The Friendly Islanders - An Image

Which The 'Big Smoke' Tarnishes

In this controversial article a Sydney man married to a Tongan girl for the past four years gives his opinion :of the Tongans living in the "Big Smoke". He blows the whistle on some of the antics the Tongans get up Ito, and he also covers tours made by Tongan sporting and cultural groups that have visited Australia. But Tie also makes some constructive suggestions for improving the situation.

From JOHN SLENDER in Sydney

My first contact with the Tongan community really began shortly after our marriage when the Tongan athletic team stayed in Sydney on their way home from the South Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.

Some of the Tongans, my wife Fatai and I prepared a welcome for the boys, and the lone woman athlete Keta ’longi, who had travelled without a chaperone.

The team arrived in Sydney early in the morning and as soon as they were dumped at the Police Boys Club where they stayed, their guardians disappeared and left them to fend for themselves. Most of us were angered by this. The team was hungry, tired and untidy. Many had complained of poor food while in Port Moresby.

I soon realised that some of the Tongans were treated very poorly by the Europeans and I guess I be came a strong supporter of Tongan Liberation. We became regular at tendee at the Tongan church services held monthly at the Wesley Chapel and as each month went by that Friendly Island charm won me over.

I was warned to beware of the Tongan community, a warning 1 did not heed.

October, 1969, saw the formation of the Tonga Australia Association which elected me as its secretary treasurer. During the months that followed our organisation held many socials so that Tongans could meet in a relaxed atmosphere, have a drink, dance, and swap stories.

But soon the bubble burst. Fights, excessive drinking and disorderly conduct became the regular enter tainment and an embarrassment to the community—those who cared.

This problem continued for another two years. it was soon apparent that, to Tongans, Sydney was the Pot of Gold at the rainbow’s end and that many Tongans would do almost anything to come here to study or for a work ing holiday. As a large city, like most bustling metropolises, Sydney

offers so much, but with it come so many pitfalls.

At present, the Tongan population in Sydney would number somewhere between 100 and 150, comprising students, those married to Europeans and a large percentage of visitors.

Many of the folk back home must wonder what kind of reputation the Tongans are building for themselves and whether they are meeting with success or failure in their ventures in this foreign land.

From my contact with other Aus tralians who had known or as sociated with Tongans I would say that some years ago the Tongans had a name to be extremely proud of, but in recent years their reputations have waned considerably.

Why? Well let’s look at it. There are plenty of case histories.

In July and August, 1970, there was the stowaway crisis when it was estimated that there were more than 40 Tongans illegally in Sydney. But when these chappies hit our shores, did they go into smoke? No. They hung around all the pubs, clubs,

places of ill-repute, and, in no time at all, most of them were caught by the authorities either as drunks or fighters. Some of them were so foolish and knew so little of climatic con ditions in July and August, that they were picked up wearing only trousers and a T shirt. OK if you want to catch pneumonia. It was only a matter of time before most of them were arrested but not before some had attacked women and one had even knifed a police officer.

But not all were bad. Some of the lads were out for a spot of schoolboy adventure. One chap, as soon as he jumped ship, went to the fruit markets and bought a case of apples to send back to the folks at home. A good lad at heart, but a bad stowaway.

He got caught a few days after he arrived.

Some had good endings. A number of the boys did not associate with the hard-boiled, criminal type and earned some worthwhile cash before they were caught. One Immigration officer told me that they had so much work with other matters, that had the Tongans dispersed, and had not caused trouble, many of them would still be running free.

However, towards the end of the year, many of these fellows came before the courts. The sentences wers. light. The judges must have been Huckleberry Finns at heart.

But it did not end there. Some decided to break out of jail, bashing two of the warders and stealing personal property in the process.

With the help of the police, the Army, and helicopters, most of the escapees were recaptured. The last fellow was caught the night after the First Tongan Ball held in Sydney.

In the rounding-up process the police called on nearly every Tongan or Tongan/European household to see if they were harbouring any of the escapees.

A few months later the majority were deported, but think of the time wasted, the cost the Australian

Government had been put to, and, of course, the resultant damage to the Tongan image through press, radio, and TV coverage.

The Tonga Australia Association quickly handed a donation to the Commonwealth Police Mortality Fund and expressed their deepest concern over the incident.

Only recently I was told by a reliable source that about 20 stowa ways arrived in Sydney in June this year.

Tours

During the past four years three official Tongan groups have visited Australia. The first group was the athletic team already mentioned. The second group came in 1970 during the Captain Cook Bi-Centenary celebrations. Now here was a great group of performers. But what a rough deal some of them received!

They stayed in a small private hotel in Coogee and I recall about eight boys living in a room about 10 ft by 10 ft. The girls were a little better off, about four or five to a room.

While some of them had to make their own way back to the hotel after performing at the Royal Easter Show, one official always seemed to have a rental car available.

When the team arrived there was a complete absence of display or a performance, at the airport for instance, to engender some worthwhile publicity. In fact, publicity was virtually non-existent. So different from the Cook Islanders who really shot the works on their arrival!

Only experienced, capable, and thoughtful leaders should handle such tours.

The Tonga Rugby Union team, which had a most successful tour in June in spite of many defeats, was always at a great disadvantage due to the excessive functions organised for it, leaving little time for rest and practice. In one week, prior to one of their main matches, they spent a few hours at practice.

On the organisation side, there ap peared to be a communication gap between Australian and Tongan officials.

On the Saturday night after the first test, a reception was held at the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club.

The beer flowed freely—Sydney hos pitality—and I recall later that evening seeing many of the players well under the weather at a social held in the Paddington Town Hall.

Sunday was a repeat performance.

Barbecued steak and beer, and then off to a service at the Wesley Centre.

City life

It is not only stowaways that cause the trouble. Many of their visiting comrades try their hand at stealing, drug-taking and other social crimes.

Drinking to excess rates high on the list and has forced the association to cancel functions when brawls fol lowed heavy drinking.

So much for the fellas for the time being.

The girls are a different proposition.

There are the half-dozen who have illegitimate children, and the few who try a little premarital living, but then this is not uncommon anywhere in the world.

Basically though, the girls set a good example. The failure rate of the girl students is very low; they are good, hard and conscientious workers, and all in all Tonga can be quite proud of its girls.

The male students have not been so fruitful with their studies. Soon after arrival they learn of the bright spots, and the high living, and it takes its toll. Students, who are spon sored and cared for by Australian families who keep the paternal eye on them, usually meet with success.

Mr Barnes, the former Minister for External Territories, was quoted in the Tonga Chronicle as saying that it is better to train people in their own environment. He was, in my opinion, quite right.

The visitors are a mixed assort ment. Most come with the idea of earning and saving a few dollars.

Some reach this goal, some don’t.

The thrifty Tongan could give a good lesson to the Australians.

Then comes the borrower. Beware of this person. If a Tongan lends money to another person he should not expect to get it back. One Tongan nurse lent about $4OO nearly four years ago to a “New Australian” and even though legal action was taken

and judgment found in her favour she is still waiting for her money.

It will be a long wait.

The girls are easy takes for the smooth-talking salesman. A few years apo three nurses ordered sets of ex pensive saucepans around $2OO.

Fortunately quick action by the matron of the hospital released them from their obligation.

Have a heart for the person who comes for a working holiday, saves hard and then breaks an arm or leg.

Most of his savings are spent on very high medical bills and his trip is wasted. No one told him of the medical benefits organisations.

The number of Tongans who arrive at Sydney airport penniless is quite unbelievable. Only recently, one Tongan entered Australia on a busi ness visa and proceeded to set up shop as a travel agency. He soon ended up heavily in debt. The joke is that he, the “businessman”, had to borrow his fare to come to Aus tralia.

Interfering in the lives of others seems to be one of the Tongan’s favourite pastimes. Most frequently, this is brought on by sheer jealousy of those who have done well. We have experienced this ourselves.

Extending the

There seem to be conflicting de cisions on the time Tongans are per mitted in Australia. Immigration Minister Mr Grassby, in a letter to a sponsor, stated that 12 months was the maximum holiday stay, yet the Sydney officials allow only six months.

Of course there is always an answer to ensure that one has a longer holiday. Some Tongans use the church as a cover to undertake lay preacher instructions and thus extend their stay up to two years.

Only a short while ago I had a letter from a Vavauan who said that one

individual made it quite clear that if an extension of time was required Rev . V . . v . . . could arrange it.

One chappie had headaches; he stayed'nearly three years. It didn’t affect his drinking ability. Another Tongan lad spent 12 months in Aus tralia and then, when his visa had almost expired, decided that he wanted to become an apprentice.

There was the case of a Tongan man who came to Australia to under take an apprenticeship. His wife and daughter accompanied him. He spent over three years trying to pass his English entrance examinations. He failed regularly. Eventually he was told to leave. Naturally, both he and his wife worked during this period.

It’s a pity an opportunity hadn’t been given to a more suitable can didate.

A family, who secured an ap prenticeship in the electrical trades for a Tongan boy, was amazed to find evidence that the fellow was cor responding with another Australian for permission to sponsor him and undertake a commercial course. The first family soon withdrew its spon sorship.

I cannot understand why the Aus tralian Government has allowed some Tongans to stay permanently in Aus tralia after completing their courses when others have been ordered home. Surely all students should be required to return home to Tonga and pass on their knowledge for some years at least before being considered as eligible for residential status? This alone is causing much unrest among the students. Whose fault is this?

Unrest

Many of the Tongans in Sydney tell of hardship in Tonga and favouritism shown to those who hold special position or rank. One Tongan made it quite clear that he believed Tonga was a cross between a democracy and a dictatorship.

Often bandied around is the tale of shortage of land, yet many persons seem to be in custody of more than their share. If this is so, then some thing is wrong.

Some Tongans, after spending a few years in Australia, obviously do not intend to return home. Some engage in hasty marriages to gain residential status. Many marriages have failed. Some students continue to undertake course after course of study trying to prolong D (departure) Day. Many have been successful; many haven’t.

A great deal of unrest was caused some time back when one Tongan boy was allowed to enrol at a well

known boys’ college, while two other boys were refused. Class distinction?

It was to me. - Perhaps I have painted a nasty picture of the Tongans in Sydney, but this is the way I have seen and know it. 1 have the opportunity to visit the Tongan communities in Brisbane and Melbourne and here the situation is entirely different.

There are many fine ambassadors for Tonga in these cities.

A solution

Strangely enough, the solution to most of the problems could be very simple. Some type of diplomatic service should be set up in Australia; someone appointed to keep a watch ful eye on the Tongans. To advise them, guide them and help them.

He could act as a father to all the students by showing a genuine interest in their activities and, when neces sary, take disciplinary action. 1 would also like to see a board set up back home in Tonga to ensure that only those of good background and character ever leave its shores.

Another function that could be per formed back in Tonga would be the setting up of some type of orientation school so that Tongans would know something of the country, its customs and its pitfalls, before arriving in any overseas country.

The Tonga Government must shoulder much of the blame that involves its countrymen in trouble in Australia. During the stowaway crisis three separate letters were sent to a Tonga Government official. Not one was answered.

The Australian officials should also share some of the responsibility. Time after time irresponsible Tongans have been handled with kid gloves.

Co-operation and planning can overcome the problems created by Tongans in Sydney. • The Tongan Rugby team did not have a successful tour of Aust ralia in terms of matches won and lost, but with their refreshing and un inhibited approach to the game they pulled the crowds in. Highlight of the tour was a win over Australia in the second test, after a trouncing a week earlier in the first test. Re suits were: South Australia, 29-6: Vic toria, 10-13; Sydney, 19-14; New South Wales, 0-18; Australian Capital Territory, 6-17; Australia (first test), 12-30; New South Wales Country, 11- Australia (second test), 16-11: Queensland, 10-18; Queensland Country, 12-9. On the way home Tonga played Fiji in Suva and lost, 12-