The R.S.A. has a new President

The Royal Samoa Returned Services’ Association (R.S.A) has a new President. He is Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio. The former New Zealand Army man will be assisted by a working Executive that includes

Peter Jensen, 30 years service NZ Navy who is the Vice President) and Toafitu T. Petaia who is Secretary.

The appointments were made during its last A.G.M in December 2014.

One of the President’s initial task was the appointment of Padre Ben (Ex Army NZ) as the official Chaplin for RSA in Samoa.

During an interview with Tuala, the following questions were put to him;

What is RSA Samoa?

RSA is a voluntary welfare organisation in Samoa dedicated to the welfare of past and present service personnel and their families. RSA is dedicated to the spirit of ANZAC and commemorating ANZAC day each year. Founded in 1946. Membership is generally open to ex-service personnel, serving or retired members of the armed forces and their families, police officers and members of the public.

We raise funds through the exchange of Poppies for donations from members of the public throughout the year and particularly on Poppy Day. Poppy Day will be Friday 24 April 2015 before ANZAC Day (25 April), Samoa and New Zealand’s national day of commemoration.

Why did you join the RSA?

I have always been affiliated with New Zealand RSAs since joining the New Zealand Army 20 years ago. Serving RSA is another way of continuing my allegiance to NZ and Samoa through forging on of that strong and special relationship Samoa has with New Zealand. Most importantly to honour those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, which is why RSA, NZ and Australia and many other countries around the world commemorate ANZAC day.

What is ANZAC?

ANZAC which stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and refers to any member of the Australian or New Zealander Armed Forces that served in World War 1 in 1914. ANZAC now refers to any member who served or is presently serving the Australian or New Zealand Army Corp or the Australian or New Zealand Defence Force in general. ANZAC also belongs to the families of those who served or are presently serving in these Forces for peace and defence.

It all started 100 years ago with the ANZAC landing in Gallipoli (Turkey) in 1915 where some 100,000 men died by the end of the war.

There were several Samoans who also served under the New Zealand Military through the New Zealand time in Samoa.

On 25 April every year, the Samoa Returned Services Association along with the New Zealand and Australian High Commissioners and Samoa as a country celebrate this special day in honour and remembrance of those who gave their lives to defend their countries and spare their families from harms way.

So what special events is RSA planning for the 100th Anniversary of ANZAC this coming April?

We have a lot of work to do this year and the task ahead is a challenging one. We have the 100th Anniversary commemoration of ANZAC in April. The RSA and its partners are planning a week long celebration of ANZAC in Samoa. We are going to have the biggest Dawn Service and Parade ever coupled with a week long string of events which we will release soon.

Who can attend this service?

We want every Samoan to be part of this Day by either attending the service or be part of the other events that will take place before the Dawn Service and Parade. It is expected that families and descendants of those Samoans who served in the New Zealand and Australians Forces will be part of the celebration and we want them to be part of the celebration because they are ANZAC. ANZAC will continue to exist in our hearts and in the families of those who served because for some of us ANZAC shaped our existence and the way we live now. Invitations will go out soon to all Samoans past and present servicemen and women in NZ and Australia to be in Samoa for the celebration of ANZAC in April 2015.

Each year our own Heads of Government, Courts, Government Ministries and the Diplomatic Corps attend the Service along with families and friends. This year we also expect to have the schools and private organisations to attend and be part of the celebrations.

Is RSA Samoa going through new changes at present now that many returned servicemen have passed on?

There are a few issues with the present RSA and its existence in Samoa which my team and I will work through slowly to try and address. It’s nothing to do with people who have passed away, it’s more for those who live on to carry forward the spirit of ANZAC which is a significant role of RSA. One important aspect of our work is rebuilding relationships that have been overlooked in the past. We want to restore the prestigious status of RSA through an increase in membership and more participation from families or descendants of our heroes from the past. We want to create more awareness of ANZAC through the schools and tell our people about the important role Samoa played in the past wars and the present peace keeping missions by our Samoan soldiers still serving overseas in our very own Police Force. It is important for our children to understand the effects and outcome of these conflicts of the past and the positive side of military life so positive awareness is one of our projects over the next few months.

Samoa is part of the a wider global force headed by the United Nations which New Zealand and Australia are also part of.

Our Government has recognised the need to promote peace at this level and this is evident by the contribution of our Samoa Police in various peace-keeping missions deployed around the world.

Often we get asked is there a need to commemorate ANZAC and isn’t it just a thing of the past?

The simple answer is YES there is a need.

If your grandfather or great grandfather was a member of ANZAC who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice of life in those wars. The question would be wouldn’t you want to honour your grandfather for what he did? Shouldn’t we be proud of what he did so his country and family could be spared. The answer should be YES because it was through what your grandfather did that gave us our freedom and peace we now enjoy.

This is the very reason why we should never forget them. This is the very reason why RSA exists in every ANZAC country which includes Samoa. We are here to honour these men and we want their proud families to join us and do the same.

Anything else you want to add?

I want to acknowledge our past Presidents and the support of our Partners namely New Zealand and Australian High Commissions in Samoa, our Government and ANZAC families for their support of RSA up to now.

Please join us and become members of the RSA Samoa and help us make this ANZAC day a memorable day for everyone.