Dear Editor, Re Te Uki Ou School 30-year celebration story in the Cook Islands News last Monday, May 29. Interesting how original founders of Te Uki Ou were casually referred to as a group of parents. Nameless and irrelevant.

One of those passionate, visionary and determined founders was Ellena Tavioni. Hundreds of parents have contributed to the growth of Te Uki Ou while their children attended the school since its humble beginnings as a preschool in Mr and Mrs Parkinson’s garage, another original founder. Without that farfetched and over ambitious idea of founding Te Uki Ou Preschool (a name Ellena came up with including the print and uniform style still worn today) would there be a history to celebrate?

From the garage, the school moved into the New Zealand Maori Hall and then temporarily into the Avarua Latter Day Saints Hall, while Ellena spent the next six months negotiating with the New Zealand Government to purchase a lease the New Zealand Government had over her father’s land. Along with her sister Agnes, they went into debt to purchase a more permanent home for Te Uki Ou School which by now had grown into a primary school. Bearing in mind, this was a debt they couldn’t afford and could only charge the school minimal rent and had to top up the required loan payments. Pure commitment.

As far as I know, Ellena Tavioni is the only original founder still connected to Te Uki Ou School in the way of sponsoring Cook Islands children to attend Te Uki Ou School and continues to contribute when asked. Parents came, contributed and moved on.

Congratulations Ellena Tavioni for your vision I thought was impossible.

Yours sincerely,

Ena Dance