Families celebrate the life of the late

Families and friends of their beloved the late Erubam-le, James Ian Gela celebrated the unveiling of his tombstone at the Cairns Martyn Street Cemetery on a very hot Saturday morning earlier this month.

The ceremony was officiated by Pastor Peceli assisted by the MC Reggie Pau, and the late brother’s beautiful wife Roberta Elsie Gela (nee Lewin).

The MC kept the crowd on tracks according to plan throughout the ceremony.

A big contingent of families also travelled from other places to participate

Late James’s cousin Henley (Warromie) Stephen was given the honour of reading the inscriptions on the gravestone.

Everyone was invited to the Elevation Church hall for refreshments straight after the ceremony, and the Gela/Manai, MEPLA family organised by David (Solkos) Gela and family for his late brother, to a traditional feasting celebration and cultural entertainments at the Balaclava school hall.