BRENDAN LINES
THE Riverland’s bustling Pacific Islands community is bringing together sport and culture in Renmark this long weekend.
On Monday, local Islanders will come together for their inaugural sports day.
The Islander community of harvest workers has boomed to almost 1000, living and working around the Riverland, after arriving through the Paringa Resort quarantine facility.
The event, organised by the Pacific Island Council of SA (PICSA), with a number of Riverland-based agricultural employers, will be held simultaneously across Renmark Oval, Renmark Soccer Club and the Alan Coulter Recreation Centre.
PICSA president Tukini Tavui said the day would be “serious fun”.
“We want to connect with the Riverland community and its leaders, to help assist our lads and girls integrate into the community,” he said.
“That’s one objective that we have.
“It’s also a great opportunity for the whole Pacific Island community to come together.
“We’ll have touch rugby, volleyball, soccer, basketball, tug of war, and a sack race.
“It’s basically the sports we play back home.”
Mr Tavui said volleyball would be a drawcard, despite popular belief.
“The sport that brings everyone together, which all the Islands play competitively is volleyball,” he said.
“Soccer, is generally played by the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Tahiti.
“These are the French-colonised countries.
“Rugby is played by Tonga and Samoa.”
Mr Tavui said its hoped to be an annual event for the community.
“We’re going to get some trophies and shields, we’d like to get them presented every year,” he said. “We want to capitalise on every resource we have.
“So far, we’ve had Renmark Paringa Council, Rugby Union SA and PIRSA come onboard.”
Islander culture will play a central role to the event, Mr Tavui said.
“We’re having church services on Sunday night, that’s going to huge, because they will be conducted fully in their languages” he said.
“PICSA will provide the church leaders… who will work in collaboration will local church leaders.”
Services in different languages will be held in separate churches across the Riverland.
On Monday, a formal welcome to country ceremony and Islander will pay their respects to traditional land owners, the Naralte.
Competition starts at 10am, Monday.