Oz travel writers
p. 58 · Read in the full issue
in Tonga, Samoa
Some of Australia’s top travel writers visited Western Samoa and Tonga in April.
Organised by Polynesian Air lines in Australia, the tour was supported by the Western Sam oan and Tongan Visitors Bureaus, and Polynesian Air lines in Apia.
The group was headed by Frank Gallego, travel editor of Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph and Daily Telegraph. He is also president of the Australian Travel Writers Association. Bill Peach, well-known Australian television indentity and travel writer, was representing “New Idea ’, a popular weekly maga zine for women produced in Sydney. Travel editor for Mel bourne’s Age newspaper, Jan ne Apelgren, represented the Australian state of Victoria.
Photo-joumalist Steven Car ruthers of the Sydney Studios Photoworld, and Sydney tele vision travel commentator Derek Taylor, with his producer Steve Buje, completed the group.
For all the journalists it was a first-time visit to Samoa, and at Polynesian’s request Savaii was
included in the itinerary. The group stayed at the new Vaisala Hotel at Asau. While there a traditional kava ceremony proved to be one of the high lights of the day.
Mr Gallego, elected as “talk ing chief” by the group, spoke quite emotionally about the cul ture of Samoa. “It is a great privilege,” he said, “to be able to visit you in your village and share a custom that is centuries old. I have been impressed with everything I have seen so far in Samoa. We have much to learn from your customs and your way of life.”
That night the village turned on a fia fia, and the group were able to enjoy traditional songs and dances in a happy, infor mal atmosphere.
In Apia the writers stayed at Aggie Grey’s hotel and although the Aggie Grey was in Auckland, her granddaughter, “young” Aggie, charmed everyone.
As it was Palm Sunday when the group arrived, they took the opportunity of attending a church service. All were im pressed with the singing of the Samoan congregation.
Sightseeing included Piula Pool, Lefaga Beach, Apia mar kets, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s home. Jane of Jane’s Tours escorted the wri ters and gave them valuable background information on places, people and customs.
Because of time limits and flight schedules, the stop in Tonga was brief. The group however found time to get up-to-date on the available tourist facilities and meet with TVB authorities.
Janne Apelgren had an audi ence with the queen and Steven Carruthers interviewed and photographed the king.
Polynesian Airlines is work ing closely with tourism or ganisations in the Samoas and Tonga to help publicise the attractions of the three coun tries.
Polynesian Airlines is con sidering arranging another trip by travel writers later in the year. It is likely to include the Cook Islands.
Samoan hospitality rises to almost any occasion, and that’s precisely what this group of Australian journalists found during a visit to a village where they were served steaming cups of cocoa. Very bracing, they said, on crisp, paradise-type mornings. Those in our picture are, left to right, noted TV personality, Bill Peach, Steven Carruthers, Frank Gallego, Jane of Jane’s Tours, and Janne Alpengren. - Polynesian Airlines picture.