QLD:Community gathers to remember fire victims

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2011
QLD:Community gathers to remember fire victims

EDS: Removes literal in intro

By Petrina Berry

BRISBANE, Aug 25 AAP - Misi Matauina is praying for God to one day reunite him with
his partner and two daughters who perished in a house fire that killed 11 and left a community
in shock.

The 26-year-old father maintained a vigil outside the burnt shell of the Slacks Creek
house, south of Brisbane, on Thursday night as more than 3000 gathered at a local sports
hall to pay their respects and pray for the victims and their families.

The local Samoan and Tongan community packed the Logan Sports Centre and filled it
with their rich voices in a heartfelt rendition of Amazing Grace during the two-hour gathering.

Premier Anna Bligh, Logan City mayor Pam Parker, football star Karmichael Hunt, and
senior police and fire officers were also present.

In a letter read out by his oldest sister, Misi described his partner Annamaria Taufa,
23, as someone he was fortunate to have shared special times with.

"To my dear Maria, thank you for being a rock in our family - the one we'd always count
on to drop whatever you're doing just to fulfil our needs," his sister struggled to read
through her sobs.

"The one who'd go to the moon and back just to put a smile on our faces."

His letter described his longing to be with his family.

"You left me too soon and I hope and pray that one day the good Lord will bring us
back together."

Missing the ordinary but now invaluable moments together, he asked his dead wife: "Make
sure they've (the children) got their warm clothes on.

"Don't forget Kalahnie's medicine and I'm sure Lahania will need to do her homework.

"Send my love to my girls."

Jeremiah Lale, 36, who lost his wife and five children in the fire, was also absent
after vowing to remain at the scene of the tragedy until all the bodies were retrieved.

So far the remains of two of the victims are yet to be recovered.

The remains of Misi's youngest daughter, three-year-old Kalahnie Taufa, was the last
of five removed from the house on Thursday, while four others were removed the day before.

Annamaria's father, the family's patriarch, Tau Taufa, 65, who was lucky to have escaped
the fire, was the only survivor at the gathering.

Adding a touch of humour to the sad occasion, he told the gathering he always thought
Annamaria, who studied law, would grow up to be the prime minister.

He also spoke of his love for his wife, Fusi Taufa, 57, and of feelings of anger as
he comes to terms with the enormous loss.

"Tonight is a very confusing occasion," he said.

"Sometimes I get angry at God."

He described the deaths of his family members as a sweet victory for God.

"It's a sweet victory to Our Father who want more good people working in heaven,"he said.

"There's not enough good people, that's why he took my people."

Ms Bligh told the gathering the entire state shared the families' sorrow.

"We come together tonight because we know grief can only be borne if it is shared,"

the premier said.

A message with similar sentiments from Prime Minister Julia Gillard was read out.

AAP peb/sn/ht

KEYWORD: FIRE MEMORIAL (REISSUING)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.