More than 200 members, their families and friends, came to Canterbury during the last weekend of July for a very successful Get-Together. This time it was to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of Kiribati Independence and there were people there from all over the UK as well as many parts of Europe and even the USA! The event took place at Saint Anselm's Catholic School on the outskirts of the city where one of the school's sports fields was used as a campsite for the long weekend.
Many of the campers arrived early on Thursday so as to welcome members of the Kiribati Delegation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held earlier that week in London, who had extended their stay so as to join us.
On the Friday, with so many young children in the camp, games were organised by Harry Orme and his brother Ben. They entertained the youngsters with a three legged race, sack race, and even a cat and mouse race and football matches and races continued throughout the weekend. We even witnessed a tug-of war!
That evening the Get-Together hosts Patrick and Philomena Lawrence provided a barbeque for the campers as well as several of the KTA members staying in local accommodation who joined us at the campsite. In addition to a good meal, with some fine wine generously provided by Tiantaake Martinez and her family from Paris, we were all rewarded with an impromptu Batere staged by some of the KTA dancers: an unexpected but very enjoyable addition to the evening's programme.
By this time there were tents of all shapes and sizes, as well an assortment of gazebos, all around the periphery of the large sports field mostly sheltering under the mature trees that bordered the site.
Early Saturday morning the School's Business Manager who had joined the camping, was awoken to unlock the gates and open the Main Hall so that the ladies might continue their preparations for the lunch and complete the decorations. Banners were erected and tables and chairs arranged in the main school hall for the AGM and before very long people began arriving.
Stalls were positioned down one side of the hall for the sale of mementos such as mugs, pens and car bumper stickers all bearing the Kiribati flag, as well as polo shirts with the Kiribati crest sewn into them.
Some of Roddy Cordon's books about her time in the islands were also on sale, and Mark Overbeeke had Kiribati DVDs on sale to raise money for the handicapped school on Tarawa which is supported by the Netherlands Kiribati Friendship Association.
Elsewhere in the hall an excellent display of the Kiribati Artefacts now in possession of the KTA for everyone to admire was arranged by Paul Chilton as well as an exceptional exhibition of Kiribati, Gilbert Islands and Gilbert & Ellice Islands postage stamps dating back to three years before the time of the separation of Tuvalu, staged by members of the Folkestone and Dover Philatelic Societies.
A lap-top computer displaying the KTA website was set up so that members might view our web pages and a questionnaire was provided to everyone in an attempt to discover how the site might prove more useful to members in future. In another corner of the large hall pictures of the 2010 Get-Together at Ashburton were projected onto a screen throughout the day.
Meanwhile the Get-Together Reception Desk was positioned in the foyer of the Main Entrance to the school stalwartly manned for the best part of the morning by Richard Turpin assisted by two young ladies in traditional dancing costume who handed the arriving members Get-Together programmes, Dance programmes and an AGM package.
We were very fortunate to have the assistance once more of Patrick Somerville as MC for the day and as usual he ensured that the programme ran smoothly and that things happened on time!
The Annual General Meeting got underway at 11am, chaired by Mrs Beta Richard Turpin who welcomed everyone to the proceedings. The meeting was very well attended and heard reports from the Chairman, Dance Organiser and Treasurer, before electing Miss Nancy Day as our new Publicity Officer. (A full report of the AGM can be found elsewhere on the KTA website.)
With the formal proceedings of the AGM over, glasses of sparkling wine were distributed to everyone whilst the Independence Celebration Cake was put on display, after which the Chairman called upon the Honorary Consul for Kiribati Michael Walsh to propose a toast to the Independence of Kiribati.
Dr Tetaua Taitai then addressed the gathering saying how pleased he and his colleagues were to be able to join our celebrations and to see how healthy our association was with so many members supporting its activities. He ended by wishing the KTA well for the future.
The Hog Roast was then brought into the hall alongside and a tremendous feast of dishes arranged on a table that stretched the width of the hall that included whole tuna, salmon, mackerel, crabs, and many traditional island dishes such as breadfruit, taro, bananas and coconuts, in addition to pots of beef curry, sweet and sour pork, beef stir fry, and a host of others.
Cheese cakes, fruit flans, banoffee pies and fruit cocktail were served for dessert. For those wanting a healthy option there were slices of melon, and plenty of fresh fruit.
At this point the Lord Mayor of Canterbury Councillor Ian Thomas joined the proceedings. He welcomed everyone to the city of Canterbury and wished us an enjoyable reunion. Sir John Smith then said grace before the Lord Mayor and other special guests, including Mrs Chris Luxton PISUKI Chairman, and Mrs Vasi Hollingsworth-Daniels, representing the Commonwealth Countries League, accompanied by the KTA Chairman, headed the queue for lunch
In the brilliant sunshine many members were able to spill out from the hall onto the grass terrace overlooking the sports fields and make use of the picnic tables so as to enjoy an al-fresco meal!
When lunch was over the Dance Displays, which we had all been eagerly awaiting, commenced and the marvellous sound of Kiribati voices combined in song could be heard which brought everyone back into the hall.
The wonderful sight of a stage filled with dancers in their traditional costumes brought the proceedings alive and was greeted with immediate applause and cheering. It was a very happy occasion that had cameras flashing and people dashing about to improve their vantage points.
After a display involving all the dancers we were treated to spirited performances by enthusiastic youngsters which brought laughter as well as applause from the audience.
These were followed by more serious displays by other young dancers. Then older women, more skilled in their intricate routines, performed with a degree of emotion that engaged all of us watching their movements and appreciating the messages conveyed in them.
The programme then varied the performances so that we saw more of the youngsters, the older children and then the adults once more which left them with time to change costume and prepare for their next time on stage; all very well organised.
There were a total of thirty dances which lasted for almost two hours but it seemed to be over in the blink of an eye. They were all extremely entertaining and without doubt reminded everyone present of very happy times spent in the islands.
The dances concluded with an excellent performance by the host of the Get-Together Philomena Lawrence with all of the dancers on stage in support, which was very well received.
It was now time for tea and cakes!
Scones with cream and fresh strawberries were served with an assortment of cakes and gataeux. The Draw for the Get-Together Raffle was held which, thanks to the generosity of our members, involved a terrific selection of prizes and raised £280 for KTA funds.
There were games for those who were fit enough to participate on the sports fields but the tables in the hall didn't seem to clear with groups of people enjoying each others' company well into the early evening. The bar which had enjoyed a steady trade throughout the day and managed to empty the keg of Devon Mist cider brought up from the West Country by Karea Baireti and the mini barrels of real ale purchased from Shepherd Neame Brewery were also dry! Our thanks are due to Simon and Geoff for all their hard work!
The late afternoon / early evening eventually saw people departing for home, their local hotel or B&B, whilst the campers retired to the sports field at the rear of the school site for an evening around makeshift camp fires or barbeques, that went on into the early hours. Nevertheless a great number of volunteers were somehow found to clean up in the hall and kitchen!
Sunday morning saw tents being taken down by people packing up camp before saying their farewells and gradually everyone departed which brought an end to an extremely enjoyable and happy reunion!
The Canterbury District Kentish Gazette 4th August edition carried a report of the Get-Together entitled PACIFIC ISLANDERS CELEBRATE HISTORY and referred readers to www.ktaweb.org.uk for more information.
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