Christmas has come early for the Sia Melie Kava Club, based in Brisbane, Australia, with members enjoying the recent increase in kava import from 2kg to 4kg, and $800 in grant funding from their local council on 20 December. 

The club plans to allocate the funds towards purchasing musical instruments which they use for performances in the Brisbane community and to continue to promote men's mental health within the club.

Brisbane Tongan Community (BTC) President Rev Maile Molitika said kava clubs provide a platform where Tongan men can gather and share their feelings and fellowship with other fathers, brothers, husbands, and young men in the safety of the kava circle.

Kava clubs also play a pivotal role in the broader well-being of the community with a particular focus on developing their musical talents, said BTC Public Liaison Officer, Sulieni Layt.

“The music that accompanies our traditional tau‘olunga performances, our musical concerts, our local radio programmes, our birthdays and our weddings are from our kava clubs who truly are the heartbeat of our community.”

“Their random acts of kindness and charitable work often takes place in the background, unnoticed and understated, yet their contribution to fund raising efforts surpasses all,” he said.

Meanwhile the increase in kava import is part of the Australian Government's pilot program allowing adults to bring 4kg of kava into the country from 17 December. The program will finish at the end of 2022.

Another pilot program for the commercial importation of kava is scheduled to start by the end of 2020.