Choral Service of Thanksgiving for Australia-Tonga ties
This Sunday's service will celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Australia and Tonga, and the Golden Jubilee of the Tongan Consulate General in Australia
September 17, 2025
The Uniting Church is set to co-host a historic celebration of diplomacy, culture and faith to honour two significant milestones in the relationship between Australia and Tonga.
This Sunday, a Choral Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Stephen’s Uniting Church in Sydney to mark the 55th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Australia and Tonga, and the Golden Jubilee of the Tongan Consulate General in Australia.
The service will welcome Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u, Her Royal Highness Princess Pilolevu, along with heads of state, church leaders, community representatives and members of the Australian Tongan diaspora.
Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia – and the first Tongan to hold the position – describes the occasion as both deeply personal and historically significant.
“This Choral Thanksgiving Service is a moment of deep significance,” Rev Suli said. “We gather to commemorate 55 years of diplomatic relations and the Golden Jubilee of the Tongan Consulate General in Australia. To do so in the presence of Their Majesties is a profound honour.”
Rev Suli reflected on the spiritual and historical bonds that tie the two nations together.
“In worship, we give thanks to God for heritage, faith and the enduring friendship shared between our nations,” she said. “This service is not only about diplomacy – it is about deep spiritual connections, shared histories and the journey of Tongan Australians who have contributed so much to this land.”
The Uniting Church, which shares Wesleyan roots with the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, has long-standing partnerships in Tonga through its schools and development work with the Assembly’s aid and development agency, UnitingWorld.
Rev Suli highlighted the service as a culmination of both institutional and personal journeys.
“For the first time, a Tongan President of the Uniting Church has been asked to preach,” she said. “I feel the prayers of my ancestors, their courage and faith, woven into this moment. My hope is that this celebration inspires future generations to carry forward the threads of faith, culture and unity.”
The service will also honour the remarkable history of the Tongan Consulate General, the first Pacific consulate in Australia, founded in 1973 when His Late Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV appointed his university friend Bill Waterhouse as Honorary Consul General. His daughter, Louise S.R. Waterhouse, now serves in that role and is co-hosting this event alongside the Uniting Church.
“The essence of the Service is one of thanksgiving,” said Ms Waterhouse. “We are privileged to host Their Majesties as we commemorate this extraordinary milestone. The trust placed in my father, and later myself, is something we cherish deeply.”
“From a small diaspora, the Tongan-Australian community has grown into a vibrant, vital part of our multicultural society,” she said. “Their faith, work ethic and culture enrich Australia.”
More than 400 choristers from across the East Coast will lead the musical items and worship before the gathering at the service, and those watching from around the world.
In addition to the Australian and Tongan national anthems, the program features a performance of Handel’s Zadok the Priest and the premiere of a specially composed anthem by Feti Ve, written to commemorate the Consulate’s Golden Jubilee.
Scripture readings will be delivered by dignitaries including His Excellency Curtis Tu’ihalanganie, Acting High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia; Rev Ofa Ki Tamavua Kaufusi from the Free Church of Tonga in Australia; and Rose Waterhouse, representing the next generation of Tongan-Australian ties.
“The relationship between Tonga and Australia will only grow stronger,” said Ms Waterhouse. “As Australia continues to recognise the unique contribution of Tongans – through community leadership, cultural richness and faith – we move forward together in gratitude and unity.”
Sunday’s Choral Service of Thanksgiving is already at capacity; however, it will be streamed online by Pasifika TV & Radio. A link to the livestream will be made available this Friday.
Pictured below: His Excellency Curtis Tu’ihalanganie, Acting High Commissioner of Tonga to Australia, Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli, and Louise Waterhouse, Honorary Consul General for the Kingdom of Tonga.

More news from the Assembly
Season of Creation 2025 celebrated
Season of Creation 2025 celebrated Each year from 1 September to 6 October, the Season of Creation is commemorated by Christians around the world. In our own Uniting Church, congregations and communities have been so in style The Season of Creation has drawn to a close for another year, and across the Uniting Church,…
2026 Calendar of Dates
2026 Assembly Calendar of Dates Official Uniting Church commemorations, key liturgical dates, ecumenical dates and events, social and cultural celebrations On this page you will find the 2026 dates for the key days we mark together as a national Uniting Church, events held around the Uniting Church that are open to all, key liturgical…
2025-2026 Uniting Church Lectionary
2025-2026 Uniting Church Lectionary available now The Assembly has released the 2025-2026 Uniting Church Lectionary (Year A), a key resource for preaching and worship leading in the ‘Year of Matthew’The 2025-2026 Uniting Church Lectionary is now available to download from the Assembly, and available to order from Wayzgoose, the online store for Uniting Church resources.…
Uniting Church welcomes Archbishop of Canterbury appointment
The Uniting Church celebrates with joy the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli extends warmest congratulations to the Church of England and the The Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, announced today the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury A Statement on the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury-designate Rev…
Celebrating Older Persons Sunday 2025
Celebrating Older Persons Sunday 2025 2025 is the fourth year the Uniting Church will mark an annual occasion to celebrate and reflect on the human rights and contributions of older peopleUniting Church communities across Australia are invited to mark the fourth annual Older Persons Sunday during October. Established by the Uniting Church Assembly in 2022,…
Seventh anniversary of the National Apology
Marking 7 years of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse The Assembly has released a liturgy and a statement from President Rev Charissa Suli to mark the AnniversaryOn 22 October 2018, former Prime Minister Hon Scott Morrison MP delivered an historic National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child…
Embracing a new future together: General Secretary
Embracing a new future together Amid promise and pain, the Assembly’s General Secretary is calling on Uniting Church members to embrace deep, systemic change and live out our faith together by Andrew Johnson, Assembly General Secretary A little over a year ago I stood on the floor of the Assembly in Session to accept the…
Threads of Love Across Nations: A President’s Reflection
Threads of Love Across Nations: A President’s Reflection Rev Charissa Suli has penned this reflection following the recent dual celebration of Australian-Tongan diplomacyby Rev Charissa Suli, President of the Uniting Church in Australia This past week has been one of the most significant and deeply moving experiences of my ministry. As a Tongan Australian serving…