Rep. n° 28/2023

Canberra, 19 October 2023. The Secretary-General of Servare et Manere, Dr. Marek Sobola, handed over one of the association’s highest awards today at the grounds of the High Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga in Canberra. Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mata’aho Napua-o-kalani Lavaka ‘Ata Tuku’aho became the laureate of the Memorial Medal of Tree of Peace in a Special class with rubies. The Medal was awarded to Her Royal Highness for her exceptional merits in the field of joining nations as well as for promoting peace and spreading environmental awareness. The award was blessed by Rev. Viliami Tu’inukuafe after the ceremony.

His Excellency Curtis Tu’ihalangingie, Acting High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga, also attended the handing over investiture ceremony. The official program was followed by a discussion in which Marek Sobola informed Her Royal Highness of the activities of Servare et Manere in Oceania and especially in the Kingdom of Tonga, where the association has partners and several recorded activities. After the presentation of the award, the princess invited Marek Sobola to another follow-up event: the official launch of the Tongan passport printing system with the participation of representatives of the Australian government.

Princess Lātūfuipeka is a Tongan royal and a member of the House of Tupou. Sole daughter of His Majesty Tupou VI, King of Tonga, Princess Lātūfuipeka became the High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia on August 22, 2012, after her father – High Commissioner until then – succeeded as the King of Tonga. She ended her mission in Canberra at the end of the summer of 2023.