A ‘star graduate’ has spoken about how the school changed his life weeks before he tragically fell to his death in a popular river.
Manaia Tither-Asiata, 18, fell about 15 meters down an embankment into the Coomera River on the Gold Coast on Sunday night.
The apprentice barber and musician was treated at the scene by paramedics as distraught family and friends watched helplessly but could not be revived.
The teenager recently graduated from the Men of Business Academy, a Year 11 and 12 secondary school set up to help disadvantaged boys finish their education and turn around their troubled lives.
The school is led by the 2024 Queensland Australian of the Year. Marco Renai, who led the tributes.
“I think he was an angel who was taken from us too soon,” Mr. Renai said to the alphabet.
‘He was a leader and inspired not only our children, but our community, our teachers, our staff… he was so special.
“I think every loss is hard… but you know, this one has been absolutely profound.”
Gold Coast teenager Manaia Tither-Asiata (pictured) fell 15 meters down an embankment into the Coomera River on Sunday.
The teenager suffered injuries to his head, chest and pelvis on the banks of the river at Maudsland, near Riverbreeze Crescent.
At the place of the embankment there is a swing and a rope to help people climb up from the river.
It is still unclear whether Tither-Asiata was playing on the rope swing or trying to climb the embankment when the tragedy occurred, the courier mail reported.
As well as being a great student, the teenager also raised vital funds for his school.
‘That’s the kind of human he was. He would do anything for anyone and support everyone’s growth,” Mr Renai said.
“I don’t even know how to explain that you saw so many things that were about to happen on his journey, and so many life-changing things, not only for him, but for everyone around him.”
At his graduation ceremony last month, Mr Tither-Asiata said that while he was happy to be done, “it will leave a bitter taste in him to have to leave this wonderful place”.
As a star student, the high school named him ‘Mobster of the Year’ 2024.
‘I want to thank every member of staff who walks these halls and makes this place more than just a place. Over the course of these two years I have grown in ways I could not have imagined,” he told the audience as Mr. Renai proudly watched from meters away.
Men of Business Academy founder Marco Renai (left) described the recent graduate (right) as an angel and a leader.
‘I learned not only about myself, but also about the people around me. “I can stand here today and say that there has not been a day that has gone by that I have not loved.”
He said he and many of the other students had developed strong bonds “with the teachers, the mentor and also with each other.”
“I have earned more in these salons than anywhere else on the planet… I am part of MOB and MOB is part of me.”
Tither-Asiata said she didn’t have “a lot of direction” when she started school when she was 16, but she has loved learning ever since.
‘MOB is not just a school. We learn, but I discovered that MOB is my support… I can express myself freely and be heard,” he said.
“This place will always have a place in my heart…thank you for supporting us all in our dreams.”
An emotional Mr. Renai was seen wiping away tears during the speech and later shared a warm hug with his star student on stage.
The teenager suffered head, chest and pelvic injuries from the crash on the banks of the Coomera River (pictured).
As flowers were left at the scene of the tragedy on Monday, friends of Mr Tither-Asiata shared their grief and a fundraising was created for his family.
His friend Virginia Baxter wrote on social media that Mr Tither-Asiata’s sudden death was “very sad”.
“I don’t even know how to explain that you saw so many things that were about to happen on his journey, and so many life-changing things, not only for him, but for everyone around him,” he wrote.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate expressed his condolences to Tither-Asiata’s family on Monday.
“It’s devastating when a young life is lost,” he said.
“What I understand is that he let go of the swing rope and hit the bench and basically didn’t recover.
“Our procedure is that this will be investigated thoroughly and that the rope has to go down.”
The council also promised to assist police in the ongoing investigation into the tragedy.
“The city will assist authorities in their investigation of this tragic incident,” a spokeswoman said.
“The municipal administration proactively removes rope swings in public spaces when we become aware of them.”