Photos by Linny Folau

The 80th anniversary of Tonga's Queen Salote College was celebrated on March 13 with the laying of wreaths at the royal tomb of the late Queen Salote Tupou III at Mala...’ekula, in Nuku'alofa, followed by a feast and the cutting of a birthday cake.

March 13 is also the anniversary of the birthday of Queen Salote. Wreaths were laid by the Prince Regent Crown Prince Tupouto'a followed by other members of the royal family.

A special wreath of white lillies and white carnations from HM Queen Elizabeth II was presented by the British High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Mr Paul Nessling, with a message that read, "In affectionate memory on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Government and people of the United Kingdom."

The feast was held at the Akoteu ground next to the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga Centenary Church.

Rev. Sela Na...’a Latu, a member of the organizing committee, said that the 80th birthday celebration of this all girls school started on Friday, March 10, with the official opening by Queen Halaevalu Mata...’aho of a $300,000 new dining hall, donated by the ex-students.

On Saturday March 11 a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new centre to be constructed for QSC ex-students and followed by a feast hosted by the current students. The ex students collected over $200,000 pa...’anga for the school.

On March 12, there was a special Prayer Service at the Centenary Church in Nuku...’alofa and a carols night was held by the ex-students later in the evening.

Sela said that over 200 ex-students from New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and the United States of America attended the celebration, which ended on March 13.

Queen Salote College, an all girls school, named after the late Queen Salote Tupou III was established in 1926 and is administered by the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.