From a tiny island in the South Pacific to life in Queensland
THIS week Anglicare Southern Queensland celebrated Harmony Week at St John’s Cathedral hearing stories from our staff from all walks of life.
Harmony Week is a week to celebrate the cultural diversity of Australia, highlighting respect, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging for all. As an organization whose employees and clients come from a variety of different cultures and backgrounds, we love to see multiculturalism celebrated!
Larrisa Tanoi is a Recruitment Advisor at Anglicare Southern Queensland who shared her story of how her parents migrated to New Zealand from a tiny island in the South Pacific in the late 1970s.
Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Executive Director Sue Cooke with Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Recruitment Advisor Larrisa Tanoi at St John’s Cathedral during the Harmony Week Service. Photo: Anglicare SQ
“My mother came from Upolu, Samoa and was an AIN, being the eldest of 11 siblings was sent to live with her aunt in New Zealand as my grandparents were struggling to feed them all on a measly income of equivalent $80 a week for a family of 13,” Larrisa said.
“My father came from Savaii, was a plantation worker and his younger sister had wanted a better life for him and flew him over to New Zealand. Here were two young adults who had never met each other and by the Grace of God they did.
“Their hopes and dreams for us to have a better life where they could provide for us, their children, and their families back in Samoa have now become part of my personal story. My dad would always say learn to live but most importantly what you learn, you must use that knowledge to do good to others.”
In 1983 Larrisa and her family migrated from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney and after three years her parents got a phone call and invitation to see what life is like in Queensland.
“It was during that visit it was decided that due to the warm tropical climate, we would move and make Goodna a permanent location for our family,” she said.
“I was six years old and fascinated by the mix of culture we had in Curnow Street. Two doors up lived an Indigenous family the Johnsons, across the road lived the Togias, a Niuaean family, our next-door neighbour the Le family were Vietnamese amongst other families.
“As kids we played basketball at the corner streetlamp, used the street road as a volleyball, handball and rugby field. We would watch the Johnsons do their traditional corrobboree dance at the local Jacaranda festival. We used to eat spring rolls and pho from the Le family during random weekend lunches and they all got to taste chopsuey and kelevi eleni (gravy fish) from my mum.
“We even taught our neighbour’s kilikiti which is a form of cricket, samoan style.”
Larrisa said she had the best upbringing and childhood with so many fond memories made right here in Queensland where she lives amongst different cultures and at the same time embracing the Australian way of life.
Harmony Week celebrations at St John’s Cathedral on Monday, 21 March, 2022.
“I have always felt that I have belonged here even though I wasn’t born here but I say proudly that I am Australian,” she said.
“Throughout my life I have known and recognised within our local community that we have always had a voice, having provided perspective and feedback within a variety of settings ranging from mental health, education, housing, community engagement and development consultations.
“You only need to take a drive in each suburb to see all the different community groups accessible and available for every culture.
“I have had equal opportunities to gain a good education which continues now, to be able to live in an inclusive society and work in amazing workplaces, all because my parents decided in 1983 to migrate to the land down under.”
In 2011 Larrisa hit a roadblock in her life and longed to do something more after grieving the loss of her dad and his dream for her to give back and do good to others resulted in a decision to go and live and work in Samoa for two years.
“I gained employment where I was able to support Australian citizens, either tourists or residents living in Samoa as the Consular Officer at the Australian High Commission in Apia, Samoa.
“If it had not been for my life and work experience in Australia, I would not have been able to achieve that. It was one of my most memorable work experiences that I had and enjoyed but I can honestly say going onto five months having worked with Anglicare Southern Queensland is up there too! Upon reflection I fulfilled one the wishes that my parents wanted.”
A couple of weeks ago during the Queensland Floods, Larrisa’s suburb was inundated by flood waters and a lot of her friends and families lost their homes and possessions.
“As I went out there to help clean out homes with mud and debris everywhere I again was reminded of the spirit of harmony day,” she said.
Harmony Week celebrations at St John’s Cathedral on Monday, 21 March, 2022.
“At every turn there were people from all different cultures/walks of life out there alongside us helping clean up because it’s also during these difficult times that the community rallies together to support each other to let each other know that things will be okay.
“The mutual respect, empathy and compassion that is shown to each other that despite the circumstances, we are there to uplift, encourage and to help each other get through this. I am proud to say that I am from a great community, and I live in one of the greatest suburbs of Queensland.”
“That for me is what Harmony Day celebrates – the inclusion, respect, and celebration of who I am, and I live it daily. I am Larrisa Tanoi, and I am respected in my community as a Samoan, a woman, a mother, a sister, a friend, possibly the best work colleague one could ever have but above all else, someone who from humble beginnings also happens to be a Dinky-Di Aussie and I belong in this great Country called Australia.”
I am one of the 49% of Australians who were born overseas or have a parent that was born overseas. *
I identify with one of the 300+ ancestries*
I am one of 7.5 million people who have migrated to Australia since 1945*
I speak one of the 70+ indigenous languages* spoken in Australia.
*Stats from ABS 2016 Census
You can see some of the photos from our Harmony Week celebrations here:
