‘I get to stand up at ANZAC and have someone to represent’

It’s been over 80 years since Simone Vailua’s great-grandfather served as a coastwatcher in the Cook Islands, something she almost thought was a myth.

The families of 25 Cook Island coastwatchers were at Government House on Tuesday where their loved ones were honoured for their services in World War II.

The men kept watch for ships, planes and monitored radio activity, often spending months at a time in remote locations with few supplies and had to deal with extreme weather such as hurricanes.

They would be the first to raise the alarm at the prospect of a Japanese invasion as well as saving the lives of three United States’ airmen who washed up on the island.

They were also underpaid, compared to their New Zealand counterparts, and their service went unnoticed until recently, thanks to the efforts of Tua’ipulotu Willie Cuthers whose grandfather was a coastwatcher.

Part of Tuesday’ recognition enabled families to have an online record of the men’s services and be able to install a military service plaque on their headstones.

Vailua was there too on behalf of her mother who was raised by her grandfather, Teatamira Uangakore, a coastwatcher during the war.

“My mum would tell all these stories but I was always questioning where his medals were and why wasn’t his name listed anywhere and she couldn’t answer.

“I get to stand up at ANZAC now and I have someone to represent.”

Vailua only met her great-grandfather a couple of times when she was younger.

“My mum would hide under his desk and he had this wireless operating shed up in the mountains in Aitutaki.

“He would teach my mum Morse code including SOS. When we came down for the celebration at the Pukeahu Memorial, I took her to Te Papa Museum.

“She ran like a little girl over to the Morse code machine and she put it through her ear and closed her eyes. I could hear her tapping out SOS and she had tears in her eyes and she goes, ‘my papa taught me that’.”

Vailua said the family would be travelling to the Cook Islands to take their great-grandfather’s plaque to place on his headstone.

“Just to close the chapter even more. I’m proud, I’m excited, I’m blessed. But wholeheartedly, I’m blessed.”