In an hour of celebration and pride, two Solomon Islanders have graduated from Newcastle University, NSW, Australia marking a major academic milestone and the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
This year the University celebrates its 60th anniversary with its largest ever graduation of 3,7000 students. It also celebrated with its 200,000th graduate.
Two Master of Arts graduates from the School of Education were teachers from the Solomon Islands.
When Ferol Asa and Esther Leoa Bentley Tasa arrived as post graduate students of the University, the Solomon Island Educational and Medical Support Team asked Dr. Ed Parker if he would mentor them in their studies, guiding them through the year and helping them adapt to Australian educational standards.
Esther, a teacher at Betikama Adventist College (BAC), accepted Dr Parker’s mentorship seriously, met with him every three or four weeks for a meal and 90 minutes of rigorous academic discussion.
What surprised Dr Ed about Esther was the “deep quality of her academic insight and natural ability combined with a very genuine humility.”
She soaked up what Dr Ed taught, studied diligently, “wrestled with ideas and concepts and then after understanding would immediately incorporate them into her academic tool box.”
Esther deserved to graduate with a Master of Education with Distinction. In five out of a total of eight subjects her professors awarded her High Distinctions.
This recognition of honour is only achieved by students achieving a Grade Point Average of 6.0 out of a maximum of 7.0. That’s remarkable for any student from another culture studying in Australia.
Out of almost 200 graduates from Esther’s section, the University faculty chose Esther to present the speech on behalf of the graduates which “revealed the respect that the University had for her.”
In her speech, Esther identified where she came from “I hail from the beautiful Pacific Island nation of Solomon Islands,…” Guests attending were intrigued by her traditional and cultural headband or Fo’dara she wore, which is only worn on special occasions.
The V-Neck worn spoke of her identity from the Solomon Islands. The attire she and her husband Jackson wore was designed to illustrate shell money utilised in her culture.
Esther and Jackson thanked Threads Investment and Paranga Collections for designing their traditional outfits.
An aunt of Esthers from the Langalanga lagoon on Malaita designed and prepared her fo’dara and traditional attire.
She continued, “Today marks a culmination of years of hard work and dedication through sacrifices and sleepless nights. We celebrate achievements across a wide range of education disciplines.
“From early childhood to secondary teaching, inclusive education to educational leadership, and every journey in between. We stand here not just as graduates, but as individuals shaped by our experiences, strengthened by our challenges and inspired by our dreams.
“To those mentors who have guided us through that experience, challenges and dreams, we offer our most sincere gratitude.
“Firstly, we thank God for His leading. We thank our lecturers who have guided us through this academic journey. We give our appreciation to this prestige University of Newcastle and its staff for your unwavering support to us.
“We offer our sincere gratitude to our sponsors, and we thank you, friends, for the laughter and memories we have shared.”
Esthers speech was much more than a talk. Her presentation was an oratorical master piece that inspired, challenged and brought pride to all in the Solomon Islands.
“To my fellow graduates, Congratulations! The journey had not been easy, but with courage and determination, we were able to reach this special day. However, remember that we are the architects of our future.
“Today, we celebrate not only the end but also the beginning of our individual and collective potentials. Our communities, our nations and the world need our passion, our creativity and our determination to make a difference.
“Let us not be afraid to dream big, to pursue our goals with unwavering conviction and contribute to a society and world that is more just, more sustainable and more compassionate. Let us endeavour to leave behind a legacy of positive change and inspiration.”
“On a more personal note, I started my academic journey with excitement. I grew up in a caring, supportive family. Tuition was minimal. As I continued with the journey, the excitement began to fade away.
“Tuition and other requirements became a burden. I lost a supportive and loving father who was my only hope and trust. I contemplated giving up, but being Esther, I turned to the experience of Queen Esther in the Bible.
“She displayed faith and courage in the face of adversity. So, the rest of my journey was one of faith, hope and determination in the face of many challenges. Thank you to all who have made it possible for me to reach this point in my journey.”
When Esther mentioned God, Queen Esther, the Bible and faith, one of the professors in the front row on stage commenced clapping.
“My fellow graduates, you have your own stories, but I believe whatever your story may be, we all end up here today because of faith, determination and inspiration.
“As we step into the next phase of our journey, remember to carry with you the values and knowledge you have gained here at the University of Newcastle.
“Before I finish, I want to thank our lecturers, families and friends; your support has made all this possible. As Nelson Mandela has stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” Let’s go change the world, together. Congratulations once again to the graduating class of 2025. Thank you to you all and Happy Celebrations!”
In many Western graduations someone is selected to carry the Universities Mace ahead of the Chancellor of the University in the academic procession – especially when academic awards are presented.
The Mace is a symbol of authority and history for the University. This Mace is made from Australian walnut and silver with its head representing an open book for learning.
During the 60 years Academic staff have normally carried the Mace. In recent years an outstanding student has been nominated by the faculty to carry this symbol of history and authority.
This year the faculty awarded this rare privilege to Esther. To our knowledge, Esther is the only Solomon Island student who has studied in Australia to have delivered the speech and carried a mace.
Normally, it has been two different persons. Esther carried the Mace majestically.
Dr Ed wrote that being asked to carry the mace “revealed the respect the University had for Esther…What really showed the quality of the person was her four-minute student reply at the end of the ceremony.
She revealed two things: one, a very high level of academic brilliance; and two, a superb quality of oratorical skill. All I can say is “well done Esther, I am very proud of you!” I came away from that twelve-month experience asking myself, was it me that did the mentoring or was I being mentored too?”
Graduating with a Masters in Leadership and Management in Education was Ferol Asa.
Ferol completed a BA in Education at Pacific Adventist University (PAU) and has taught Maths and Physics in High Schools such as Tenakoga, Kopiu and Betikama. So, he is a very experienced educator.
In 2012 he came to Australia and completed a Diploma in Information Technology and then returned to the Solomons to teach.
More recently he was appointed an Assistant Education Director for the Solomon Island Mission of Seventh-day Adventists.
In 2024 he returned to Australia where he graduated from Newcastle University with a Master of Leadership and Management in Education.
Ferol and Esther both thanked the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) Scholarship (SITESA) under the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MRHRD) for being their major sponsor for their Newcastle University studies.
Dr Ed considered it a real privilege to help both Esther and Ferol in small ways enabling and facilitating them both in their educational success in Australia.
Both Ferol and Esther’s journey to graduation has been one of determination and faith. Balancing academic rigour and personal growth.
Both have been recognised not just for academic performance but also for character, community involvement and leadership among peers. Their achievement stands as a testimony to their resilience and purpose.
By Dr. Alex S. Currie
Ed.D.
