Taua Fusi Malaetele started with Pacific Homecare as a Service Coordinator 18 years ago on the 4th of July 2005. Since then, Taua has been an amazing worker at Pacific Homecare. As many would know, he is a very positive person. Enthusiastic about all the people he works with and the service he provides to our elderly.
In 2012, Pacific Homecare went through organisational changes. Here, Taua was re-purposed to take on the role of coordinating and leading our service day programmes for the elderly, which he named Fia Ola. What was important was to deliver these services in an ethnic-specific approach as opposed to a pan-pacific approach – mainly as our elderly returned to their first languages and wanted to be themselves in a supportive programme that addressed their isolation and loneliness.
For the last 10 years, Taua has led this service and it has grown significantly. Starting with Samoan, then Tongan, Cook Islands, Indo-Fijian, and last year Niuean with approx. 150 elderly participating in these services.
Taua retired on Thursday 26th of January at the young age of 75 years and Pacific Homecare farewelled him appropriately.
The Elderly simply love him, as we do, for his love, care and professionalism over the many years. Taua embodies all that Pacific Homecare is and means as a Samoan and as a Pacific person. His laughter, his tears of joy, his culture, his language, his identity and his ability to connect to us all, move us in so many ways.
Fa’afetai, Fa’afetai, Fa’afetai. Our beautiful man, we love you deeply. We look forward to having a few more laughs and cups of tea again soon, enjoy your retirement.
Alofa Atu,
Aroa Maata,
Ofa’ lahi Atu,
Fakaaue lahi,
Vinaka Vaka Levu.
Hamish Crooks.
