<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Abadi Extra Light";}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-AU" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Dear Seta,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Kind regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Michael<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Michael Bleasdale<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Executive Officer</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">(pronouns: he/ his)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">t: +61 (0)499 900 006 | e:
<u><span style="color:#2F5496"><a href="mailto:michael.bleasdale@riaustralia.org"><span style="color:#0563C1">michael.bleasdale@riaustralia.org</span></a></span></u><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-ligatures:none">postal address: PO Box 94, Deakin West LPO, ACT 2600, Australia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-ligatures:none">I acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Tharawal peoples on whose countries I work<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.riaustralia.org/"><span style="mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="164" height="174" style="width:1.7083in;height:1.8125in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D9F05C.D932C1A0" alt="3 coloured circles around R&IA - Rights & Inclusion Australia logo."></span></a><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="600" height="200" style="width:6.25in;height:2.0833in" id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image003.png@01D9F05C.D8F3BCD0" alt="Cartoon person with long hair sits on a mobility scooter. A speech bubble comes out of their mouth with a drawing of a house in it.
Opening the Door
State & Territory Forums | Peer Networks | Accessible Resources
Find out more: facebook.com/RIAustraliaNetwork
A project of Rights & Inclusion Australia in partnership with Enliven Community, National Shelter and the State & Territory members of National Shelter.
Funded under the Australian Government’s Information, Linkages & Capacity Building program
"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ligatures:none"> PDFlist <pdflist-bounces@lists.pacificdisability.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Setareki Macanawai<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, 26 September 2023 9:05 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> PDFlist@lists.pacificdisability.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [PDFlist] VALE: Mr Laisiasa Boginivalu Merumeru<br>
<b>Importance:</b> High<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Warm Pacific Greetings PDF Members, Family and Friends<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">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.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">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!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">May his soul rest in peace!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So long Lai and I truly miss you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Seta<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Setareki S. Macanawai</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Chief Executive Officer</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Pacific Disability Forum</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">GPO Box 18458, Suva, Fiji
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Tel: +679 331 2008; +679 773 0200</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Mob: +679 992 1486; +679 708 2891</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Fax: +679 3310469</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Skype: setareki.macanawai</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Email:
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:Setareki.Macanawai@pacificdisability.org"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif">Setareki.Macanawai@pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Web:
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.pacificdisability.org/"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif">www.pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Facebook:
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificDisabilityForum/"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif">Pacific Disability Forum</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Twitter: @pdfsec</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="276" height="139" style="width:2.875in;height:1.4479in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D9F05C.D932C1A0" alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated"></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Organisation in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Commission since 2012.</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">The information contained in this email message is intended only for the addressee(s). If you <b>are</b> not the intended
recipient, you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it, including any attachments. If you receive this email in error please notify the sender immediately</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Abadi Extra Light",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>