13 May 2019
Brisbane, AUSTRALIA: Cr Kim Marx of the Brisbane City Council’s Runward Ward had an extremely productive meeting with the steering committee of the Brisbane Tongan Community in Sunnybank.
Cr Kim Marx, who was born in New Zealand, has a strong affinity with the Pasifika community and has an ongoing history of engagement with the vibrant Pasifika community emerging in the Runcorn Ward and surrounding suburbs.
Committee members in attendance raised a range of initiatives with Cr Kim Marx, including projects targeting language and culture, bilingual media platform, agriculture, direct flight to Tonga, kava imports, elderly respite, youth and community garden.
The Brisbane Tongan Community have agreed to work closely with Cr Kim Marx to seek project funding and opportunities, such as the Sunnybank Community Centre.
After a successful meeting in Sunnybank, the committee met with rugby legend Steve Kefu to discuss the Vintage Reds youth outreach to mentor our Tongan and Pasifika youth in both rugby union clubs and Queensland schools with a particular focus on those dealing with drugs, sexual and physical abuse, truancy, mental health and other pressures of teenagehood.
The Brisbane Tongan Community are continually looking for opportunities to engage and collaborate with projects that mutually benefit our Tongan and broader community in Brisbane.