WHEN one Samoan hurts, every Samoan hurts with them.
This was the inspiration behind Westmeadows resident Pale Sione's quest to return to her tsunami-devastated homeland last week.
The 42-year-old mother flew to Samoa on October 13 with her sister Sara Ili, 29, and family friend Sheena Feyleai, 28, of Cairnlea.
They were on a mission to help victims of the tsunami that hit Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga on September 30, killing at least 184 people.
Next on their mission list is a Pacific tsunami relief concert, which Ms Sione is co-ordinating to coincide with the Broadmeadows Festival.
"I was sitting at my desk when it happened and I wanted to do something," Ms Sione said. "I haven't been immediately affected, thank God, but when one Samoan hurts, everybody does."
Raised in Samoa until she was seven, Ms Sione has lived in Australia her entire adult life but said her affinity for her homeland remained.
"That's your lifeline and it's important to keep that.
"Samoans are very friendly people and the one thing that came through when we were there was their smile - they've lost so much but they still have a smile on their face and they still find it in their heart to say thank you for the small gifts we gave them."
The three women stayed in the town of Apia and travelled around to deliver supplies, to visit orphans at the Victims Support Home and injured residents at the hospitals.
"The wreckage was devastating - whole towns were completely flattened and then a few blocks down there was a house that was still standing. We couldn't understand how it had unfolded."
Ms Sione said among the most harrowing experiences was speaking to an elderly woman in hospital who continued to smile and put on a brave face despite her injuries.
"She kept saying 'Thank you for the gifts and for being there'. I didn't want my voice to quiver and for her to see me cry.
"I kept asking her if she was all right and she just kept saying 'I'm fine, I'm fine' but she was having an operation on her arms and legs the next day."
Ms Feyleai said the visit to Samoa had been an
eye-opener.
"We have everything here and take for granted what we've got. Those kids there have nothing and when you give them something little it's like the world to them.
"If anyone saw that, they would just want to do whatever they could."
Ms Ili said she felt helpless and wanted to "get her hands dirty" helping her people.
"In Samoa, if one person's hurting, you hurt too. So when this happened, even though we didn't lose any loved ones, we are hurting because we saw our own family in those people."
Ms Sione said it wasn't only Samoans who had expressed enthusiasm to help. She said the best way to help was to support the relief concert.
"The Samoans are so grateful for the generosity of Australians and I'm so proud to be in a country that has opened it's heart to Samoa the way Australia has. They can help by buying a ticket and the money they give will help rebuild the lives and put a smile back on some of the kids faces."
The Pacific tsunami relief concert will feature gospel choir Urban Praise among other multicultural performers. There will also be stalls with traditional Samoan baked goods, jewellery and ornaments.
The concert will be held at the Broadmeadows town hall, Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows from 6-9pm on Sunday, November 15. Tickets are $30. To buy tickets email samoatsunamirelief@live.com.au or call Pale Sione on 0405 032 602 or Ana Fiu on 0416 757 725.
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