Repeka Iuli, Narre Warren South MP Dale Wilson, Elisapeta Lemalu and Atamamao Tuiloma at a recent Samoan choir performance at the Narre Warren Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.By Rebecca Fraser
A 100-strong Samoan choir from Casey has been chosen to perform at a gala ceremony in the lead-up to next year’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
In a warm-up performance the group sang at the Samoan Pofiafia or Happy Night event last Saturday at the Narre Warren Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where the choir are members.
The occasion was to celebrate the annual conference weekend of the Samoan members of the church and about 300 members and friends turned out to celebrate.
They dined on traditional Samoan dishes and a feast of two roast pigs that had been cooked on hot stones.
A four-piece band, the Shiny Stars, provided dance music and the audience was also entertained by traditional Polynesian dances with all age groups dressed in bright costumes.
Narre Warren South MP Dale Wilson attended the evening and was presented with an ula, a necklace made of shiny black seeds from a Samoan tree.
Mr Wilson said he also went to the Sunday service the next day, when a magnificent choir of about 80 Samoans sang three hymns between speakers.
Following these performances, George Lekakis, chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, came to see the choir perform and invited it to sing at the annual Premier’s Multicultural Awards Night at the Crown Palladium next year.
“George (Lekakis) said the evening will be bigger than Ben Hur.
“I had heard the choir before and George had expressed an interest in hearing them sing.
“So he came along and was blown away and asked them to sing at the awards.
“They have absolutely fabulous voices and it is great that they will be able to share their talents with more people in the lead-up to the games,” he said.
