 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
(O le ata lenei o le susuga o Fuifui Tolua Tufuga, le tina o Mema Tufuga) |
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| 21st July, 1945. Utuloa, Asau, Savai'i, Samoa. |
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Le susuga Ms. Tumema Siala Tolua Tufuga was born in Utuloa, Asau, i le pulega o Vaisigano. Mema, is Fuifui Tolua Tufuga's first born to Le susuga Tauvae Tuiletufuga, from Apia, on the 21st July, 1945.
Le susuga Mr. Tauvae Tuiletufuga, was third son of the High Chief of Apia, Le afioga Tuiletufuga Liu.
Tumema Siala Tufuga nee Tauvae was the only child to this conception.
Mema only has half siblings from both matrillineal and patrillineal sides.
(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.
Ta'a Fidow is first born daughter of Lopao'o Pagia and Nive Lopao'o. After Lopao'o Pagia passing Nive re-marries to a son of the holder of the Ali'i title of Tufuga from Matavai, Asau, le susuga Mr. Tolua Tufuga. Subsequently, Lote and Fuifui, as full blood sisters, are the only daughters from this conception of Tolua Tufuga and Nive Tolua Tufuga.
Therefore, Ta'a being the eldest half sibling of Fuifui, by some twenty years her senior, assumes a maternal role. She accepts Mema within her fold in Tuloto, Lalovaea, Apia for formative education in Apia.
At the tender age of 18, in 1964, two years after Samoa's independence from New Zealand, as part of the bilateral friendship treaty between Samoa and New Zealand governments, a free migration policy exists whereby Samoans may migrate to New Zealand unfettered by quota restrictions. Amongst these migrants is Mema Tauvae.
Mema boards a ship bound for Auckland harbour, via, Suva, Fiji. In 1964, Mema Tauvae arrives in Auckland New Zealand and proceeds directly to Christchurch New Zealand where she is billeted by her cousin, a daughter of Ta'a Fidow, Viva Fidow Sila. Mema remains in Christchurch from 1964 till 1968.
In 1966, Mema meets my future father Tausisi Laugutu Te'o, aka, Tausisi Amituana'i, a Saint Bedes College scholarship intern, from Samoa, subsequently, Tausisi becomes a Canturbury University Bacholar of Commerce undergraduate.
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, originally from Tuloto before moving to Solosolo. |
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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, Tumema is a biblical translation of Thurmin, the twelve precious jewels on the breastplate of the Jewish high priests in the old testament) she meets and befriends August (Aukuso) Smith, a scholar from Samoa. Lawrence August Tauvae, was born 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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Mema Siala Tauvae converts from catholicism to the Assembly of God faith, whilst she is still in Christchurch, through her friends Vanu and Va Toma.
Mema moves up to Wellington to stay with her cousin George and his first wife Margaret Fidow.
Mema joins Pastor Fereti Ama's congregation, with the Wellington Assembly of God Church, which was then having services in Vivian Street, Wellington. Pastor Ama moves to Porirua, Mema and her two children in tow move to Porirua as well. Mema becomes amongst the foundation members of the Porirua Samoan Assembly of church.
Porirua a growing city focused around a newly established motor vehicle manufacturing company The Todd Motors. The Royal New Zealand police college is situated in Porirua, opened in 1976 by Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Mema had worked for the New Zealand post doing the grave yard shift at night and being a mum during the day.
  
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.
Mema '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 Tim and Rochelle's surrogate younger brothers whilst at Windley Primary School, and Porirua East Primary School respectively, during the 1970s.
Mema was strict and yet tolerant of the mischevious antics of the Lafaele brothers. A fairly normal childhood upbringing with the Lafaele kids Tim, uncle Philip, who was really only two years older than Rochelle.
My uncle Philip, Mema's youngest half sibling, partook the family White Sunday plays throughout these formative years. Mema was the score music selector/script writer/director and producer of these plays.
Mema was notorious as a director of Sunday School plays, when she was a sunday school teacher. She was strict, but fair, she would always reward her charges with presents/goodies and very nice food as treats, after White Sunday plays, or sunday school presentations, and or 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 acceptable? true blemish of Mema's, oft times, authoritarian regime. Later on, after her strict ritualistic religious regime, and very long winded lotu's, or family prayer sessions, which would unfortunately, deter many from wanting to become a born again Christian. Mema had mellowde to become more conciliatory and authoritative which could only about with age and accrued wisdom.
She loved singing and she would encourage everyone to end up becoming vocalists or musicianists.
Mema enjoyed watching sport, including rugby league, and rugby union. Her favourite event was watching swimming in the Olympics and Commonwealth games.
Nowadays, in the late 1990s and early 2000. 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 with her two children in tow travel to Samoa. Departing from Wellington Airport on a NAC flight to Auckland. Then flying in a Pan Am DC8 flight to Nukualofa, Tonga, then onto PagoPago, American Samoa. Connecting onto a Fokker Turbo Prop flight to Faleolo Airport, in Mulifanua, Upolu, Samoa.
The Faleolo airport is the first impression of Samoa for Mema's offsprings. Then the excitement continues in a James Michener inspired scenic drive to Tuloto, Lalovaea, in Apia, to meet once again with grandma Ta'a Fidow. Le Afioga Masoe Joe Fidow, who is promoted to the rank of Superintendent of the Samoan Police Service is now the head of the Fidow family in Tuloto.
Eventually, the return to Asau village to revisit loved ones.
In late 1976. Lopao'o Pagia and wife Tae'i, in front of their home in Utuloa, Asau.
The late le afioga Tufuga Pisa, his wife, my aunty Moe Tufuga, and offsprings. photo taken in 1976.
  
A picture of one of Fuifui Tufuga's siblings and uncle of Mema Tolua Tufuga Le susuga Lotu Lotu alongside, daughter of Lopao'o Pagia, Puleono, carrying baby.
Meanwhile the return to Apia to visit the Patrillinealside of Mema Tolua Tufuga's family.
Mema introduces Rochelle and Tim to her father, Le susuga Mr. Tauvae Tuiletufuga, in Apia village. A very powerful looking man with grey hair who spoke kindly to his daughter. Le susuga Tauvae Tuiletufuga, an impressively imposing man and a son of Le Afioga Tuiletufuga Liu, the High Chief of Apia, whose official geo-political constituency designation is 'Vaimauga i sisifo' whereby the original landed gentry of Apia are politically represented.
Nb. this is not to be mistaken with the two 'Apia electorates', or Faipule, within the Samoan parliament. The Apia electorate seats in Samoan parliament are Palagi (non-Samoan) parliamentary seats and are not the landed gentry of Apia.
(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.
(The offsprings of Frank and Masoe Joe Fidow at Faleolo airport in 1976.
Mema, her daughter Rochelle, or Ta'a as she was also known by family, and Tim, returned to New Zealand, on January 1977.
A return trip is planned for 1977-78 Christmas New Years period.
Enclosed picture of Tauvae Tuiletufuga |
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| 1977-78 return to Samoa again. |
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In December, 1977, Mema and Tim return to Samoa. Rochelle remains in New Zealand this time because she had the 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 Tim travels alone onto Faleolo Airport. Mema will meet up with Tim after the conference.
Tim would meet up with his biological father for the first time. Tausisi Amituana'i, an accountant, employed as a Samoan government public servant as an Auditor. Fa'imanu works for the Audit Office, in the Treasury Department, in Apia. He is married with three children to Sonalote, from Auala, Savai'i, who in 1977-78 was an office typist. They have five children.
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
Mema and Tim return to Asau, Savai'i, once again, and back to Apia. Mema and Tim 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. Mema had 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 for her two offsprings to be with her in West End, in South Brisbane, in December 1981.
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, Tim Tufuga, was enrolled in Brisbane State High School. Suffering from acute cultural shock Rochelle was fortunate to return to NZ in January, 1982.
Rochelle had returned to Brisbane, in 1984. By then Mema 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 the then Brisbane City Lord Mayor Harvey, Miss Mema Siala Tufuga, becomes naturalised as an Australian citizen.
Mema's offsprings are still in New Zealand, except that Rochelle, begrudgingly, returns to Brisbane in 1984 during a time when Mema has become naturalised. Tim had returned to New Zealand in December 1982 and in 1984 was still schooling at Aotea College, in Porirua.
Mema's offsprings were persistent in wanting to return to New Zealand but to no avail. Mema was committed to her work and wanted to remain in Brisbane. Mema still works in the Leo Josephsen Lee Cooper clothing and textile company, in Milton, Brisbane, for the rest of the 1980s decade.
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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Mema moves from Grantham Street, at Highgate Hill to Beenleigh. Rochelle has finished from Coorparoo State High School and completes a Lorraine Martin business College course and is employed as a clerical assistant in the Brisbane CBD. Mema moves to Wardell Crescent in Beenleigh. Tim is completing senior at Brisbane State High School.
Mema remain in Beenleigh for fouteen years until June 2000, when Mema is disabled and is wheelchair bound and finally makes the move to Crestmead, Logan City.
Crestmead in Logan City, would be the last place of residence for Mema Tufuga. |
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| December 1986- January 1987 Mum's final return to Samoa. |
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December 1986 till January, 1987. Mema Tufuga's final visit to Samoa. This time Mema and her two offsprings departs from Brisbane this time. Travelling to Samoa in a modified 737 travelling via, Noumea, New Caledonia, and landing in Faleolo Airport, Samoa.
Tim and Rochelle meet up with their father once again whilst he is playing lawn bowls at the Tanoa Bowls Club, in Apia Park. Fa'imanu amongst other interests, is an obsessive lawnbowler, he represents Samoa in official international competition in Lawn Bowls.
Tim and Rochelle visit Fa'imanu Tausisi Amituana'i's residence, in To'omatagi, Apia.
Meanwhile, Mema and her offsprings still remain billeted in Tuloto, Lalovaea, Apia, at Masoe Joe Fidow's residence.
Grandma Ta'a Fidow had passed away in 1982, her grave is in front of the Tuloto residence.
Le Afioga Masoe Joe Fidow is now the Chief Warden of the Tafa'igata Prison, the national prison of Samoa. Tim Tufuga, would travel with his uncle to Tafa'igata national prison of Samoa so as to inspect the prisoners and the guards.
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 ageing now 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. Mema 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.
Fa'imanu Amituana'i insists that Tim assumes his surname whilst he is living with him in Samoa. Henceforth, in 1989, Tim Tauvae (or Tim Tufuga) is 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.
Tim travels back to Brisbane to spend Christmas with his mother Mema and sister, before returning to Samoa for 1989 studies at the National University of Samoa.
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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. Miss Rochelle Christine Ta'apuleonosalafai Tufuga officially registers her name change (nee Rochelle Christine Ta'a Tauvae) through the Queensland State government's Births, deaths and marrriages registry.
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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 on New Years eve after being assaulted by a group of men, in the Fearons Bush Campsite, Motueka, South Island, New Zealand. Tim was a University undergrad. and travelling as a backpacker and working around South Island. The New Zealand police drop criminal proceedings due to Tim's inability to recall accurately what had happened to him.
After two weeks in New Zealand Mema is satisfied that Tim will recover well. Mema returns to Brisbane
Tim returns to university studies at Victoria University of Wellington. Tim defers studies being unable to continue due to extenuating circumstances. Perhaps it would have something to do with Motueka.
In July, 1992, Tim Amituanai, is selected for international rugby league honours for Samoa for the up and coming rugby league world cup to be held in Sydney, Australia in August, 1992.
Rochelle meets Tim in Sydney in 1992. |
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| 1993 Tim returns to Beenleigh from Wellington, New Zealand. |
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In February, 1993, after an absence of some 3 years, Tim is reunited with Mema and sister Rochelle at long last. Prior to 1993 Tim was in Samoa from 1988-89 and making it 5 years away from Brisbane, Australia.
Tim enrols at the University of Queensland as an undergraduate completing his BA degree majoring in political science.
Enrols at the University of Queensland as Tim Amituana'i. |
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| November 27th, 1993. Tim is assaulted once again, sustaining a fractured jaw. |
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November, 1993, More stress for Mema Tufuga, her son, Tim Amituanai (Tim Tufuga), whilst celebrating end of year examinations from the University of Queensland, goes out for a drink with a friend at the Royal Exchange Hotel (RE) in Toowong, Brisbane City, when the nights drinking is over, Tim waits for a taxi in Sherwood Road, Toowong, whilst waiting Tim is assaulted by a man who punches Tim from behind. Tim sustains a fractured jaw. In response to this assault Tim Amituana'i retaliates and fights his assailants. Tim is arrested and is instead of being a victim of assault is instead charged for Grevious Bodily Harm (GBH) by the Queensland Police Service.
It is considered an outrage by Mema and Tim but this is Queensland. |
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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 the University of Queensland with a BA degree, majoring in government studies.
After working as a youth researcher, and as rugby league player, Tim is arraigned before the Brisbane Law Courts.
Without having a trial by jury Tim is advised by legal counsel and by his father to enter a mitigation influenced plea of guilt. Tim is sentenced to three years imprisonment for GBH a first time offence of this nature. It is Mema's son's first time offence of violence. Prior to this criminal conviction, Tim had car driving traffic violations offences only.
Mema had insisted that Tim should have pleaded his innocence.
The downward path for our family would accelerate.
 
December 4th, 1994, Tim is imprisoned for GBH. |
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| 1995 Mum and Rochelle joins the American First Assembly of God Church. |
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Mema and her daughter 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 his conviction but 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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In September, 1995, Tim is out on parole from prison. He is unemployable due to his conviction. Still single and a University graduate Tim has no option for employment anywhere.
1997, Tim breaches parole conditions by walking to New South Wales. The Queensland Correctional services imprisons Tim for the duration of his sentence.
Mema pays for her son's flight from Brisbane to Samoa.
Whilst in Samoa Tim is unable to find employment. Then in December 1997, Tim returns to New Zealand.
Mema is weakening further and her son is still trying to find work in Samoa, then in New Zealand. Eventually, Tim is forced to return to Brisbane in 1998. |
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| January, 1998. Beenleigh Police assault Mema Tufuga at the Police Station foyer. |
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Tim is unemployable in Queensland, New Zealand and Samoa, he blames the Queensalnd police services for this unfair treatment arguing with the QPS at the Beenleigh Police Station and ranting over an allegation of the police setting Tim up in the past. The Beenleigh Police decide to arrest Tim for causing a public disturbance. Then decide to up the charge to assaulting police officers. During the melee Rochelle and Mema enter 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, a scuffle ensue during the arresting process Mema and Rochelle are physically removed by police. Rochelle is arrested and charged with assaulting police officers.
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. Tim is renderred unconscious is carried to a holding 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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January 1998, Tim and Rochelle have criminal convictions from the Queensalnd Police service for assaulting policemen. Outrageous as it may sound. A fine is imposed.
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 still unemployable.
Tim leaves Beenleigh once again to do fruitpicking in Ardmona, in Victoria, as well as Griffith, in New South Wales, and, in Barmera, near Kingston-on-Murray, in South Australia.
They pay Tim less than the dole and so quits fruitpicking for the indentured slavery conditions.
In April 2000, Mema pays for Tim's return flight to Wellington, New Zealand, from Sydney.
Mema's condition has deteriorated whilst her son is still seeking employment interstate and now is New Zealand bound once again. |
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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 his job hunting in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and New Zealand, in October, 2000.
Tim is surprised at the deteriorated state of his mother.
Mema Tufuga's condition is unknown to everyone including Mema. It is officially known as a case of debilitating osteo-arthritis with severe menapausel bleeding, and the prognosis is palliative care. It is not known until three weeks from her death that she was, in fact, suffering from a terminal cancer of the cervix. Instead, the medical prognosis insisted that a spinal tap for a secondary cancer ought to be made on Mema.
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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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| Australia Day 2009. An Australian Citizen at last |
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Tim Tufuga becomes naturalised as an Australian citizen after 27 years living in Australia.
Tim Tufuga today doing running, swimming and cycling.
This is Tim and Rochelle Tufuga, siblings spending christmas together in 2008-2009 at home.
We have remained in Crestmead and insisting upon surviving in an otherwise inimical environment.
The Health Rights Commission, the Queensland Health Authorities and the Queensland government, have rejected all entreaties made by Tim Tufuga regarding the late Mema Tufuga's medical conditions.
The diagnosis and subsequent prognosis which surrounded her final moments were best described as medically very equivocal, resulting in an acrimonious and a tragic outcome for the bereaved.
Needless to say, in order to preserve the late Mema Tufuga's memories, both tragic and nostalgic, Tim and Rochelle, have insisted upon surviving and remaining resilient in the face of extreme adversity.
Forgive the offsprings of Mema Tufuga for causing any spurriously contrived offence to anyone. However, this is only a humble journey by a stoic mother with her offsprings hanging onto her apron strings in the Antipodes.
Tofa Soifua
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