Photos courtesy of Tonga Red Cross 

The Governor-General of Australia Hon Sir Peter Cosgrove commissioned a newly renovated ‘Ofa Tui ‘Amanaki (OTA) Disability Centre at the Tonga Red Cross Society headquarters on Friday, 3 July in Nuku’alofa.

The renovations which cost more than $60,000 pa’anga were funded by Make a Mark Australia (MAMA) with assistance from the Australian Government’s Direct Aid Program (in country).

Sione Taumoefolau Tonga Red Cross Secretary-General extended their gratitude to MAMA Australia's financial support as well as the Direct Aid Program which assisted Red Cross activities since 2004.

He said the centre for disability first started in 1976 and now provides services to around 100 children with disability aged 3-18 years old.

"We pick them up in the morning and return them... But the main challenges that OTA face at the moment is the operation cost of the centre," he said.

Sione asked for Australia’s support again to include OTA's operation cost which is around AUD$50,000 annually in their program to Tonga.

He said Tonga Red Cross ensured that this contribution from MAMA changed the centre’s atmosphere to be cleaner and healthier than before.

The Governor-General was accompanied by his wife Lady Cosgrove with Mark Fraser, Paul Singer from MAMA and the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Mr Brett Aldam.