Watch high school student’s powerful graduation speech that brought teachers to tears weeks before he died in a freak accident
A ‘star graduate’ has told how the school changed his life, weeks before he tragically died in a popular river.
Manaia Tither-Asiata, 18, fell about 15 meters from an embankment on the Coomera River on the Gold Coast on Sunday night.
The apprentice hairdresser and musician was treated at the scene by paramedics as distraught family and friends watched helplessly, but could not be revived.
The teen recently graduated from the Men of Business Academy, a high school for grades 11 and 12, set up to help underprivileged boys complete their education and turn troubled lives around.
The school is run by Australian of the Year 2024 for Queensland Marco Renai, who led the outpouring of tributes.
“I think he was an angel who was taken from us too soon,” Mr. Renai told the newspaper ABC.
“He was a leader and he inspired not only our boys, but our community, our teachers, our staff… he was just so special.
“I think any loss is tough… but you know, this definitely cut deep.”
Gold Coast teenager Manaia Tither-Asiata (pictured) fell 15 meters from an embankment on the Coomera River on Sunday
The teenager suffered head, chest and pelvic injuries on the banks of the river in Maudsland, near Riverbreeze Crescent.
At the dike location there is both a rope swing and a rope to help people get back out of the river.
It remains unclear whether Mr Tither-Asiata was playing on the rope swing or trying to climb the embankment when disaster struck. Courier mail reported.
The teenager was not only a great student, but also raised important funds for his school.
“That’s the type of person he was. He would do anything for anyone and support the growth of anyone,” Renai said.
“I don’t even know how to explain that you’ve seen so much happen during his journey, and that so much life has changed, not just for him, but for everyone around him.”
At his graduation ceremony last month, Mr Tither-Asiata said while he was happy to have finished, “it will leave a sour taste if he has to leave this beautiful place.”
As a star student, he was named ‘Mobster of the Year 2024’ by the high school.
“I want to thank every employee who walks these halls and makes this place more than just a place. Over the past two years, I have grown in ways I could not have fathomed,” he told the audience as Mr. Renai looked on proudly from a few feet away.
Founder of the Men of Business Academy Marco Renai (left) described the recent graduate (right) as an angel and a leader
‘I learned not only about myself, but also about the people around me. I can stand here today and say that not a day has gone by that I haven’t loved’.
He said he and many of the other students had developed strong bonds “with the teachers, the mentor and also with each other.”
‘I have won more in these halls than anywhere else in the world… I am part of MOB and MOB is part of me.’
Mr Tither-Asiata said he “didn’t have much guidance” when he started at the school as a 16-year-old, but has enjoyed learning ever since.
‘MOB is not just a school. We are learning, but I found MOB to be my rock… I can express myself freely and actually be heard,” he said.
“This place will forever have a place in my heart… thank you for supporting us all in our dreams.”
An emotional Mr Renai wiped away tears during the speech and then shared a warm hug with his star student on stage.
The teenager suffered head, chest and pelvic injuries from the accident on the banks of the Coomera River (pictured)
As flowers were left at the scene of the tragedy on Monday, friends of Mr Tither-Asiata shared their grief and a fundraising was founded for his family.
Friend Virginia Baxter wrote on social media that Tither-Asiata’s sudden death was “so very sad.”
“I don’t even know how to explain that you saw so much happen during his journey, and so much life changing, not just for him, but for everyone around him,” she wrote.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate offered his condolences to Tither-Asiata’s family on Monday.
“It’s devastating when a young life is lost,” he said.
‘What I understand is that he came off a swing rope and crashed into the bank, but didn’t actually recover.
“Our procedure is that it is fully investigated and the rope has to come down.”
The council also pledged to assist police in their ongoing investigation into the tragedy.
“The municipality will assist the authorities in their investigation into this tragic incident,” a spokeswoman said.
‘The city council proactively removes rope swings in public spaces when we become aware of them.’