Tongan Benefit Lunch for Steve Finau [1]
Friday, April 13, 2007 - 16:56. Updated on Monday, July 20, 2015 - 15:52.
Attached are the details for a wonderful benefit being organized to help Sitiveni Finau, who recently through a tragic car accident, was paralysed in Tonga.
Steve is a man who has worked tirelessly to help Tonga through his roles at TASANOC and as president of Rotary. As you may know Steve was educated in Australia at Newington School and at Sydney University where he distinguished himself as a Union man. The old boys are now, with an extraordinary effort and fabulous generosity, organizing:
A football match at Sydney University in Steve's honour on 28th April
A benefit lunch for Steve - at the Sheraton on the Park on May 3 - with the hope of raising a significant amount for a Trust for his future well being.
The football match between Sydney Uni and Manly would be a great occasion to have a large contingent of Tongans coming to this game in Steve's honour. This is a great opportunity to show real support from the Tongan Community.
The lunch on May 3rd will be where the main fund raising will occur. They are hoping to have between 350 and 400 at the event which will be a mix of high profile Australians and leaders of the Tongan Community. It will be held at the Sheraton on the Park with Nick Farr Jones and Phil Kearns as MCs.
It would be great to have a few Tongan tables of 10 - so we show the organizers the community appreciates what they are doing for a Tongan National. Therefore any people could can encourage to come would be great. The price is $150 per head but as it is in a good cause it is definitely worth it.
We are helping to bring a Tongan flavour to the event and also arrange items which could be auctioned off both in live and silent auctions.
We are trying to arrange a trip for six to Tonga as a feature of the lunch - and of course Tonga will be heavily promoted on the day and in the support material.
Thanks to the generosity of some of the best accommodation resorts in Tonga we now have 3 x 3 double accommodation packages at the Sandy Beach Resort and Paradise International Hotel; and 2 nights at Mounu Island and 3 nights at the Pangai Village which will be auctioned off on the night.
As well, we are looking for other items which could be auctioned off at the lunch - there will be a silent and live auction so it can accommodate both small and larger prizes.
Prizes to be auctioned with include: A trip to NZ; a private luxury Cruiser for a week; "A Day at the Stables wit Gai Waterhouse" and Tongan memorabilia and handicrafts (including a mat donated by HM The Queen).
Any support you can lend to the events would be most appreciated. Both the football match where the community could attend in larger numbers and also, if possible, if you would be able to come to the lunch. We are hoping there will be at least a few tables from the Tongan Community. Kingdom of Tonga Hon. Consul, 12/04/07.