This is the tribute I penned on behalf of our extended Vavia family, for our eldest brother, the late Mr Badira Vavia. We came to realise after his passing that – not only was he the first grandchild on our maternal grandfather’s side of the family, it was the same on our maternal grandmother’s side as well. Come to think of it, at some stage whilst growing up, I might have thought him to be one of our uncles, ie mum’s sibling, not ours 😊
It’s written in a mixture of motu (my mother tongue) and English and I started off with a poem titled “A successful man”! I’m keeping this tribute here for memory’s sake ❤️✝️🌺
A Successful Man
By Bessie Anderson Stanley
That man is a success – who has lived well, laughed often and loved much;
who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
who leaves the world better than he found it;
who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it.;
who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.
Basita hegoremu, Tubusereia hanua lalonai – ai Vavia family, late Badira ida avara hebou taumai, ai natumai, ravamai, tubumai veridia, vabu ena kaha, ihana, mai natudia, tubudia ida! Varavara bese, mama bona iaia edia kaha taumui – ita iboudai, heduru momo bona babada hereadia ta davari – in one way or another – late Badco ena madi namo negadiai.
As we all know, ia na horse race kamadoana ta, and, later in life, till his death, in the real estate circles, he was a well-respected and sought after agent or consultant (story dia dome kamonai). In fact, right up to most recently as he lay in his sick bed.
A couple of months back, this year, dina tai lau e ring henigu, eha maorogu va, Ali sinana, emu K1 ta to vada turamu Iamo Iamo (Meatauna natuna) be naheniamu ena muramura hoi gauna. Moni orena na Dodo sinana ena hospital fee balance of 20K baina peia. That left us wondering why he was more concerned about everyone else and not himself knowing he too was quite sick.
Some wonder ia ena contribution be dahaka? What has late Badira accomplished? Natuna/ tubuna edia ruma ta seme haginia and many other things. Well I say this and I say it with pride – see his children and especially his grandchildren – ia kudouna biagudia, from Euphrasia to little Idau. I understand another one is on the way ❤️
Dorothy, Helen bona Hebou Vavia, sibodia, tamadia eme hekwarahi laia, ema bona imadiai e mase: varavaragu, there is a saying:
“your greatest contribution to the universe may not be something you do, but someone you raise”.
Unknown
I am so proud of you lalagu toi osi, Dodo, Hele bona Hebou Vavia, mai adavamui bona natumui ida – ome goada herea. Looking after not one but two sick and aging parents is not an easy task – bema asi a durumui namo namo, on behalf of Vavia family, please forgive us.
Heini ai anohomu gabudiai umui ese tamamui dainai okara bona sinamui dainai ma bokaramu gaukaradia, these are well paid jobs! People pay thousands of money for others to look after their elderly, sick or disabled relatives. So, no matter what you hear against your dad or you, hold your head up high, he and your mother raised you well! Remember that always.
Tubusereia lohiamui, mai dibamui lau taihugu veridia na manau memero dia, asi udu udu dia ta mauri tamaimu lalonai – hena hekurena ena amo ediho ela Meatauna mero dokona. Hold that thought, varavara – I will get to that, shortly.
Ai kakamai late Badira Vavia, Dodo tamana eiava – ai emai family maragidia as they affectionately referred to him as – uncle or bubu fullback. NRL tai itamu, mai dibada what the fullback’s role is and how he is the last line of defence for the team. Although he may not have been a Billy Slater or Tommy Turbo from his beloved Manly Sea Eagles – he knew his place in our family. And he led us from the back, and he led very well too… showing us that you don’t always have to be upfront to lead.
Lohiabada ena ruma helagana lalonai, koikoi be gau dikana, ai kakamai ai padamai ai senoho momo, not for most of his adult life, but we accorded him that respect – we knew and we made sure he knew what he meant to us, ia na ai kakamai roboana. He stayed in the background by choice, always humbling himself, but we never did anything without consulting him first and that is the truth.
Which is why his dying wishes, ia ena noinoi natuna ehamaorodia, Dodo, Helen and Hebou, please correct me if I’m wrong in saying this about his dying wishes. Ia ede baine heto neganai, gaukaradia iboudiai na Dere rumana, ai emai variha rumana amo baie ehe kara.
June 28, 2023, will always be a sad day for us, mase ai bena ai kakamai, we received him back into our home with love and humility. Not in anger nor resentment!! Ia ena noinoi dainai we accord him his dying wishes with respect. And we will make sure we send him off in style and with even more love, humility, singing, dancing, and joy. We celebrate his life because that is what he wanted and what he deserves. Thank you ai ihamai, Vabu Badira, mai natumu bona tubumu ida, adavamu bona tamamui/ tubumui ena last wishes oabi dae, gara Dere ai ta guiamu, ia ihatonina gaukaradia iboudiai unukaha amo o karamu.
28.06.2023, is the day our Vavia family #1 has been retired. Vale kakamai lalokauna, we will miss your random phone calls, messages asking ‘please egu credit taina do siaia’, your deep sense of humor, your belly laugh, your racing tips (no more, uncle Badco do ring henia on Melbourne Cup eves or days, for tips), your guidance (leading from the back) and most importantly your humility ❤️
I want to finish off with this bible verse, that reminds me of my brother:
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV
I pray that out of your life story, we all learn to be more humble like you kakagu lalokauna. You most certainly lived well, laughed often and loved much. You gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children, especially your bubus. You looked for the best in others and you went out of your way to give your best to others right up to your last breath.
A successful man, that’s what you are and you will remain as that in our memories always. May your beautiful & humble soul rest in God’s eternal peace forever 🙏❤️
Idau Hahine 