November 2003

Just a touch of paradise—in West Brunswick

By Ross Barnett of the Office of Housing

The traditional welcome to visitors to the 15 islands—spread over two million square kilometres of the South Pacific—that make up the independent nation of the Cook Islands is ‘kia orana’.

Like jewels in a tropical paradise, the islands are surrounded by coral reefs, protecting sandy beaches lined with swaying palms.

The largest island of Rarotonga is dominated by cloud-tipped mountains.

One of the smallest is Atutaki, the Pacific island of everyone’s dreams.

This paradise is home to about 20,000 islanders who depend on agriculture and tourism to bolster a fragile economy.

Many Cook Islanders have had to move from their paradise home to larger countries to work and support families.

Many have moved to New Zealand—others to Australia.

Cook Islander communities have sprung up in many locations, some in Victoria’s public housing estates.

Gronn Place in West Brunswick is one such estate where the Cook Island community is strong and traditional family values observed.

It is a community where the adults proudly pass on the culture of their homeland.

As with all traditional communities arriving in this country, peer pressures, particularly on the young at school and socially, can test family values.

The Cook Island community has not been immune to these influences but, with the guidance of adults and committed social workers, many young people are achieving and making their mark in the Australian community.

Among the strong cultural aspects that link the Cook Islanders are arts, crafts and dancing.

Cook Islanders have long been recognised among the many Pacific people for their energetic dancing accompanied by pulsating rhythms of drums and voices.

Such is the standard of performance of traditional Cook Island dancing by many of the Gronn Place residents that four of their young people are returning to Rarotonga to compete in the national dancing championships.

Dancers Petronilla Mino, eight, Ashly Hickling Vahua, 14, and Tessa Mino, 15, with drummer, Tuaiti Mino, 10, will be representing not only their families and their Melbourne community in the competition but will be gaining from the experience of a return to the islands of their heritage.

‘Kia manuia’—may good fortune shine on them.