By Lagi Keresoma/
Apia, SAMOA – 14 June 2024 – One of the highlights of the 100th anniversary of Avele College was the opening of their Sinaleavele Samoan Fale which costs around $600,000.
The project was co-funded by various Avele College Old Pupils Association (ACOPA) groups from New Zealand, Australia, American Samoa, United States of America and Samoa and it took 6 months to complete.
The opening followed the school parade down Beach Road Apia where Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa congratulated and saluted the colleges contribution in various fields in the development of Samoa since it was established in 1924.
The honour to cut the ribbon to officially open Sinaleavele was given to former student from the Cook Islands who is also the King’s representative in Rarotonga, His Highness Tom Masters.
He was emotional as he remembers his days at Avele from 1960 to 1963.
“I could live it all over again,” he said.
The King’s representative in Rarotonga, His Highness Tom Masters, a former student, speaking before cutting the ribbon to open the new Fale.
Avele takes pride in the new Samoan Fale as this was a collective effort from all Avele Old Pupils Association (ACOPA) around the world.
Under the leadership of the Fundraising Committee Chairman, Cabinet Minister Olo Fiti Vaai, each group presented their own donations to the committee when they had the chance.
ACOPA New Zealand was the last group to present ST$100,000 to the committee early this week.
Despites its beautiful structure, the committee Secretary, Leiataualesa Tagilima said there is still work to be done.
“There will be an extension to the back of the Samoan Fale and we are also working on having a monument with the names of everyone present during the 100th anniversary imprinted on the monument which will be installed in-front of the Fale,” he said.
Images from the past of Avele College fales used as classrooms when it started in 1924.
Tagilima also confirmed they had to remove the monument already erected before the celebrations official programme began on Tuesday evening as it did not have all the names that needed to be printed on it.
Following the opening of Sinaleavele Fale, the current students then performed a brief welcoming Ava ceremony.
The invited guest schools provided entertainment; St. Marys College representing the Catholic Mission Schools, Papauta School representing all Congregational Christian mission Schools, Leififi College representing the Government schools and Wesley College for the Methodist Mission schools.
Wesley College Boys dance representing the Methodist schools performing at the Avele 100 years celebrations.
Despite the slight showers, the rolling green hills and mountain range surrounding the iconic college grounds provided a certain spiritual atmosphere who only the Avele students know, is permeated by the legend of Sinalavele – who the 100 years anniversary Fale is named.
ACOPA groups from abroad could not contain themselves but took advantage of every opportunity to join in the schools taualuga and dances.
There seems to be a competition amongst the ACOPA groups as who could throw the most of their money and highest in the air to show their support or a challenge to others.
The challenge was well taken by ACOPA New Zealand who called out to put a bigger box in-front for them to fill.
A heavy downpour fell towards the end of entertainment but it did not dampen the known Avele spirit that is certain to live on another 100 years.
The Papauta Girls College performing at the celebrations.
