Tupou College opens Science and Innovative Centre for 157th anniversary [1]
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 20:10. Updated on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - 20:12.
Tupou College celebrated its 157th anniversary on Saturday 20 May, with Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala officiating a new $1.5 million pa'anga, Science and Innovative Centre.
Principal Rev. ‘Alifeleti 'Atiola told Matangi Tonga today that the cost of the building was $1.5 million pa'anga from various fundraising organised by ex-students.
"The Crown Prince in opening the new centre named it after the founder of the college, Dr James Egan Moulton Science and Innovative Centre.
Staff and students of the school were able to showcase their innovations to the Crown Prince, foreign dignitaries and other guests who were present at the event as they toured the new centre."
He said the date for the school's anniversary is the 14th of February each year, but this year was special because it included the opening of the New Science and Innovation Centre for the College.
Quite a crowd of ex-students, current students and parents attended the happy occasion, with the Crown Prince as guest of honour. The day started with a thanksgiving service commemorating the 157th year of the school led by the President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Rev. Dr Tevita Koloa'ia Havea, he said.
In addition, the inspiration for the construction of the centre came from two renowned doctors well connected to Tupou College.
They are Dr Viliami Tangi (Lord Tangi 'o Vaonukonuka), the Chair of the Tupou College Council and Dr David Mulford, the former Head Master of Newington College but a current member of the Tupou College Council.
Newington College of Sydney, which has a long-standing partnership with Tupou College shared the same founding head master in the late legendary Dr James Egan Moulton. He started Newington College in 1863 and Tupou College in 1866, he said.