AND WE MADE IT !
This was one KAA trip which had "problem-potential" - but so far has gone to plan ! On the itinerary we had less than two hours to transit through Nadi. Then various VIPs and unusual loads of freight delayed the Tarawa take-off by 30 minutes. And Air Pacific would not check our bags through to Brisbane ! So in Nadi we had jump the queue to go through Immigration (all wearing face-masks for "Swine Flu"), pick-up our bags, through Customs, round to Departures, check-in, back out through Immigration, and thus to the Departure lounge. Luckily there were no queues anywhere, so we actually had time to get some food too !
More later !
NIGHT 1 and DAY 1.
From then on, apart from having to pay for food and drink on Virgin Blue, we simply spent another four hours in the air, and arrived in Brisbane roughly on time. An easy passage through the procedures was followed by a friendly greeting from Phil (from OAA) and Martin and Lency (Solomon Islands). A smooth and rapid car ride with Phil had us in Tweed Heads (NSW) in time to dump our bags (on the 14th. floor of one of the "Twin Towers" (Twin Towns Resort)) and rush off to Macdonald's ! More greetings from familiar passers-by, the odd insult, and we returned to the hotel, HOT showered, and crashed out.
Surprisingly, daylight came at roughly the same time as at home (in Kiribati), i.e. 0600. A good night's sleep, collecting loads of adidas "goodies", plus a substantial breakfast all set us up for Day 1.
SWIFT CONGRESS !
Apart from the usual Reports, the main item on the Congress Agenda was a discussion about the new Draft Constitution for OAA. Deftly avoiding too much "line by line" discussion, the President / Chair had the document approved by the members and all was concluded in about an hour ! One of the more contentious - and potentially troublesome - issues was the proposed combination of the roles of President of the Oceania (Area) Athletics Association plus the Area Representative to IAAF in Monaco. An unusual - and probably retired - person might be able to handle this bi-task, but might need to be committed to doing not much else !
This left time for shopping, getting trophies engraved, buying sun-glasses, sending money orders via the Australia Post, and having some Strawberry Cheesecake !!
A buffet lunch concluded at about 2.00 pm and then followed a series of presentations. The first, by Arthur Eustace and President Geoff Gardner, took us through the history of OAAA, then OAA, from 1970, concluding with some thoughts about the immediate future.
The next major presentation was by Trevor Spittle of NZ and showed how Governance should be achieved. It contained reminders about "checks and balances" applicable to any organisation with money and even a simple infrastructure. However it seemed that a 120-years-old Constitution plus a complex management organisation plus some established members averse to change had all combined to give Athletics New Zealand considerable foods for thought !
Then followed five "State of the Nation" addresses from Fiji, Nauru, Solomons, Palau, and Marshall Islands. These gave a varied cross-section of current experience but all gave some hope for the future of the sport in these countries.
COCKTAILS for MANY !
A cocktail party was held in the evening, giving the cosmopolitan gathering many opportunities to share their experiences, make useful contacts (net-working !), or just up-date their socialising ! A small amount of alcohol served to lubricate the conversation and the very tasty food-bites gradually distended waist-lines !
SUNDAY NOT FORGOTTEN.
A request to the Hotel Reception to provide information about Church services has produced a list and we have made arrangements for early on Sunday.
HOW DID THIS BECOME A SAGA ?
The ambient temperature in the Conference rooms was cold enough to prompt many people to don extra clothing. Unfortunately for KAA Secretary, it triggered a recurrence of a systemic infection which (apart from attending Church on Sunday and doing the KAA Powerpoint presentation "State of the Nation" afterwards) put him to bed for 36 hours. So, having risen at 0500 on Monday at the Resort, and 0200 on Tuesday at a Nadi Hotel, we returned to Tarawa by 0630 on Tuesday (May 12). The Secretary by then was weak but recovering, and carrying a cellulitis-swollen left leg (raection to the weekend infection) ! Since then, the leg has been responding very slowly to treatment, while the rest of the Secretary is now (May 17) back to normal !
Through all this, Kaeka was excellent company, caring and sensitive. Fortunately he continued to attend the Seminar and accompanying meals, so the Secretary was only a distraction ! That was fine ! I hope he benefits from the entire experience !
Last Modified on 17/05/2009 16:37