The Mafutaga Australia Apia Maroons Club presented 56 oars valued at AU$58,000 (SAT102,000) to the Apia Maroons Club in Samoa on Saturday at Apia. 

The Chairman of Mafutaga Australia, Limutau Papalii Muagututia Fuimaono said before they departed Samoa after their centennial celebration, a request was put forward for oars. 

"During our 100 years celebration, we were able to open our fautasi. The cost of ordering these Olympic Oars was not cheap, but we love our village and we take pride in our identity. No matter where we are and we stay, we will always lift the curtain and look back home. The whole cost of these donation is AU$58,000, including the cost to bring them to Samoa," he said.

"We want to do what's best for our people here in our village. We did not do this for anyone's glory, but we are here to help whenever and wherever we can. We understand life here is different. But this is our village, our pride, and our identity. We will help when we can."

The President of the Apia Sports Committee, Faualo Harry Schuster, in response, said they were grateful for the donation. 

"We appreciate their kind assistance, especially in our goal to develop our youth in sports, so they have given us 56 Olympic oars. There are 46 paddlers for our fautasi, so we have 10 spare oars. I believe it is AU$900 for one oar, so this is a huge donation. At this point, these Olympic oars are not allowed in our local competitions, just in American Samoa, where this is allowed. It is our dream to participate in one of the American Samoa's fautasi competitions," he said.

During the presentation, Le Mamea Ropati acknowledged the donation by the group from Australia and gave the local paddlers a challenge, that the first competition for their fautasi should be a win. Faulalo mentioned that winning is not impossible, but it all comes down to the fitness of the crew. 

The donation was put together by members of the Australia Mafutaga in Sydney.