A former ABC Pacific presenter is being remembered as an ‘artist, orator, songstress and storyteller’.
According to her family, Seini Fale’aka Taumoepeau died ‘very suddenly’ last week at the age of 48.
The Tongan-Australian, who also performs under the stage name SistaNative, hosted Pacific Mornings on ABC Radio Australia.
A post on ABC Pacific’s 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, orator, singer and storyteller who spent more than thirty years advocating for Pasifika communities and their representation in the Australian media landscape,” the release said.
Seini Fale’aka Taumoepeau (photo) died ‘very suddenly’ last week at the age of 48, according to her family
She is remembered as an ‘artist, orator, singer and storyteller’
‘Seini’s first appearance on ABC Radio Australia was as a 13-year-old on programs produced by her mother, becoming the first host of Pacific Mornings in 2018.’
‘Colleagues remember her last sign-off: ‘I hope ABC Radio Australia will consider replacing me with 2-5-10 people of Pacific heritage and understanding, developing the Australian lens of the Pacific with the great and Our region, including its inhabitants, is a valuable resource.”
Mrs. Taumoepeau was born in Australia, but spent her early childhood with her grandparents in Tonga.
An ABC Pacific social media post said Ms Taumoepeau (pictured) ‘paved the way for this team of Pacific people to be represented on ABC media programmes’.
She returned to Australia at the age of eight.
After completing her university degree, she taught in schools in the Northern Territory and later co-founded the Pacific Wave Festival, which helped showcase the Pacific region’s best artists.
Ms Taumoepeau later landed a role as a host for BC’s PAcific Beat, where she helped amplify voices from the region to an Australian audience.
She was remembered as an ‘absolute cornerstone of Australia’s Pacific diaspora’.
Another mourner said her death had left them ‘brokenhearted’.
“You have devoted much of your time and energy to the arts and culture community of Pasifika,” they wrote.
‘We will never forget this.’
A prayer vigil will be held at Croydon Park Uniting Church in Sydney’s west on Monday at 6pm and her funeral will take place at Newington College Chapel in the city’s west the following day at 6.30pm.
a GoFundMe page has raised nearly $12,000 for her memorial to date.
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