ANZAC Day

“It is an annual event not for glorification but for solemn reflection and to remind ourselves of the preciousness of peace. We must not forget how the peace and freedoms we enjoy were won on all fronts and the magnanimity of the sacrifices made.”

Fiame recalled about honouring the tradition in Australia.

“A month ago, during my official visit to Australia, I had the honour to lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, the Director of whom is a former High Commissioner of Australia to Samoa.”

The President of the Returned Services Association, RSA and Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio confirmed in an interview with the Government media that the upcoming ANZAC day, will be as it has been for more than a decade, celebrated and commemorated minus a public holiday.

ANZAC Day, which is annually recognized on the 25th April in Samoa and other ANZAC countries such as NZ and Australia, ceased to be a Public Holiday in 2008.

The Storm have beaten the Warriors 42-20 to record their fifth straight victory in the annual fixture.

The reigning premiers are now fourth on the ladder, while the Warriors have dropped to ninth.

The visitors were undermanned and Warriors coach Nathan Brown handed debuts to teenagers Reece Walsh and Rocco Berry.

Walsh has only been with the club for a couple of weeks, having been released by the Brisbane Broncos.

"We could see Reece's talent there today and he is a very talented kid," Brown said.

“Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, there will be no government-led public overseas Anzac Day services this year,” she said. 

“Instead, we encourage people to commemorate privately as we come together in spirit to reflect upon the service and sacrifice made by Australians in all wars and on operations.

“Amongst the ‘Anzacs’ were soldiers from the Pacific—from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and the Cook Islands. Together, they all wore the same uniform and shared the same terrible experience of war. Their story, the Anzac story, is one that unites us.”

This is after the local-based New Zealand cricket team challenged the local-based Australian team to a showdown.

The match will be hosted by Samoa International Cricket Association.

New Zealand team captain, Sanjay Chandra said they are ready to face the rival team.

"We are out to halt the Australian team's three wins in a row and bring to an end.”

At the end of her first Anzac Day speech as Governor-General, she said they included 500 men from the Cook Islands and 150 from Niue.

She says she unveiled a sculpture in Rarotonga recently to honour the Cook Islands soldiers who worked on the Arras tunnels as part of New Zealand's Pioneer Battalion.

"That expression of pride and sorrow served as a timely reminder of our shared experience of loss and the lasting impacts of war."

Photo: RNZ / Daniela Maoate-Cox Poppies pinned on by the descendants of Cook Island soldiers.