidow's daughter.
More of the Fidow clan arrive as migrants from Samoa to Brisbane.
Tim returns to Samoa from Brisbane, in February, 1989. Returns to second year university studies at the National University of Samoa. Plays rugby League for Apia rugby club. Plays rugby union for SCOPA.
In November Tim returns to be with Mema and Rochelle (or Ta'a), in Brisbane. Tim prepares for New Zealand to enrol at Victoria University of Wellington as an undergraduate. |
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| 1990 Mum and Rochelle are enticed into the Seventh Day Adventist faith. |
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The protestant version of the Fidow family entices my sister and my mother to become Seventh Day Adventists.
Tim remains an undergraduate student, in Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. Trials out for the NZ Universities team, but, is injured in Dunedin. |
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| 1991 Rochelle Tauvae (Rochelle Tufuga) becomes naturalised as an Australian. |
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Rochelle, or Ta'a, Tufuga, is finally naturalised as an Australian citizen, she is an Australian as Rochelle Christine Tauvae. She still assumes Rochelle Tufuga in all her identification purposes using her mother's deed poll, as executed, in 1974, in Wellington, New Zealand.
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| 1992 Mum returns to New Zealand to see her son. |
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Mema arrives in Wellington, New Zealand, as an Australian, and goes to Porirua, after nearly nine years absence. She returns because her son Tim was criminally assaulted in Motueka sustaining a fractured skull in New Years eve after being assaulted by a group of men, in Fearons Bush Campsite, Motueka, South Island, New Zealand, when Tim was a backpacker and working around South Island, whilst on a working holiday from university studies, with his Maori girlfriend Sharlene Gardiner, also an undergraduate at the same university.
After two weeks in New Zealand Mema is satisfied that Tim will recover well. Mema returns to Brisbane. |
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| 1993 Tim returns to Beenleigh from Wellington, New Zealand. |
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We are reunited at long last.
Tim enrols at the University of Queensland as an undergraduate completing his BA degree majoring in political science.
Enrols as Tim Amituana'i. |
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| November 27th, 1993. Tim is assaulted once again, sustaining a fractured jaw. |
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More stress for Mema Tufuga, her son is assaulted once again in Toowong in Brisbane. This time Tim Amituana'i retaliates. Tim is arrested and charged for GBH. |
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| December 4th, 1994. Tim graduates from UQ, and is sentenced to three years imprisonment for GBH. |
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The strange twist of fate. Tim finally graduates from university. After working as a youth researcher, and as rugby league player Tim is arraigned before the Brisbane Law Courts. He is sentenced to three years imprisonment for GBH. It is Mema's son's first time offence. Prior to this, he had car driving traffic violations only.
Mema had insisted that Tim should have pleaded his innocence since this was the truth of the mitigation factors. The counsel tendered from the legal aid office was for the prosecutor's case.
The downward path for our family would accelerate.
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| 1995 Mum and Rochelle joins the American First Assembly of God Church. |
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Mum returns to the Assembly of God fraternity and helps establish
the American First Samoan Assembly of God Church. The congregation is small and soon splinters. The lack of cohesion and funds means that Mum and Rochelle lose out in support and the fragmentation of the congregation is confirmed with Tim's case.
Tim is obsessed with appealing the conviction to no avail. |
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| 1997 Tim walks to NSW is in breach of his parole conditions is imprisoned and finally Mum and sister pay for his flight to join his father in Samoa. |
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1997, Mema pays for her son's flight from Brisbane to Samoa.
Whilst in Samoa Tim is unable to find employment. Then returns to New Zealand.
Mema is frustrated in seeing that she is weakening further and her son is still the root cause of her stress. |
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| January, 1998. Beenleigh Police assault Mema Tufuga at the Police Station foyer. |
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When Tim is arguing with the QPS at the Beenleigh Police Station ranting over the police setting Tim up in the past. The Police decide to arrest Tim for causing a public disturbance. Then decide to up the charge to assaulting police officers. During the melee my sister and mother are in the police station foyer listening in and then proceed to investigate the situation by approaching Tim and the Police men who are gathering around Tim.
Mema is grappled and physically removed with hair pulling and a firm grip over her arms and shoulders by two male officers. Mema is thrown out of the station door onto the pavement. She sustains superficial contuscions and complains of headaches afterwards.
Rochelle is detained with hairpulling and immobilisation manouvres by officers, and she is arrested, and is charged for assaulting police officers. Rochelle is handcuffed and dragged to the watchouse cell, she alleges that she was punched and thrown against the cell wall. She is also charged for assaulting police officers.
Tim is knocked to the ground with a full nelson hold grabbed from behind by one of three arresting officers. A forth arrives in the front. Tim is blacked out and is carried to the cell. Tim is also charged with assaulting police officers.
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| 1998-99 Mema Tufuga's condition hastenly deteriorates. |
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Mema is weakening and her son is still trying to find employment in New Zealand. He is forced to become a backpacker in New Zealand. There is no family in New Zealand. Tim finally returns to Beenleigh. Still unemployed.
With a BA degree, from UQ, majoring in political science, Tim is unemployable.
He leaves Mum again to do fruitpicking in Ardmona, in Victoria, Griffith, in New South Wales, and, in Barmera, near Kingston-on-Murray, in South Australia.
They paid me less than the dole and so I had quit all these places for the indentured slavery conditions they would subject me to and so I had gone to the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra, to explain my dire straits situation.
Then, as the last resort, whilst I was in Sydney, it was to ask mum for help, and she did, once again, as she paid for my airfare to travel back to New Zealand.
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| 2000, Mema Tufuga is now totally and permanently disabled, in Crestmead. |
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In June 2000.
Mema is wheelchair bound, from Beenleigh, and, finally, is given a house in 2 Wallace Street, in Crestmead.
Less than two years later Mema Tufuga's condition is considered terminal. When Tim returns from NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and New Zealand, in October, 2000, he is surprised at the deteriorated state of his mother.
I have enclosed a Qld Government's Department of Housing Report, assessing the disability of my late mother in less than eighteen months before her death. compare this report to her official death certificate, issued 28th March, 2002, She died on the 4th March, 2002.
Tim Tufuga 6th November, 2006. |
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| 2001, 911, the floor is finally completed, and finally the truth, Mum is dying from Cervical cancer, some doctor decides a spinal tap is needed. |
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Around three thousand dollars and Tim Tufuga's efforts later the parquetry flooring was laid. This was in August, 2001.
This is the last time I saw a sense of satisfaction in the eyes of my mother as she was now dying with her mystery illness.
After the 911 Mum's condition worsens so that by December, 2001, she is discharging litres of blood all over her bed. She is admitted to hospital. Is finally diagnosed as dying from cervical cancer.
Strangely though the medical experts decide that she needs an operation on her backside. This completely bemuses her offsprings.
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| 4th March, 2002. |
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Mema Siala Tufuga passed away in the Logan Hospital, on March 04, 2002, at the age of 56, from cervical cancer. She was diagnosed, officially, as suffering from Post menopausel bleeding, with severe osteo arthritis, causing a debilitating crippling illness, therefore, rendering Mema wheelchair bound. This is the official medical version. In fact, she was dying from cancer and no GP would inform her, or her family, of her real condition until it was way too late. So, she died as suddenly as we were finally informed of the true diagnosis of my late mother's condition.
 
Grandma Fuifui Tufuga has had two strokes. At age 82, she too has resigned with the fact that Brisbane is the final destinatiion for herself and her offsprings from Utuloa, Asau, Savai'i, Samoa.
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