In 2024, Australia will mark the 30th anniversary of the national recognition of Australian South Sea Islanders. This recognition was granted on August 25th, 1994, and will be celebrated on the same date in 2024. It is an important milestone for the community and a time to reflect on their history and contributions to Australian society.
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Australian South Sea Islanders United Council Independent Rockhampton & District Inc.
A TRIP AGAINST THE ODDS!!
By Kerri Dorman
15 May, 2017 was the date set for a long overdue trip back home to 'Lagatava Village', North Pentecost Island for Warren (Joe) Leo OAM, wife Monica, three daughters, Joanne, Kerri and Nicole and five grandchildren, Joella, Kia, Karneesha, Bodean and Cadence.
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This was a trip Joe needed to do, however, came at a time in his life where there were many obstacles he had to overcome, just to get on the plane.
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At 83, Joe was starting to experience an increase in health issues and with half his family and Doctor against the trip, he was not going to let this hinder his determination to visit his family, as he knew this may be his last chance to revisit the 'motherland'.
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The itinerary was Santo Island (1 night); North Pentecost Island (2 nights) and Port Vila (4 nights). With only 2 nights scheduled for Pentecost (mainly because of his health issues), Joe knew he had to make the most of it.
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Upon arriving on Santo Island, it was discovered that there was no connecting flight booked for the group to travel to Pentecost Island the next day. To say the family were upset, would be an understatement.
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Visiting the travel agent on Santo Island, the flight that was scheduled the next afternoon, only had 2 seats available, and the family agreed that Joanne would travel ahead with Joe, while the rest of the family would follow the next day. (Blessing No. 1)
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This also meant that the remainder of the group had to find accommodation for the unplanned extra night on Santo Island. Aunty Pam (Viti), (who was residing on Santo Island), came to the rescue arranging for the group to stay at the Santo Medical Centre accommodation, usually utilised only for visiting medical staff, but just happened to be available. (Blessing No. 2)
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Second day on Santo Island and having some time before Joe and Joanne's flight, the family heard about Santo's 'healing waters' and asked Aunty Pam to take them for a visit.
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At this stage of his life, Joe needed a cane to get himself around, and of course, was relying on it for the trip. So, Joe was more than eager to test the waters on himself, upon the group's arrival at the site.
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The site was a rock pool at the base of a hill on the beach, with the healing water trickling from a rock in the hillside. The family arrived to find a large group of locals just sitting in the water splashing themselves. Locals would sit all day and even during the night in the water with reports of healing of cancers and other ailments.
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Venturing down to the beach, the locals sat Joe on a chair and proceeded to pour water over his legs and feet while praying for healing. After sitting for a while, it was soon time for Joe and Joanne's flight. Standing from the chair and taking a few steps, Joe realised that he didn't need the aid of the cane to walk back up from the beach. Joe would not need to use his cane for the rest of the trip, and remained tucked away in his port.
(Blessing No. 3)
Joe's homecoming to 'Lagatava Village' was a very emotional one for him, Joanne and their family members.
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Joe finally got to see his house (built by his family and financed by Joe) - a concrete, brick and timber construction. It's pop-out windows (held up by a piece of wood) was reminiscent of his wife's family home back in Joskeleigh.
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The house has 2 bedrooms, a large dining and living space, with a separate storage room that serviced as a shop for the villagers run by his cousin, Chief Silas's wife, Mary. The bathroom was also separate to the house.
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During construction, Joe had told his cousin Silas, to live in the house when he wasn't visiting, so it was being used and looked after.
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The arrival of Monica and the rest of the family the following morning was just as emotional for all. Joella (who was 24 at time of visit), was only 1 years old when she last visited 'Lagatava Village'. It would be a first visit for the other grandchildren and a real eye opener to village life for them.
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The village had gone through many changes due to cyclones and the younger generation moving away for work. Devasting results from a cyclone meant homes had to be rebuilt, with the biggest structure in the village, the 'Nakamal' being destroyed, and a new structure standing in its place. Changes to vegetation was noticeable where there was once lush green grass now replaced with dirt.
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Monica's father's village, 'Agatoa' was next door to Joe's village, however, with the death of her cousin, Chief Selwyn, (who performed her Chief Ceremony), no connections were made prior to this quick visit and time constraints did not enable her to visit the village.
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Though their visit was way too short, the family made the most of it, and a celebration held while reconnecting, feasting and sharing.
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In true tropical style, the second night saw a downpour (most of the night) and upon morning, Monica said she laid awake all night wondering if they were going to be able to get out to the airport.
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What would follow is definitely (Blessing No. 4) and a story in itself.
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With very rough terrain for roads (on a good day), you can imagine what they would become after a deluge the night before. Some extreme driving skills and experience was truly required to manoeuvre along those roads, and thankfully we had us a brilliant driver. Of course, our family were right behind us, walking all the way back to the airport to see us off.
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However, the amazing part of this story is Monica's resilience who, at 78, sat on the floor in the back of a 4WD being flung around like a rag doll for 15 minutes on a very slow trip from the village to the main road. Arriving at the airport, Monica was covered in mud and even her handbag was full of mud.
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Arriving back on Santo Island and awaiting a connecting flight to Port Vila, the family sat and reflected on their quick visit with family. Monica was a little disappointed in not seeing any of her family members and reminisced about her last stay in her father's village and of Cecilia (who passed several years earlier), who looked after her sister Flo and herself.
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The family boarded their flight for Port Vila. Kerri was sitting beside a local and in conversation about their Pentecost Island visit, when a young lady across the aisle tapped her on the arm and proceeded to ask her about their visit.
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(Blessing No. 5) Following Kerri's conversation with the young lady, being the daughter of Cecilia, who Monica reminisced about. Such a blessing for Monica to meet her on the plane enroute to Port Vila. Cecilia's daughter and her children visited the next day, having lunch with Monica, Joe and family at the motel.
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(Blessing No. 6)
Came for Joe and Monica in the form of a surprise visitor to their motel. A knock on their door came from past National President of ASSIUC, Nasuven Enares, who had been living in Port Vila attending University.
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What a surprise and unbelievable on how she found out they were in Vanuatu. Nasuven would share that it was going around the University 'Joe Leo' was in town and just like that, she was able to find out where they were staying.
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(Blessing No. 7)
Reconnecting with our Port Vila family, Aunty Janet (Joe's cousin) and her family. An emotional reunion for Joella and Matthew, who were both babies last time they were together. Tears and laughter flowed over a family feast at Aunty Janet's.
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Joe's last trip home truly was 'a trip against the odds', and though a very short trip, it was a trip of reconnection with family and country, a trip of love, of unexpected events and most of all a trip full of blessings from Australia to Vanuatu and back...
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Joe promised his Vanuatu family he would return the following year.
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Sadly, his family farewelled Joe in February 2019.
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A LIFE LIVED TO THE FULLEST