Students fight for baby Angelina
LUKE KIRKEBY
Tokoroa High School is fighting for the baby of ex-deputy head boy Reginald Matekohi.
Matekohi, who was deputy in 2012, was on holiday in Australia with his wife Lotomau when she prematurely gave birth to their daughter Angelina at 23 weeks.
The university students have been forced to defer their studies until Angelina is well enough to travel home to New Zealand but it also means their student allowances, which they relied on to cover living costs, have been cut.
To help out Tokoroa High School’s head students and prefects organised a fundraising baby shower last Thursday with food stalls and games.
Head boy Rico Tarai said after they heard the news they knew they had to do something.
‘‘We are all fighting for Angelina,’’ he said.
‘‘We had games like ‘change the chocolate nappies’ and ‘who can down the drink the fastest out of a sipping bottle’.’’
‘‘It was just to show our support because even though Reg [no longer goes to school here] he was still really connected to the school and sometimes came back to help us do sports, especially with the boys and after school training.’’
Deputy head boy Hawea Solomon said having a baby shower seemed appropriate.
‘‘We also have a gift basket at the front office where people can donate baby products and stuff for them,’’ he said.
Deputy head girl Teijana Turei said they managed to raise just over $500.
‘‘It was 50 cents per game and we noticed a lot of students kept coming back for more tickets so they must have really enjoyed the games,’’ she said.
Student Curacao Kaea said Angelina was doing OK despite being born early.
The family will be stuck in Australia for around four more months so health professionals can monitor her.
Visit Givealittle or deposit into Tokoroa High School’s BNZ account, 02-0464-0026356-00, reference Baby Shower.