Canberra, Australia, May 4, 2021. Today marks the 102nd Anniversary of the death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik (21 July 1880 – 4 May 1919), a Slovak astronomer, photographer, military pilot, brigadier general of the French Armed Forces, diplomat and politician. On April 29, 2021, on the 110th anniversary of Štefánik’s successful observation of the solar eclipse on the Pacific island of Vava’u belonging to the Kingdom of Tonga, Mr. Tomáš Ferko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to Australia, met with the High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia in Canberra, Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mataʻaho Napua-o-kalani Tukuʻaho. In an informal interview, he told her about Štefánik’s adventure in Tonga and also about the success of his astronomical expedition. Ambassador also mentioned the activities of Marek Sobola, which should result in the planting of the Tree of Peace on Vava’u. The main partner for the future planting of the memorial tree is the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tonga. Its diocesan bishop is His Eminence, Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, who is also the official Friend of Peace of our project.
Planned Tree of Peace planting in Tonga
Author of text / messages: Marek Sobola
Source of the photo: Ambassador Tomáš Ferko
Source of text: Ambassador Tomáš Ferko