Savali Betham and family

“Migrated in the 50s to support my family in Samoa. Lived on Franklin Road with family and attended St Joseph’s Church. It was at church that I met this young man, always smiling at me and playing jokes. I went on to find that the young man was my neighbour on Franklin Road, and he would throw little stones at my window to get my attention. When I would walk to choir practice, he would come and talk to me. I could tell he liked me, and that like grew to love. I married my neighbour turned best friend in 1961, and we bought our home in Avondale in 1964.

Together we supported our siblings to NZ to find new opportunities, our Avondale Rd house became the homestead for many of our family migrating over.

We started the St Marys Samoan Community with other families in Avondale, where we intertwined our culture and religion, and reclaimed the village based lifestyle that came naturally to us in Samoa. We made lifelong friendships with many because we started a platform that allowed Catholic Samoan families in Avondale to come together as one.

Willie and I raised 6 children at our home in Avondale, and our kids went on to give us 15 beautiful grandchildren, who then gave us 9 great grandchildren. One of our granddaughters passed away in 2011 and I like to think my husband is up there taking care of her.

I have unconditional love for the families Willie and I come from, the family we made and the family that we found in Avondale.

In loving memory of my husband and granddaughter; William and Tarliyah Betham.”