Robinvale students shine on Melbourne stage with Tongan culture

A group of students from a small town in Victoria's north-west has made history by becoming the first regional Victorian group to perform at a Melbourne showcase. The Robinvale Secondary College students, who are part of the school's Tongan dance group Si'i Kae Hā, travelled eight hours to take to the stage at the Cultivating Creative Cultures with Communities (4Cs) Showcase.

A journey of cultural discovery

Si'i Kae Hā, which means "small but significant" in Tongan, was established in 2023 by college captains Sione Heitonga and Ruby Hingano as a way for students to connect with their culture and community. For Ruby, who is both Aboriginal and Tongan, joining the group has helped her discover a side of her identity she did not grow up knowing.

"Starting this group let me connect with my Tongan side more and with more of my family too," she said.

The group has grown beyond just dance, with students' curiosity branching out to Tongan traditions, culture and language. Education support worker Samuel Fangatua said that connection had flowed into their education.

"They're not going to do well in their education if they don't know who they are," he said.

A community effort

The community rallied around the group, raising $10,000 to take the students to Melbourne. Parents and Tongan elders helped create the traditional wear and teach the dances. 4Cs director Latini Matautia-Ulugia said it was a remarkable achievement.

"It really does take a lot of people to okay something like this," she said. "The fact that the school said yes and gave them the opportunity to fundraise and then were supported by community, I thought that was really is something that should be shared."

For the students, performing on the Melbourne stage was a moment of pride. Sione said he was nervous in the lead-up to the night but was filled with pride once they hit the stage.

The group is already looking forward to returning next year. For now, Si'i Kae Ha continues to give Robinvale students a way to carry their culture forward, thousands of kilometres from Tonga.