In July this year a group of 30 students from Years 9 and 10 and four College staff travelled to Tupou College for the annual Service Learning Tour in Tonga.

The boys stayed at Tupou College and attended some classes there.  They also played Rugby against a Tupou College XV and spent time getting to know the Tupou College students and aspect of the Tongan way of life.

Each year the ONU and the College provide two full boarding bursaries to students of Tupou College to attend Newington for 3 years in Years 10 to 12.  The interviews for those bursary opportunities are held as part of the annual Service Learning Tour.  The ONU has a representative on the interview panel, which also includes 3 members of the College staff and the Principal of Tupou College.  The people comprising the interview panel this year were:

• Rev Alifeleti ‘Atiola, Principal of Tupou College
• Newington staff member Trent Driver (Deputy Head (Academic))
• Newington staff member Nat Coull (Head of Boarding and PDHPE Teacher)
• Newington staff member Cameron Quince (Head of Fletcher House and Technology Teacher and tour leader)
• Tony Bosman (ON 1972) as this year’s ONU Representative.

Usually the ONU Tongan Branch leader, Steve Finau (ON 1966), also participates.  However Steve was not able to do so this year due to ill-health.

The interview panel felt that there were two standout candidates this year. The two boys who will receive the Bursaries for commencement in Year 10 in 2020 are:

• Manase Fonokalafi
• Sione Fonua.

 Manase Fonokalafi was at the head of his class for his academic performance.  Manase is very musically active at Tupou.  He sings in the school choir, and plays cornet in the Tupou College Brass Band.  He wants to come to Newington to obtain an excellent education, and would like to be a teacher.

Sione Fonua has excellent grades for his academic performance.  He favours science, especially biology, and wishes to be a doctor like his mother. Sione’s father worked at Newington for a short period as a sports conditioning coach.  Sione enjoys rugby, loves reading and is very much looking forward to being a student at Newington.

While in Tonga, Tony Bosman took the opportunity to visit Steve Finau who had recently returned home to recuperate after a spell in hospital.  Steve looked well and sent his best wishes to his ON friends.

This article was written by Tony Bosman (ON 1972)