Wed DEC 10, 2003

Happy Gold Jubilee, Samoa College 

Savea Sano Malifa

The Samoa Observer Group of Newspapers is delighted to be part of Samoa College’s Golden Jubilee celebrations starting today.

We’re honoured to think that we’ve played a part – albeit a small one in a supportive role mainly - in making this remarkable tribute to a fine school, possible.

And at this point, we extend our warm welcome to former teachers and pupils living overseas, but who have travelled over to take part in these memory-invoking celebrations.

We’re talking about those from New Zealand, Australia, the United States and American Samoa.

To think that they’ve come all this way to pay tribute to the school that opened their minds to the wonders of today’s free-thinking world, has dealt a jolt to the spirit.

Two years ago, Samoa College Old Pupils Association sat down to decide how to commemorate their school’s Golden Jubilee.

TAKING THE LEAD\

So an executive was picked to get things moving, with President Leota Ituau Ale taking the lead in making things happen. Leota, by the way, also has a Masters, not just a BA as the editorial in the Sunday Samoan, 7 December, said.

Approval of first class celebrations to mark the historical event followed, so three committees were chosen to look after Finance, Food and Beverages and Programmes.

And as our readers, Samoa College old pupils, their parents and supporters will agree, the preparations leading up to today’s celebrations have been on target.

The celebrations begin this evening with prayers and thanksgiving.

This is followed by the launching of the History of Samoa College – a compilation of works by old students themselves later painstakingly put together by a small group of dedicated individuals. Theirs is a contribution to be treasured.

Then there will be cocktails and entertainment to finish off tonight’s part of the celebrations.

Tomorrow morning at 7.30, a march of old pupils starts from Vaisigano Bridge westward behind the Police Band and Members of Cabinet. At Government Buildings later, the Flag of Freedom will be raised.

The celebrations then move to Samoa College at Vaivase where they continue. 

PRAYER SERVICE

Rev. Oka Fauolo conducts the prayer service, to be followed by an address by New Zealand High Commissioner, Dr Penelope Ridings.

Acting Prime Minister Misa Telefoni Retzlaff then delivers the keynote address, to be followed by an address by SCOPA President, Leota.

Food is served, entertainment will be provided, and the day’s events wind up with lunch at 1 pm.

Friday is SCOPA Day devoted mainly to matters pertaining to the Multipurpose Hall being planned, membership registration, entertainment.

And lastly, there’s the Golden Jubilee Ball at the Kitano Tusitala Hotel at 7 pm, not to be missed.

But what’s there to look for in these sorts of birthday celebrations? Well, for one thing, this one is everyone’s party. That is everyone who has been to Samoa College. And every one of them has his rusty story to tell. Stories about their youthful experiences at the old school, their bubbling passions and gloomy disappointments, their likes and dislikes, their defeating frustrations and glowing dreams.

All those stories should be told this week. Over a boisterous yarn, during a quiet reunion of old friends, among a slow gathering of grizzled lads buoyed down by wrong age.

Now is the time to relive the impossibly endearing past, and no one with an ill-comment should dare strike another down. Happy Gold Jubilee Samoa College.

Sun DEC 7, 2003

Tribute to Samoa College on its Golden Jubilee

Savea Sano Malifa

Something very special is happening in Apia this week. So special it is that many living overseas are travelling over to be part of it, and share its memorable moments.

All of them, by the way, have one thing in common. At one point in their lives, they graced the sacred corridors of faithful Samoa College with their inalienable presence.

This year, as we all know, Samoa College turned 50. An age in which fine achievements are tallied up in an institution that began modestly with just a handful of students, a few classrooms, and indispensable New Zealand aid.

So this week starting Wednesday, old pupils – with the government’s blessing and support - are paying their respect to their school by hosting three days of celebrations in honour of it’s Golden Jubilee.

Nothing is spared in the bid to make this birthday festival the success it deserves, and an event to always remember.

The festival starts with the launching of “Samoa College History” at Hotel Kitano Tusitala in the morning. This is a 500-page volume made up of contributions by the former students themselves, their reflections and reminiscences, their feelings of despair and inadequacies, dreams and aspirations.

    Included in it is also a list - in chronological order - of all the students who attended Samoa College over the last 50 years. It’s understood that some 8,000 names are on that list.

Wednesday’s ceremony begins with a welcoming address by the President of Samoa College Old Pupils Association (SCOPA), Leota Leulua’iali’i Ale, who incidently, is a former Speaker of Samoa’s Legislative Assembly. He also holds a BA in History.  

This is followed by a prayer and thanksgiving service to be conducted by His Eminence Archbishop Alapati Mataeiliga. After which, University of the South Pacific academic and Samoa College’s first  …. Who had been given the task of compiling the school’s history, Leatuaolevao Ruby Va’a, will speak on the history itself, and her own experience gained from putting the book together.

Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, will then officially launch “Samoa College’s History,” which is also Samoa’s history, as well as that of all the students who were educated there. See advertisement inside this edition for Thursday and Friday’s programmes.

And so, some memorable things are bound to be said and done during those three days up ahead. This is to be expected.

After all, we’re paying tribute to an establishment that has been churning up scholars consistently over the last fifty years; the ones who went on to become leaders in their own fields of work, and a credit to Samoa as a whole.

As we look around this country today, we see former Samoa College students heading government ministries, public corporations, diplomatic missions, universities, with many others running private businesses of their own.

They are undoubtedly contributing significantly to Samoa and its economy. For that, they owe a debt of gratitude to Samoa College.

But we must remember also that a college alone is but a skeleton incapable of achievement. It must have teachers. For teachers are not only essential, they’re indispensable. They are the college’s backbone holding it up to its highest rung of repute, and are at the same time quite astute at taunting its students to aim always for irrefutable excellence.

Samoa College has been adept at nurturing inquisitive minds to become bold, then go on to learn in the classroom called the world. There are no barriers or limitations or rules to be broken in such a classroom. Only those who are unafraid of insecurity venture there.

It’s where the love of justice and fairness and equality and freedom are taught. They come out broke but are wise.

There’s no doubt that Samoa College has seen many promising students who went on to become engineers, layers, doctors, dentists, teachers, scholars, accountants and others. But it’s the teachers who taught them.

It’s fitting therefore to pay tribute also to all the teachers who taught at Samoa College over the last 50 years. We salute you all, and remember you fondly as we celebrate Samoa College’s Golden Jubilee. God bless Samoa.