As I mentioned, I missed the opening of the Marsters Hostel because of the arrival of my youngest brother Jesse who was to attend the Health conference that was to take place after this major event. Jesse is a biostatistician and was recently awarded his PhD in the work he has done on Maori and Pacific Islands Mental Health. He works in the Student Development area of Otago University.
Dr Jesse Kokaua and his wife Anne from Dunedin, to attend the Cook Islands Health Conference
Unfortunately I was to miss the Health Conference as I was expected within the next few days at an Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Conference of my own in Vladivostok, in Russia with other Pacific Islands participants from Samoa and Fiji, and at least two hundred other attendees from all over the Asia Pacific region.
With James Ahwai (Samoa ) and Anju Mangal (Fiji) – the only other Pacific Islanders at the APrIGF in Vladivostok
Meanwhile, Norman George wrote up a report for CINews recording the celebration of the opening of the Palmerston Hostel but also in preparation for the annual Health Conference.
“The grand opening of the Marsters House on July 8 injected euphoria, joy and ebullience amongst the descendants of William Marsters from Palmerston Island.
Their stunning success in a six-month blinding speed construction work rewarded with poetry in motion.
The costumes split amongst the five family lines of the Marsters descendants, with hundreds of head and neck ei worn by the happy masses, dancing to the drumbeats and music drawing gasps of admiration from those attending.
The proud descendants of William Marsters seized the moment to live their dreams! The hard work, the laborious fundraising, the frustrations and disappointments spread over a period of 30 years work in the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia suddenly came together!
Some of the original project creators have passed on, but are not forgotten. They received the accolades they all deserved.
As the last of ten outer-islands to build accommodation houses, hostels, and utility buildings on Rarotonga in the past 40 years, one can easily say, “out of the many, one stood out!” The House of Marsters and the parrot fish island of Pamati stood out!
The nation applauds you, the great people of Palmerston Island. You have won the hearts and minds of the people of the Cook Islands. You provided us with inspiration, great feelings, enhanced realism, new levels of pride, moral uplift and so much more!
The combination of heart and mind, courage, determination and hard work is the Mt. Everest that the Palmerston people conquered.
The other great event was the 21st Annual Health Conference of the Cook Islands, held at the auditorium from Wednesday 10-Friday 12 July. The organisers being the Cook Islands doctors from New Zealand, Dr Joseph Williams, Dr Kiki Maoate, Dr Robert Woonton, together with the dynamic team from Te Marae Ora, under the amazing leadership of Health Minister Vainetutai Rose Toki Brown.
With Dr Josephine Aumea Herman to complete the two prodigious high performing duo, with support staff from the Ministry equal to the task!
This annual conference gets bigger and better since Dr Kiki and I launched it in the Rarotonga Hospital kitchen 21 years ago. I was then minister of health. Dr Kiki ultimately linked up with Dr Joe and Robert to build the Health Conference in what I consider to be the best run conference in the Cook Islands.
The level of representation from medical experts presenting papers is incredible. The conference kicked off with a riveting prayer service from Bishop Tutai Pere.
He urged Cook Islanders to take more care of their health! The Bishop told the audience when he confronted some sick people for not taking their medicine, they replied they much preferred to rely on prayers. He encouraged them to do both!”
Development Consultant living in the Cook Islands. Volunteer participant on various not-for-profits: Former Chair - At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of ICANN; President - Cook Islands Internet Action Group; co-Founder and Chair of the IGF Dynamic Coalition of SIDS in the Internet Economy; Interested in change management and digital transformation.
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Last Updated: September 6, 2019 by MaureenH
A busy week for some.
As I mentioned, I missed the opening of the Marsters Hostel because of the arrival of my youngest brother Jesse who was to attend the Health conference that was to take place after this major event. Jesse is a biostatistician and was recently awarded his PhD in the work he has done on Maori and Pacific Islands Mental Health. He works in the Student Development area of Otago University.
Unfortunately I was to miss the Health Conference as I was expected within the next few days at an Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Conference of my own in Vladivostok, in Russia with other Pacific Islands participants from Samoa and Fiji, and at least two hundred other attendees from all over the Asia Pacific region.
Meanwhile, Norman George wrote up a report for CINews recording the celebration of the opening of the Palmerston Hostel but also in preparation for the annual Health Conference.
“The grand opening of the Marsters House on July 8 injected euphoria, joy and ebullience amongst the descendants of William Marsters from Palmerston Island.
Their stunning success in a six-month blinding speed construction work rewarded with poetry in motion.
The costumes split amongst the five family lines of the Marsters descendants, with hundreds of head and neck ei worn by the happy masses, dancing to the drumbeats and music drawing gasps of admiration from those attending.
The proud descendants of William Marsters seized the moment to live their dreams! The hard work, the laborious fundraising, the frustrations and disappointments spread over a period of 30 years work in the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia suddenly came together!
Some of the original project creators have passed on, but are not forgotten. They received the accolades they all deserved.
As the last of ten outer-islands to build accommodation houses, hostels, and utility buildings on Rarotonga in the past 40 years, one can easily say, “out of the many, one stood out!” The House of Marsters and the parrot fish island of Pamati stood out!
The nation applauds you, the great people of Palmerston Island. You have won the hearts and minds of the people of the Cook Islands. You provided us with inspiration, great feelings, enhanced realism, new levels of pride, moral uplift and so much more!
The combination of heart and mind, courage, determination and hard work is the Mt. Everest that the Palmerston people conquered.
The other great event was the 21st Annual Health Conference of the Cook Islands, held at the auditorium from Wednesday 10-Friday 12 July. The organisers being the Cook Islands doctors from New Zealand, Dr Joseph Williams, Dr Kiki Maoate, Dr Robert Woonton, together with the dynamic team from Te Marae Ora, under the amazing leadership of Health Minister Vainetutai Rose Toki Brown.
With Dr Josephine Aumea Herman to complete the two prodigious high performing duo, with support staff from the Ministry equal to the task!
This annual conference gets bigger and better since Dr Kiki and I launched it in the Rarotonga Hospital kitchen 21 years ago. I was then minister of health. Dr Kiki ultimately linked up with Dr Joe and Robert to build the Health Conference in what I consider to be the best run conference in the Cook Islands.
The level of representation from medical experts presenting papers is incredible. The conference kicked off with a riveting prayer service from Bishop Tutai Pere.
He urged Cook Islanders to take more care of their health! The Bishop told the audience when he confronted some sick people for not taking their medicine, they replied they much preferred to rely on prayers. He encouraged them to do both!”
-Norman George
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Author – Maureen Hilyard
Maureen Hilyard
Development Consultant living in the Cook Islands. Volunteer participant on various not-for-profits: Former Chair - At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of ICANN; President - Cook Islands Internet Action Group; co-Founder and Chair of the IGF Dynamic Coalition of SIDS in the Internet Economy; Interested in change management and digital transformation.
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