The Quirke Tribe

Burial of King George Tupou V at the Royal tombs

Tuesday 27 Mar 2012, after multiple taskings as drivers and official escorts for dignatries the entire DCP staff ended up attending the funeral and with more front than Myers we also ended up in the VVIP seating area. Nothing beats front row seats to official functions. Guests flew in from all around the world we had seats next to the Maori King and other ministers of the NZ parliment, Governor Generals and DA's from around the world to name a few, this will definitely be another once in a lifetime experience as a CPO in the Navy. The event was a 0930 to 1500 event but the official section didn't kick off till 1130am.

Dave and I wore full dress uniform while the girls wore all Black.

The official care takers resting under the trees in the royal tomb grounds.

Initially we were seated with the Tongan's but were quickly wisked away to the VVIP tent.

Our new spot was right next to the royal family and guests.

Queen Salote's tomb.

The school children lining the entrance way with Tapa mats for the Kings casket to be carried over.

Laying of the Tapa. It just kept on coming.

Once layed the kids lined the mats the entire length from the royal palace 2 blocks away.

The DCP staff meeting the Australian Defence representative, Chief of the Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Brown.

Once the NZ plane arrived the seating was at a premium.

The last official function for these seats. Luckily we purchased a set last year.

The Governor General of Australia Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce sat with the royal family.

The Tongan Defence Services Guard proceeded the Kings Casket on the Catafalque.

The Catafalque passing us on it's way to the tomb.

The royal family following behind.

What is impressive is that the Catafalque weighs over 7.5 ton and is carried by approx 100 past students of Tupou college. Sal and Sia are in amongst these guys. Each person is expected to carry between 40-45kgs all the way from the palace (approx 1km) to the tombs with no padding either. Incredible!!

The Catafalque is put in it's final resting place.

The royal family return to their seats.

The Royal Standard.

Sermon given by the Royal chaplain.

The members of the Royal guard remove the Kings sword and Cap from the casket.

The Royal guard flag party folding the Royal Standard.

The Kings belongings are returned to the Royal family.

The Bearer party conveys the Royal Casket from the Cataflaque to the Traditional caretakers.

The bearers moving the body to the tomb.

The body is lowered into the tomb.

The casket is finally lowered to the traditional caretakers in the tomb below for the entrobment rites.

In the old days the people who touched the Kings body during funeral preparation would have their hands cut off because they had touched the late King. Now days they are not allowed to touch anything until the mourning period is over. But if you thought they had it bad the 10 traditional caretakers were actually burried alive with the Kings body and a flame would be lit outside the tomb and each day they would knock on the tomb wall and when there was no more replies the flame would be extinguished, apparently this is the significance in the 10 days of mourning. Again no longer practiced.

The Australian High Commissioner and GG departing.

Some of the Lords and Nobles of the Rhealm.

Jodie and I inside the Royal tomb grounds. This is as close as us Palangi's (non Tongan's) are allowed.

The wreaths laid by the school students.

The caretakers begining to decorate the tomb.

The caretakers fill the tomb with coral sand, by hand.

The main entrance to the Royal tombs.

Jodie and Rochelle outside the main entrance.

The Fineanganofo family coming to support Sal during his big lift of the Catafalque.

King George Tupou V Funeral Preparations

During the week of preparations for the funeral, action in the royal tombs was frantic with the construction of the new tomb for King George Tupou V. As the royal tombs are a sacred place to the Tongan's they have a number of special rules they follow during the construction, such as only Tongan's are employed to do the work and they must be dressed in the mourning dress. Possibly not the most comfortable uniform to do construction work in either I imagine. Also there are official caretakers for each of the past three Kings and Queen Salote who are also there the entire time, including the offical three months mourning period after the funeral, yes night and day, rain or shine. We see so much tradition in every step of the way and throughout this entire process and I'm sure there is pleanty more that we have no idea about but we can also see how the Tongan's have adapted to the times and impacts of the future. We are very lucky to and thanks to our Tongan friends as they have explained so much more of the traditions both past and present.

Construction begins on King George Tupou V tomb.

It is quiet a large tomb when you see it from both sides.

At the same time construction of the shelters for the burial service also began.

Completion of the main walls.

Some times modern technology helps.

Traditionally the caretakers seen here would fill this section by hand, and at the beginning of time 10 caretakers would also follow the King into the grave (yes, alive) to keep him company while he passed over to the next life.

The Royal Tombs all ready for the Burial of the King.

The return of The Kings body to Tonga

A few days after the passing of the King everything was in motion. The Chinese government had organised a plane to return the Kings' body and the associated dignitaries. From day one the Tongan Defence Services began guard training for all of the ceremonies. Local villages cleaned the entire island. Who was organising it we will probably never know but it all happened like clock work. First off was the return of the Kings body, all of Tonga lined the streets from the airport to the Royal palace where the body would lay in state for 1 day. Every school in Tonga was given a section of street to line in single rows. The teachers gave the kids lessons in how the kids have to sit and they are not allowed to look at the vehicle and body when it passes, eyes must be looking downward out of respect. The school told the kids to be at their position in town at 0900 yet the body didn't even arrive in country until 1.30pm but the real kicker was that no one was allowed to wear hats, sunglasses or have umberella's and it was a stinker of a day. The kids started scavenging scraps of cardboard to protect their butts while they sat on the hot bitumen all day. The kids showed amazing discipline as there is no way you'd ever see the control these kids showed back in Australia.

All the girls had to wear kiekie's, Dyl got out of it easily with his black arm band.

Some of the Ocean of Light teachers.

A lot of the schools marched in from their schools to line the streets this is Tupou High students.

Ocean of Light outside the post office, Emily is second from left.

Looking back up the main street.

Some of the local community in the shade of the Raintree.

The teachers giving the kids the run down on proceedings.

This is the traditional mourning outfit worn by most Tongans.

They sat all day and still they smiled.

We got cheeky during the middle of the day and gave Em some shade and as she is a Palangi she didn't get into trouble.

The Bishop girls and Jenny coming to join us. (Anyone would think the parade was for them as they strolled down the middle of the road)

John McKee even joined the kids on the side of the road. He reckons this is the only time we'll ever see him in All Black colours too.

The police indicated the cavalcade was on it's way.

As soon as the vehicle was in sight all eyes were down (bar mine taking photos)

This is the Kings vehicle and escort. Some families even lined the street with Tapa mats for them to drive over. King George was followed by the new King Tupou VI, then members of the Royal family, parliment and High Commissioners and representatives of other nations followed in cars behind.

All day waiting and all over in minutes, finally it was time to head home.

Jodie sat back in the shade during the day and luckily Lyndon thought a camping chair for her was a good idea.

Lyndon and the Defence Attache (DA) CMDR Peter Steel even made the event with the families.

Tonga Turns Purple for the Passing of King George Tupou V

On the 18 Mar 2012 Tonga woke to the news of the passing of King George Tupou V in Hong Kong. A very sad day for the Kingdom of Tonga. The kids had asked previously what would happen if the King passed away as they are so used to seeing all the tradition and effort put into a normal person's funeral. It definitely impacts the entire Tongan comunity. The mourning colours to decorate the outside of your building or home are black and purple with everyone wearing black for the mourning period of 3 months. The kids and Lyndon wear black arm bands for the period. Below we have attached some photos from around town to give you just a small idea of what it is like. Initially all of the buisiness's around town shut down but opened within 10 days. Needless to say that there was a run on purple and black material at the stores which ran out pretty quickly, and all of the black clothes at the marketi doubled in price, grieving does not trump commercial gain.