The Real RWC 2011

Two of the fiercest competitors met today for what was being hailed as the REAL RWC competition. A long standing history between two teams was going to ensure that this was truly a game to be remembered.

Pre Match Team Photo

Australia under 8’s gathered the ball from the start, outmaneuvered the All Blacks Over 70’s and scored their first try within minutes of the start but missed the conversion.

From there both teams fought gallantly to hold field position. Scores remained unchanged coming into the second half when it looked like the All Blacks had a free run at the line when out of nowhere Clancy Cvetko, captain of the Wallabies Under 8’s pulling of a spectacular tackle, stealing the ball and running the length of the field for their second try.
 

  With a converted try, the game finished 12-0 in favor of the Wallaby Under 8’s.

 
 

  

The Queen of Gisborne presents the winning captain the Key to Gisborne and the runner up the Gingerbread man award for good effort.

TONGA - Judge rules “Clare Mafi pay back money” Cvetko asks “Where’s my money Clare”

 Here she is!!!

On the 11th of May, Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott ordered Clare Mafi and Alunga Katoa, both formerly of Kalia Travel to pay the equivalent of $16,440 TOP plus interest to the plaintiff Mr John Cvetko. This was from monies initially paid to Kalia travel for two separate travel bookings between October and December 2010. In the first instance Kalia Travel took payment for an international trip for Mr Cvetko’s family to attend a family wedding in Indonesia. The passengers were left stranded in Sydney where they had to buy new tickets to travel further and then back to Tonga. A day before departure the family had also paid Kalia Travel for tickets to visit their son’s grandparents for Christmas. They found out on return that this money had also been retained by Kalia travel.

Clare Mafi, is the owner of Kalia travel, and since the legal action was commenced by Mr. Cvetko, Kalia Travel has closed its doors. Mr Cvetko believes his continued action has saved many Tongans the heartache of falling into the same trap by making this case public and pursuing it through the courts. Clare Mafi’s husband, Chris Mafi and Alunga Katoa had also been charged by police for theft and embezzlement over the same case and Mr. Cvetko is yet to hear the progress of that case.

Mr Cvetko stated that he was pleased with the judgment against Clare Mafi and Alunga Katoa and that he would be pursuing both of them to pay the money in full. He said that to date, neither Clare Mafi nor Alunga Katoa have paid the money owed to him pursuant to the Court order of 11 May.

Mr Cvetko said that this type of behavior continues to happen among a few travel agents in Tonga and not many weeks go by without him getting a call about another person who has turned up at the airport to find their booking is not in the system and the travel agent has kept the money. Mr. Cvetko also advises that travel agents are known to use the credit card of unsuspecting travellers to buy tickets for other travellers. In one case he heard of one person’s credit card being charged $15,000 TOP of extra tickets.

Mr Cvetko said that his was only one of many cases and that travel agents believe they can get away with this illegal behavior thinking no one will chase them. He stated “I hear stories of travel agents apologising and promising to pay back the travelers, however in many cases after some small payments, no other payments are made and the local Tongan clients feel helpless to do anything else”. He adds, “I find it very disappointing that a few Tongan travel agents believe they can take the money of unsuspecting Tongans this way”.

When asked about his thoughts on Clare Mafi again being associated to a travel agency in Nuku’alofa, he stated, “I certainly won’t be recommending those services”. Mr. Cvetko was unable to comment further stating that given Mafi & Katoa’s failure to follow the orders of the court to date, further enforcement action was being initiated to recover the money. He did however add that he was astounded that people could break the law, be ordered by the law to correct the situation and then still ignore the orders of the court.

Oma and Opa Arrive

 

Clancy’s Oma and Opa arrived today, to a very excited little boy. They are staying 2 weeks after initially being delayed by the South American Volcanic ash cloud and Virgin’ s aircraft scheduling. They were supposed to be here for Opa’s birthday on the 7^th of June, so we had a cake and celebration waiting for the night they arrived.

Walking Clanga

At low tide today we took Clanga for a walk along the refueling line down on the seafront

Surfing Hatafu

Clancy paddles out for another one at Hatafu Beach

ACTS Cultural Week - Videos

These videos have been uploaded at low quality because of the file size. Sorry we can't do any better than this from Tonga. The video files Clancy 1, 2 and 3 are of Clancy's Island drumming performance.







This is Clancy telling the story of making Ipu Kava


Ipu Kava

ACTS Cultural Week

Clancy's school has had a cultural week which finished with a performance on Thursday night. Clancy had two role's, one as drummer and the other telling the story of how to make Ipu Kava (Coconut Cup for drinking Kava)


The raw and the finshed product (Ipu Kava). The next blog has a video of Clancy telling the story


Karmen, Taipe, Richie and Clancy before the show and Lupate'a and Mimosa. Apologies if the spelling is wrong, this from Clancy's pronunciation, which is generally pretty good.


The families watching intently. Parents and family members show their appreciation by tucking money into the costumes of the children. The money is then collected and becomes a community donation for the school. Clancy didn't realise the money goes to the school and after being given some money during his performance was quiet upset that someone was taking it. He didn't realise the protocol and explained, somewhat upset, his teacher what had happened.


Clancy's drumming performance (a new Phil Collins?) and Anny giving donations.


A very proud mum and dad

Long Weekend Activities

It was a long weekend in Tonga dampened by rain and wind. By Monday it had started to clear a little and we got a little more active


Clancy said he wanted to learn how to cook his breakfast, so we cooked sausages and scrambled eggs. Unfortunately he burnt his finger on the side of the pan while dishing up the sausages, but he wants another lesson.


After breakfast we collected Mosese for a play and they spent the morning playing star wars and space rangers


We then went for a drive to Keleti beach for a run around with Jenny Mckee, her children Blaise and Jessie, along with Jack and Neisi (Dom and Hannah's kids)

Art Zooka Competition

One of Clancy's favorite shows on cable TV is Art Zooka which is about creating and art. This morning Clancy advised Anny and I that he is running an Art Zooka competition and we are the competitors and he will judge. The rules are we must be nice and not copy each other.


The judge photographs with the competitors,


then starts the difficult task of judging before making the announcement from his own artwork, the podium


and announcing the competition is a draw!

Clancy Growing Up

Clancy's just under 3 months to his 7th birthday and he is starting to really shoot up. His teeth are now starting to fall out in quick succession and every time he takes a photo wearing John's boots they look closer to fitting him.

John's boots in June 2005

Corporate Triathalon

Another (but my last) triathlon without any lead up training! I was told a week before the event I was doing the swim leg for the tri and Paul Taumoepeau would do the bike. After failing to find a runner I had to back up the run leg. I was in pain for 5 days!


The Tonga Chamber of Commerce Team, Paul and John, possibly the highest average age for any team. Sometimes this is what helping business actually feels like so I had a bit of fun with the t shirt design.