from w
Despite my desire to be quiet for a while, I think the launch of the Talanoa Fiji exhibition in Melbourne this afternoon is worth talking about. It was a delightful experience to meet up with more than two hundred Fiji people, many we know, some new faces, see fine traditional dancing, enjoy meeting one another, then viewing the exhibition about Fiji people migrating to Australia, particularly to Victoria. Peceli was one of the leaders of the opening prayers which he led in Hindi, Fijian and English. Other leaders in prayer were Pandit Abhay Awasthi and Mr Barkat Ali. The Master of Ceremonies were Neitani Coriakula and Miss Arti Nandan and other speakers were Vijay Dalipram, Audrey Dropsy and Torike Sanerive. The meke ni yaqona vakaturaga was performed by the youth from the Fiji community in Chadstone and the seasea dance by former students of Adi Cakobau School. The launcher was the Deputy High Commissioner from Canberra. Bale Sigabalavu was one of the organizers.
We barely talked about the current situation in Fiji, just talked about old times and what life is like as migrants today. The formalities included speeches and a meke ni yaqona. Informal moments were plentiful as the afternoon wore on, with spontaneous dancing as we all know happens and a Fijian guy, Inoke, singing a very funny Hindi song. Other singers were Joseph Chetti and Lani who sang 'Imagine' by John Lennon.
The way the world should be, absolutely.
More photos are on the Geelong Visual Diary blog.
Wendy, these pictures are fantastic. It must have been a lot of fun! I wasn't able to make it to the launch but I will certainly head down to the exhibition ASAP!
ReplyDeleteHello Kirstie, Bad luck you weren't there as it was such an enjoyable afternoon. I didn't have much time to look at the exhibition itself so will go back sometime. On the way home we visited a Fijian friend who works Security in a Werribee hotel and that was informative of how hard some of the Fiji people work as they establish their families, homes, etc. as migrants.
ReplyDeletew.
Hello Wendy and fai'aksea for putting up this post and photos. I'm disappointed I couldn't make it but very glad to see the Rotuman community represented there too. It would have been a good opportunity to discuss the democracy movement growing out of Sydney and the Melbourne response to it. Thanks again, I'll be sure to head down and check out the displays
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos, thank you Wendy for the coverage. Its good to know lots of positives vibes are created from the show despite the negatives occurring in Fiji...
ReplyDeleteOh wow, lovely to see ACSOG performing. Aunty Bale you look well. Isa Juniors grown, Wish i was there. Oilei Pst Peceli (Right right right)Dils, London.
ReplyDeleteI was watching Pacific Pulse the other night on the ABC's iView online and I saw this man who looked familiar and it's been bugging me where I had seen him before from until today!
ReplyDeleteIt's Peceli!
http://australianetwork.com/pacificpulse/stories/2643577.htm
Hello Cieart,
ReplyDeleteYes Peceli has his (very brief) moment on that ABC program. Actually the ABC TV guy talked with him for fifteen minutes but apparently only half a minute rated being used! I checked out your blog and hey, write more often and tell us more about your life and art and the whole darn thing!
Wendy
Er...what? What's poems got to do with the price of fish and this blog?
ReplyDeletew.