A former ABC Pacific anchor has been remembered as an “artist, speaker, singer and storyteller.”
Seini Fale’aka Taumoepeau died “very suddenly” at age 48 last week, according to his family.
The Tongan-Australian, who also performed under the stage name SistaNative, presented Pacific Mornings on ABC Radio Australia.
An ABC Pacific post on social media said Ms Taumoepeau “paved the way for this team of Pacific people to be represented on ABC media programmes”.
“Seini will be remembered and celebrated as a dedicated artist, speaker, singer and storyteller who spent over 30 years championing Pasifika communities and their representation in the Australian media landscape,” the post read.
Seini Fale’aka Taumoepeau (pictured) died “very suddenly” at age 48 last week, according to her family.
She has been remembered as an “artist, speaker, singer and storyteller.”
“Seini’s first appearance on ABC Radio Australia was when she was 13 on shows produced by her mother, and she later became the inaugural presenter of Pacific Mornings in 2018.”
‘Colleagues recall their latest endorsement: “I hope that ABC Radio Australia will consider replacing me with 2-5-10 more people with Pacific heritage and understanding and, in doing so, develop the Australian Pacific lens with the great and valuable resource that is our region, including its people.
Mrs Taumoepeau was born in Australia but spent her early childhood living with her grandparents in Tonga.
An ABC Pacific post on social media said Ms Taumoepeau (pictured) “paved the way for this team of Pacific people to be represented on ABC media programmes”.
He returned to Australia at the age of eight.
After completing his university studies, he taught in schools in the Northern Territory and later co-founded the Pacific Wave Festival, which helped showcase the best artists from the Pacific region.
Taumoepeau later landed a gig hosting BC’s PAcific Beat, where she helped amplify the region’s voices for an Australian audience.
She was remembered as an “absolute cornerstone of Australia’s Pacific diaspora”.
Another mourner said his death had left them “heartbroken”.
“You dedicated much of your time and energy to the Pasifika arts and cultural community,” they wrote.
“We will never forget this.”
A prayer vigil will be held at Croydon Park Uniting Church in western Sydney on Monday at 6pm and his funeral will be the following day at Newington College Chapel in the city’s inner west at 6.30am. p.m
TO GoFundMe page So far he has raised almost $12,000 for his funeral.
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