Jane Resture (abbreviated from
the French - Bordeaux - surname
Restieaux) was born on the island of
Hull
(Orona) in the
Phoenix Group
of the Gilbert Islands, now known as the
Republic of Kiribati.
(All Restieauxs /Restures outside France are related and they are all
descendants of
Andre Restieaux and
Marguerite Magdaleine Mignot of France - and England).
Whilst Jane was still young, Jane travelled
extensively through the island states of Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia as her father
carried out his duties as a wireless operator for the then government of the Gilbert and Ellice
Islands Colony, now known as the Republic of Kiribati and
Tuvalu, as
well as the
Solomon Islands.
Perhaps it should be mentioned here that, earlier on,
Jane's father,
Robert Frank Resture was also a young Coastwatcher on duty throughout
the Oceania region including the Phoenix Group, Fiji, Papua New Guinea
(where he was born)*and
Australia, alongside the Americans
during World War II. Robert's youngest brother, Fred Resture, was also a
very young Coastwatcher during World War II on
Banaba (also known as Ocean Island, Kiribati) on behalf of the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony where, sadly, he was murdered, on
duty, by the
Japanese along with one of his two older brothers, Flyriver (named after
the Fly River, Papua New Guinea), also on Banaba.
Jane is one of a large
family comprising seven girls and five boys of which she is the eldest. Jane’s father
is Polynesian of Tuvaluan descent, and of English and French extraction, whilst her mother is
Micronesian of Kiribati (Onotoa in the southern Gilberts) and Caroline Islands
descent.
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Jane has particularly fond memories of some of the countries in Oceania in
which she grew up. Jane is particularly fond of the atolls/islands of
Kiribati, including the charming, thriving and vital capital Tarawa, the
scene of the bloody
Battle of Tarawa
during World War II.
Jane also spent her young years on
Christmas Island
(Kiritimati)
of the
Line Islands,
Republic of Kiribati,
which she remembers as one of the most unusual places on
earth. Christmas Island is the largest coral atoll in the world being
sculptured like the claw of a giant crab surrounded by a sea of emerald. This
irresistible island has that special magical quality that enhances its
natural beauty as a haven for unique, rare and colourful bird life protected
within the confines of a world class wild life sanctuary. Christmas
Island is also a world class fishing ground with an abundance of fish and
marine life. The Christmas Island Hotel (Captain Cook Hotel) is
utilized as a fishing lodge by game fishermen from all around the world.
The nine coral
atolls/islands of Tuvalu have strong family ties for Jane. She particularly
remembers the capital
Funafuti
which she revisited for the Independence celebrations. The birth of the
new independent nation was a stirring and moving occasion that Jane will
always remember with great pride.
Jane also has fond memories
of the Solomon Islands, in particular the capital Honiara, on Guadalcanal, to which her
father relocated as a wireless operator and where her father and mother retired and
settled down. Many of Jane's brothers and sisters and their families have made the
Solomon Islands their home.
As the eldest
daughter in the family, Jane was brought up in accordance to the complex
customs and rituals of the island people.
To this very
day, Jane believes that the island customs, rituals and language and,
indeed, the entire fabric of island heritage not only need to be preserved
but can contribute so much to modern western society. Jane is
particularly proud of her island heritage and believes that she is very
privileged to have a background that incorporates elements of
Micronesian,
Polynesian and
Melanesian cultures.
Jane was very fortunate to be
able to enrol at the prestigious Immaculate Heart College, Taborio, Tarawa, Kiribati.
Recognized at an early age as a gifted student, Jane was groomed for further study
overseas and was awarded a scholarship on behalf of the government of the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (including
Banaba),
now the Republic of Kiribati and Tuvalu, to continue her schooling in Sydney,
Australia, at St. Scholastica's College. Hence this was the first time that both Immaculate Heart College
and the government of the then Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (the Republic
of Kiribati and Tuvalu) were represented at St. Scholastica's College, Glebe Point, Sydney, New
South Wales, Australia.
Immaculate
Heart College students at Teaoraereke, Tarawa, Kiribati.
The students
are dressed in their yellow with blue trim Sunday
uniform, with
hats! Jane Resture
is at the centre of the back row.
Immaculate
Heart College students (the rest of the students are not
seen in
the above picture as they are to the right), Our Lady of the
Sacred Heart (OLSH)
Sisters, and invited Australian Sacred Heart
priest, Father
Dwyer, at the main stadium, Bairiki, Tarawa, Kiribati.
*Jane Resture, holding the College banner, is to
the right of
Father Dwyer.
*The above
picture of Jane Resture was very important to Jane as it was taken only a few minutes before the arrival of
H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who
represented his wife, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II who could not make it
to Tarawa, Gilbert Islands (Republic of Kiribati) at that
important time. Jane was also the very first person here at
the main Stadium, Bairiki (capital of Tarawa), to
be introduced to Prince Philip by her dear Uncle Frank Pasefika
(Pacific Frank Restieaux-Resture) who accompanied and
introduced the Prince to her. At that time, Prince Philip had
just arrived on Bairiki, Tarawa, from his important visit to
Christmas Island (Kiritimati, Line Islands) on Her
Majesty's Yacht Britannia. The Prince was later introduced
to Father Dwyer, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Sisters
(Australians) and a Gilbertese (I-Kiribati) Sister (above picture).
Jane well remembers Prince Philip's firm handshake, his short
conversation with her and ready smile when she was introduced
to him and how splendid and very handsome he looked in his white
uniform. To this day, Jane still remembers that important and
memorable early evening and how fortunate she was to be part of
this wonderful and happy occasion, particularly as this was
Prince Philip's very first visit to Bairiki, Tarawa, the capital of the
Gilbert Islands (Republic of Kiribati).
During her time at
Immaculate Heart College, Jane was privileged to concurrently hold the positions
of House Prefect (Mount Carmel - Green) and Sports Captain. Later she was Head
Prefect and, in her final year, she was Dux of Immaculate Heart College. The
motto of Immaculate Heart College is "SEEK TRUTH" and this has been one of the
guiding principles that Jane has applied throughout her life and, to the best of
her ability, to all her undertakings and endeavours.
As a
Pacific Islander, Jane felt most fortunate in having attended Immaculate
Heart College for some years before continuing her education in Sydney,
Australia. Like many of her fellow students, Jane has many happy and
most wonderful recollections of this time. It is her great pleasure to
be able to share one of them with you all (in her own words as per one
of her monthly Newsletters of 2005) in addition to her own current
observations:
"It was such a marvellous experience
that brought about my humble belief in the importance of live theatre,
including singing and dancing, in the preservation of the cultural
identity of people worldwide.
The experience came about
when I was selected by my fellow students and staff to play the lead
role (Abu Hassan) in the dramatic play: "ABU HASSAN PAYS HIS DEBTS".
It was a play built very much around the central role of Abu Hassan,
and one that received popular acclaim throughout the Republic of
Kiribati and Tuvalu, as well as neighbouring islands and beyond.
Critical reports indicated that the role of the supposedly dead Abu
had been played with such dramatic effect 'that made the staff
recognize the importance of drama in the teaching and improving of
English. From then on the teachers always tried to have it as part of
the curriculum'."
Jane thinks that it is
very important to remember that live theatre is something that should
always be encouraged as a learning experience, a form of entertainment
and, perhaps more importantly, as a teaching medium and the means of
preserving the cultural heritage of us all.
* *
* * *
September 2005 was
the Golden Jubilee of Immaculate Heart College, Taborio, Tarawa,
Republic of Kiribati. 'A book entitled: RECTA SAPERE - The story of
Immaculate Heart College, Taborio, 1955-2005, was prepared,
presented and distributed by a former non-I-Kiribati student of
Immaculate Heart College, from
the island of Nanumea, Tuvalu, who is now a nun or Sister of the
Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, based
at Teaoraereke, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati. The
book was intended to provide a true representation of the history
and achievements of Immaculate Heart College and was launched as part
of the Golden Jubilee'.
The Latin RECTA SAPERE is
"TO RELISH WHAT IS RIGHT" and, to be able to do this, one has "to know
what is right". The school motto: RECTA SAPERE was later changed to
"SEEK TRUTH" which was incorporated into the school logo.
Very sadly, the book -
...The Story of Immaculate Heart College, Taborio,
1955-2005, outlining the history and achievements of
Immaculate Heart College, does not give an accurate record of many of
the aspects of Immaculate Heart College during the period 1955-2005,
including, among other things, Jane's part in playing the role of Abu Hassan
which was deliberately given to someone else. Even her scholarship to complete her secondary education
at St. Scholastica's College, Glebe Point, Sydney, New South Wales,
Australia, was also deliberately taken off the record altogether.
Where is justice?
Indeed, at most, it is a very poor record of Immaculate Heart College
and the many outstanding and gifted students who attended Immaculate
Heart College during this time. It contains errors of content that are so
numerous that the same document will have to be completely researched
and rewritten to provide a factual representation of the history and
achievements of Immaculate Heart College along with the role played by
many former students and staff during this period. The extent to which
these errors of content result from inaccurate and distorted information or from
an attempt by the author to undermine the achievements of prominent
students is now under investigation. However, this whole matter raises
many questions about the honesty, credibility and integrity that are
central to the preparation of this document.
In
this context, Jane's other concerns, and the concerns of many other former
students, relate to several gross inaccuracies in this book. Indeed,
in their Kiribati (along with other islands and countries) customs,
these things reflect very badly on them all including their dear families,
extended families, the government of Kiribati and Tuvalu (who were
responsible for their scholarships, education and achievements during that period of time), as well as
their many friends and associates all of
whom know the truth. Certainly, this also raises questions about the
possible existence of jealousy, revenge and vindictiveness on behalf
of the author of this document. In this respect, Jane is now looking
at a positive step in rectifying a very serious situation of errors
which, if not corrected, in the Kiribati (and normal) way, will go on
and on, and be discussed and disputed for generations to come - there
will be no end to it until it is corrected.
Many of the former students feel that they have been badly treated, robbed, denied and cheated in this
document in such a manner that causes them considerable distress and
will no doubt cause distress in their families for generations to
come. Certainly, a considerable effort needs to be applied to
correct this appalling book by Sister Alaima Talu (Sister of the
Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, based
at Teaoraereke, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati).
Jane's comments, above, are not intended to reflect, in a general
sense, upon the
integrity of the former and present staff (at Immaculate Heart
College) who have certainly done and still continue to do so much to
bring, among so many other beneficial and important things, higher education
and good Christian values to their students and the wonderful people
of the Republic of Kiribati (and elsewhere). Sadly and
unfortunately, it only takes the actions of one or two former staff,
in this case, to impact adversely upon the
good names of Immaculate Heart College as well as those of the many
former students and former staff who have been badly treated, denied,
robbed
and cheated of their good names and achievements. Let us hope that
Immaculate Heart College and its present staff continue with their good work and seek truth in order to
forever erase and correct
these (and future) unfortunate injustices.
* NOTICE!
The Importance Of Accurate School
Records In Highlighting Students'
Achievements, Cognitive Development
And For Ongoing Genealogical Research
It is very pleasing to
be able to report now that,
on 25th May 2010, after high level
representations (especially by the
Australian High Commission to Kiribati, as well as a strong and very
kind support from a Sister of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
Kensington, Australia)
on my behalf and on behalf of my fellow former
students and staff of my former college, Immaculate Heart College,
that several corrections to the multitude of errors in the
abovementioned document, via telephone by Sister Margaret Sullivan,
Sister in-charge of the Catholic Archive, Teaoraereke, Tarawa,
Kiribati, have now been most
reluctantly put into place. This telephone
advice from the Catholic Archive at Teaoraereke, Tarawa, Republic of
Kiribati, will hopefully (and I do mean very hopefully) be followed by a requested
written confirmation. This
is the first and most difficult step of the many steps necessary to
correct the multitude of very serious errors still present in this
document on behalf of the many former students and staff of
Immaculate Heart College who were badly treated and cheated by the
same Tuvaluan nun, Sister Alaima Talu, who was the author of
"RECTA SAPERE -The story of
Immaculate Heart College, Taborio, 1955-2005".
25th May 2010 - 4th October 2012 -
15th June 2014 - It is 17th March 2013 and we are still waiting to receive a requested
written confirmation from Sr Margaret Sullivan who is in charge of the
Catholic Archive at Teaoraereke, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati!! with
regard to her telephone advice regarding the correction of errors in
Sr Alaima's (Talu) published book:
RECTA SAPERE.
As a result of
all of the above, I think that it is very important to remember that
it is worth persevering, at all times, in the belief that when we
seek truth,
the truth will always ultimately prevail and we will be successful
and triumphant in the end. Thanks be to God!
---- Jane
Resture
Below is
an extract
taken
from one
of the
many
letters
included
in
Jane's
Oceania
Home
Page
Newsletter:
November-December
2011
Jane then
successfully completed her
Higher School Certificate at
St. Scholastica’s College, Glebe Point, Sydney, New
South Wales, Australia. She also enrolled in, and graduated from the June Dally-Watkins School of
Modelling and Deportment in Sydney. Jane has also successfully completed courses in Cordon Bleu, Entertainment
with Elegance, Interior Decorating and Fashion Designs in Canberra, Australia.
Upon her return to
Tarawa,
Kiribati, she hosted her popular radio program while awaiting finalization of a further
scholarship to continue her higher education in Australia. Jane was then awarded another
scholarship by the Solomon Islands government to continue her tertiary and
higher education in
Australia where she successfully completed her further studies in Accounting and Advanced
Secretarial Studies in Sydney.
Jane then returned to work in Honiara,
Solomon Islands.
Afterwards, she again returned to Australia and pursued her career in both government and private enterprise. After a successful
career working at a senior level within government and private
enterprise in mainly Sydney, Grafton, Canberra and Brisbane, Jane relocated her business to the
Australian Gold Coast.
Jane would also like to take
this opportunity to extend her deep gratitude to Australia, her adopted home, as
well as the wonderful
Australian people for their unique and warm hospitality, their valued and
lasting friendships along with their kindness and trust in making available so many
opportunities both in education
and for a rewarding and most fulfilling career. She now devotes much of her spare time to writing, particularly with
regard to documenting the life, culture, customs,
mythology,
ethnology,
genealogy, rituals, etc. of the island people along with the indigenous people
of Australia and New Zealand.
One of Jane's current projects is
documenting the amazing life of her great grandfather
Alfred Restieaux. He was one
of the pre-colonial traders in the Pacific Islands and she regards this project to be of a
higher priority due to it being an invaluable record of island life during that period, in
addition to providing many island people with an insight into from whence they came.
She is also currently writing her Memories of Oceania book which
records her life growing up in the islands of
Oceania - Republic of Kiribati (Micronesia), Tuvalu
(Polynesia) and the Solomon Islands (Melanesia). This book also details how the
cognitive development of the growing young island woman is interlinked with the many
facets of our wonderful and complex island culture.
In this respect,
Jane felt most honoured and humbled to have received two knighthoods, and made a Dame
in 2001 (DSC, GCSC, DOM);
and subsequently a Grand Dame in 2002, in
recognition of her contributions to mainly education
and the preservation
of our rich and wonderful
Pacific Island cultural heritage. Jane also holds a PhD in Anthropology (and
Cultural Doctorate) with a
specialization in Pacific Island Studies (2001).
My Wish
Jane Resture
The frigate bird
The flying fish
It is time for us
To make a wish
And I wish for the sunrise
To be beautiful each time
With days that are perfect
And nights so sublime
And I wish for the sunset
To be like a long red sail
Each and every day
And you and I will always stay
Whatever we wish
Will surely come true
And I wish for happiness
For me and you
And I wish for the world
To live in peace
To live and love as one
To a simple beat
And I wish for us all
To have our lives full of love
Full of joy and happiness
And eternal love
Many thanks for visiting my Web Page.
I would very
much appreciate sharing any comments or suggestions that you may like to offer.
In
particular, I would like to share with you any thoughts you may have in
relation to the documentation and preservation of Pacific Island
culture, mythology, rituals, ethnology, history, customs and lifestyle,
etc. Thank you.
Soak in
the enchanting sounds of the
sun-drenched Oceania/Pacific Islands
coming to you 24/7 in 128kbps FM Stereo!
Welcome
Everybody to Pacific Islands Radio! Greetings,
Mauri and Talofa! I'm Jane Resture, Proprietor
and Broadcaster of Pacific Islands Radio. I was
born in Hull Island (Orona), Phoenix Group,
Republic of Kiribati. My father is Polynesian of
Tuvaluan/English/French extraction and my mother
is Micronesian from Onotoa, one of the atolls of
the Republic of Kiribati, as well as the
Caroline Islands. They have now made the Solomon
Islands (Melanesia) their home. I travelled
extensively throughout the islands of Oceania
when I was very young and I developed a deep
appreciation and love for our unique, sensitive
and harmonious Pacific Island music of
Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia. I developed
and introduced Pacific Islands Radio, the very
first of its kind, in May 2001, in order to
facilitate the promotion of island music to a
worldwide audience. This was undertaken as a
consequence of a foreseen need to allow the
musical component of island heritage to be made
available to a wider audience. It is a feature
of Pacific Islands Radio that it does allow our
music to be listened to and appreciated by
people worldwide in particular friends of
Oceania who have a love and appreciation of our
music in addition to our own Pacific Island
people, wherever they may be, and who can now
listen to island music from their home islands
via the Internet. Music is an integral part of
life on the islands of the Pacific. Indeed, the
songs and dances are woven into the very fabric
of everyday life. Life, love, work, play, the
ocean, the gods, the earth itself; they all flow
through the music of the Pacific Islands, as
surely as the sand erodes into the sea. Pacific
Island music is truly the music of the world and
is proudly featured on our four Pacific Islands
Radio stations! I do hope that you enjoy
listening to our Pacific Island music. Thank you
-- Jane Resture -- For further information about
Pacific Islands Radio and to view some of the
profiles of our artists, please visit the
following Web site: www.pacificislandsradio.com
--jane@pacificislandsradio.com
EVERYBODY
