With the passing of local friend to Bellingen and Coffs Coast, Fenua Witika, a gathering will take place at Bellingen Federal Hotel on Saturday, February 18 from 3pm till 11.30pm.
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This will be a great celebration of music and an opportunity for Fenua's musician friends and his family to perform pieces connected to him.
Family members are travelling from New Zealand to meet and perform.
Backstage – 3pm opening ceremony by local Maori man, Tu, music and stories by Fenua’s Sisters Rangi and Gloria, Vic Manuel Band, Luke Wilton and songs by local women's choir, (Janie Smith, Linda Cochrane, Jo Clarke and special guests)
At 6pm, Greenstone will open and close the main stage with other performers, Heather Rose, Mathew Arrowsmith, Mattmass culture, Fenua's sons Maia and Quinn, and sisters Gloria and Rangi .
This will be a night to remember and everyone is welcome, for more details email coolmusic@westnet.com.au
Fenua was known for his functional Art.
F.A.R.T. Furnature was a range of practical furniture made from recycled wooden pallets and palings. This was Fenua’s environmental hand-print contribution and some pieces are to be auctioned (a friendly auction).
The auction of Fenua's F.A.R.T. Furnature Art is at 5 Church Street, 2pm Sunday, March 12. MC Tim Miles will conduct the afternoon events. This will be a lovely community event and all welcome, more details to follow.
Tribute For Fenua
After a deeply intense battle with liver cancer a highly respected and much loved man Fenua (Robin) Witika passed away peacefully on the Friday, December 16 at home surrounded by life partner, Seimone, his sons Maia and Quinn and family.
Fenua hoped with determination to recover and therefore kept his condition private. If you were uninformed it was not that he did not care, he did not want anyone saddened by his illness.
The strength and resolve Fenua displayed throughout his battle along with his humbleness, love and wicked sense of humour are to be in awe of.
Seimone and Janey Smith returned this man of great Mana (Prestige) home to his Whanau (family) in New Zealand to lay him in his final resting place.
Fenua was a much-loved resident of Bellingen. He started the Open Mic at Federal Hotel 2005 and introducing us to his much loved band ‘Greenstone’.
His belief in music, the arts and the community that links us all together. Fenua more recently turned his hand to upcycling pallet timber into beautiful furniture called F.A.R.T. Furnature Art, selling at local markets, and was always up for a chat as to the geometric aspects of the designs.
For information about these events stay tuned.
