Ahead of the official opening of its 90th birthday celebration this weekend, the Avele College Old Pupils Association (A.C.O.P.A) paid tribute to some of the school’s pioneers yesterday.
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One of them was the first Head Boy, the late Anapu Solofa, who led a group of 23 students to cut the grass at Avele so that the school could be built.
This was back in 1923.
In paying tribute to the late Anapu, A.C.O.P.A visited Sa’anapu yesterday where he is buried.
Reverend Ma’afala Koko, who conducted a prayer service yesterday, said Avele College has come a long way.
“Today, we shall never forget the love of God through the school, and also the people who have worked so hard in the building up of this college,” he said.
“Avele, let us not forget those who worked so hard to start this school.
“This morning, we are here to remember the first leader of the college, Anapu Solofa. He led the twenty boys in cutting the grass to start this school and they experienced hardship back in those days because they wanted the children of today to have a bright future.
“So as we are celebrating Avele College’s 90th Anniversary this week, let us not forget those who fought so hard at the beginning of the school.”
The late Anapu Solofa became the first Head Boy of the College in 1924 when it was officially opened on 12 June 1924.
In 1958, Avele became an Agricultural College for the Pacific Islands. At the time, boys from Rarotonga, Niue, Tuvalu, Tokelau and American Samoa came here to study.
In 1972, the control of Avele College was handed back to the Ministry of Education when the University of the South pacific was founded.
Tuiā Pu’a Letoa, the Chairman of the 90th Anniversary Committee, said the journey has not been easy.
“It has not been an easy ride to build Avele College,” he said.
“In 1987, the school was closed because the government at the time said that the National University of Samoa was to be built at the area.”
However, the old pupils of Avele College fought hard for the college to remain open. The old pupils went on strike to stop the school from closing at the time.
It was around that time when the late Tofilau Eti Alesana said that if the H.R.P.P won the election, they would re-open Avele College.
They did in 1988 and Avele College was reopened.
The celebration of Avele College’s 90th anniversary starts today with the registration of former students. This will be followed by an official opening tomorrow at the end of parade on Beach Road.
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