[PDFlist] VALE: Mr Laisiasa Boginivalu Merumeru

[Michael Bleasdale]

Dear Seta,

Thank you for informing us. I am so sorry for the loss of a dear friend of yours, and our sincere condolences to his family at this difficult time.

Kind regards,

Michael

Michael Bleasdale
Executive Officer
(pronouns: he/ his)
t: +61 (0)499 900 006 | e: michael.bleasdale at riaustralia.org<mailto:michael.bleasdale at riaustralia.org>
postal address: PO Box 94, Deakin West LPO, ACT 2600, Australia
I acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Tharawal peoples on whose countries I work

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From: PDFlist <pdflist-bounces at lists.pacificdisability.org> On Behalf Of Setareki Macanawai
Sent: Tuesday, 26 September 2023 9:05 AM
To: PDFlist at lists.pacificdisability.org
Subject: [PDFlist] VALE: Mr Laisiasa Boginivalu Merumeru
Importance: High

Warm Pacific Greetings PDF Members, Family and Friends

It is with deep regret that I convey to you the untimely passing of an Associate Member, former independent Chairperson of the PDF OPD Fund Committee, great disability champion and very close friend, Mr Laisiasa Boginivalu Merumeru, fondly known to many of us as Lai who passed away in his sleep at his residence on Friday, 22 September 2023. Mr Merumeru also served as Lecturer in special/inclusive education at the Lautoka Teachers College now part of the Fiji National University, Disability Coordination Officer at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Lecturer also in inclusive education at the University of the South Pacific. He also spent few years in Rarotonga, Cook Islands supporting their work on special/inclusive education.

Our disability movement in the Pacific have lost some gentle giants in recent years and Lai is certainly one of them. His intelligent, wise and strategic advice coupled with his big heart, pleasant personality and huge smiles/laughter will be sorely missed. He committed himself in the last 2 decades to improving the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities in the Pacific. I thank Lai's family for this wonderful gift to us and may his legacy continue to inspire us even more towards making our Blue Pacific Continent more inclusive and equitable for all its citizens, including those of us with disabilities!

May his soul rest in peace!

So long Lai and I truly miss you!

Seta

Setareki S. Macanawai

Chief Executive Officer
Pacific Disability Forum
Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade
GPO Box 18458, Suva, Fiji

Tel: +679 331 2008; +679 773 0200
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Fax: +679 3310469
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Email: Setareki.Macanawai at pacificdisability.org<mailto:Setareki.Macanawai at pacificdisability.org>
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