Joy and emotion were evident as senior nurse Alaimoana Moelagi Leilani Jackson expressed her gratitude for the prestigious honour awarded by His Majesty Tuitaumeasina Toaiga-o-Tumua Charles III.
In her meeting with Savali, the senior nurse thanked God for this blessing, as well as the acknowledgment of her humble service by the British Royal Family.
The award granted to Alaimoana is known as the Member of the Royal Victorian Order.
This prestigious award was presented during His Majesty’s official visit to Samoa, accompanied by the Queen Consort, as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted by Samoa.
“It feels deeply moving to be recognized with an honour that is not easily given. I am thankful to God.
“I never thought I would receive such a prestigious award. It seemed like something only others would receive. I only truly realized it when I returned to my office.
“To this day, I still can’t believe that someone as humble as myself would receive such a prestigious award from His Majesty the King of Great Britain.
“I hadn’t thought much about the significance of this award, but after the British Ambassador in Samoa spoke to me about its importance, I felt truly grateful.
“My role in the preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting involved supporting various programs, particularly in connecting with villages, which is a key part of our hosting. His Majesty’s visits to villages in Upolu allowed him to witness Samoa’s exceptional hospitality and the spirit of our people.
“The service I performed was wholeheartedly aimed at fulfilling Samoa’s hopes and goals, with no expectation of receiving this honour.
“The preparations were also tied to the protocol of His Majesty and the Queen Consort’s visit to Samoa, but we also integrated our customs and traditional hospitality. This was somewhat challenging, as our customs differ from practices in other countries, requiring adjustments to every aspect of their visit.
“The main work involved training our staff and others involved to ensure they understood their roles. It was a collaborative effort between the police and the leadership of each village, ensuring our nation’s safety and welcoming hospitality.”
Alaimoana currently serves in the office of the British High Commissioner in Samoa.
The article was originally published in Samoan on the Savali Newspaper Facebook page and translated into English by SNH Editorial Staff.
Tusiaina i le Gagana Samoa – Taunuuga Toatasi
Faae’eina atu le Faailoga Taualoa mai Lana Afioga i le Tupu o Peretania Tele ia Tuitaumeasina Toaiga-o-Tumua Salesa III ia Alaimoana Moelagi Leilani Jackson
Tusitala: Taunuuga Toatasi
O lagona o le fiafia ma le faagae’etia ina ua faasoa le tama’ita’i tausi soifua sinia ia Alaimoana Moelagi Leilani Jackson, i le faailoga taualoa sa faae’e atu i ai e Lana Afioga i le Tupu o Peretania ia Tuitaumeasina Toaiga-o-Tumua Salesa III.
I le feiloa’iga a le Savali ma le tama’ita’i tausi soifua sinia, sa ia faafetaia ai le Atua, ona o nei faamanuiaga aemaise o le amana’ia o lona faatauva’a e le ‘Aiga Tupu o Peretania.
O le faailoga sa maua e Alaimoana ua taua o le Member of the Royal Victorian Order.
Sa tau’ā’aoina atu lea faailoga taualoa a’o i ai Lana Afioga i le Tupu ma Lana Masiofo i Samoa nei, i le la malaga faalemālō, aemaise o le Fono a Ta’ita’i o Malo o le Taupulega, lea sa talimalo ai Samoa.
“E lagona lava le faagae’etia, ona o le amana’ia o se auaunaga ua afua ai ona ou maua lenei faailoga taualoa. O se faailoga e le maua gofie e tagata, ae faafetai i le Atua.
“Ou te le’i mafaufauina ou te maua lea faailoga taualoa, ona sa faapea se manatu, e maua uma e matou, peitai faatoa ou iloa lava, ina ua ou toe foi mai i le matou Ofisa.
“E o’o mai lava i le taimi nei, e le’o i ai lava so’u talitonuga e faamanuiaina lo’u nei tagata faatauva’a i se faailoga taualoa faapea mai Lana Afioga i le Tupu o Peretania Tele.
“E le’i alu tele so’u mafaufau i lea pine taualoa, peitai ina ua talanoa mai le Amapasa o Peretania i Samoa nei ia te a’u i le taua o lea pine taualoa, e lagona ai lava le loto faafetai.
“O le amata mai o tapenaga mo le Fono a Ta’ita’i o atunuu o le Taupulega, atonu o vaega sa ou auai ai i totonu mo le faatinoga o polokalame, aemaise lava le le va ma afio’aga, aua tasi lea vaega taua o le tatou taligāmalo, le o’o atu o le Tupu i afio’aga i Upolu nei sa ia afea, ma molimauina ai le maoae o le talimālō lelei o Samoa aoao ma ona tagatānu’u.
“O le auaunaga sa faatino, e mai le loto ina ia manuia ma ia tau lau o le faamoemoe o Samoa, sa lilo i manatu o le ā maua ai lenei pine taualoa.
“O tapenaga, aua e i ai aiaiga o le malaga mai o Lana Afioga i le Tupu ma Lana Masiofo i Samoa, ae o le tatou foi Tu ma Aganu’u talimalo e pei ona masani ai. Sa fai lava sina faigata o le tulaga lea, aua o le tatou tu ma le agaifanua ua masani ai, e ‘ese mai le tulaga e pei ona masani ai atunuu i fafo, i soo se vaega e agai i ai Lana Afioga i le Tupu ma le Masiofo.
“O le tele o galuega, o le faatino lea o aoaoga e tapena ai le matou Ofisa, aemaise foi i latou o le a galulue, ina ia malamalama lelei, aua o le galuega fai faatasi lava a leoleo ma le pulega mamalu a afio’aga taitasi, sa malu ai si o tatou atunuu ma lana taligāmalo.”
O Alaimoana, o loo galue nei i le Ofisa o le Komesina Mauāluga o Peretania i Samoa nei.
