Samoa Observer and Annandale family recognised

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 30 August 2018, 12:00AM

The Samoa Observer Newspaper Group and the Annandale family have been recognised for their community service and support of the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.

The 2018 R.L.S. Memorial Garden Party, which honours the memory of Tusitala, was held at Villa Vailima last night. 

President James Winegar gave details of the two awards and their recipients last night to guests who attended the four-hour event.  

“The service that may or may not be directly related to the preservation of the memory of Tusitala. However, the things they do directly affect how our community are perceived by others, including our own citizens and in that way we do honor Tusitala,” he said. 

The 2018 R.L.S. awardees were chosen and approved by the R.L.S Foundation board of directors.

“In this spirit of Tusitala, the teller of tales there is an emerged programme that’s proving its worth, not only to Samoa but the region.

“As we speak there are stories being formatted in the hearts and minds of young and old alike, and unfortunately for many, there has been no outlet for these stories to be told or exposed, that is until now. 

“It has taken the multiple talent to make the Tusitala short story event become a reality, for the vision of what it could become and second was the likeminded with resources to bring it to the attention of the outside world,” he said.

Mr Winegar said the rationale behind the award to the Samoa Observer Group was twofold. 

“To recognize the tireless efforts of Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, Muliagatele Jean Malifa and Mata’afa Keni Lesa of the Samoa Observer, for listening to Marjorie Moore’s vision and dream for sponsoring a programme to incubate and nurture original stories to come from obscurity to print the good word. 

“Secondly because the Samoa Observer has survived 40 years journalism and has been recognised for their full reporting of daily events and stories that affect the way of life in Samoa,” he added. 

Ms Moore received the award on behalf of the Editor in Chief, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, Publisher Muliagatele Jean Malifa and Editor Mata’afa Keni Lesa. 

The second award was presented to the Annandale family for their collective unification to serve their country. 

“Their commitment to serve is in their DNA, inherited from parents and grandparents whose whole life focused on true desire to serve. 

“Their grandfather Taisi Olaf Nelson set the example of patriotism of service and they have followed in their footsteps in creating their one ways of making him proud for what they have accomplished, mainly involved in matters in tourism sector, but they are also recognized in the medical field, the environment, health and safety areas. 

“The most appropriate Samoan proverb for this family is, with togetherness the oven is hot, which is interpreted the oven is always ready for another round of service, symbolizing they are ready to serve, wherever and whenever their services are needed to the community,” he added.  

Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale and Sose Annandale received the award on behalf of the Annandale family. 

The event concluded with the introduction of the Miss Samoa contestants to the audience. This year, marks the 24th Anniversary since the R.L.S.M. was dedicated and presented as a not-for-profit venue for all to enjoy. The RL.S.M. has also become a major educational venue and is visited yearly by hundreds of students and teachers.

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 30 August 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>