Family patriarch, Tau Tāufa has passed away more than a decade after 11 household members perished in one of Australia’s worst house fires.
The fierce blaze tore through the Tāufa family’s home at Slacks Creek, 25km south of Brisbane on August 24, 2011.
Tau lost his wife, daughter and three grandchildren, and his wife’s sister and her five children; the victims ranged in age from three to 57 years.
Tau, who was 65 at the time, his brother-in-law, Jeremiah Lale, 36, and son-in-law, Misi Matauaina, 26, were the only three of the 14 people staying the night in the house to walk out alive.
The flames were so intense it took several weeks to identify the dead. They were Tau’s wife, Fusi, 57, his daughter and Mr Matauaina’s wife, Annamaria, 23, and their children, Kahlani, three, and La’Haina Matauaina, seven, Fusi’s sister and the wife of Jeremiah Lale, Neti-Teukisia Lale, her children, Jerry, 18, Paul, 17, and Richie, eight, and daughters Lafoa’i, 14, and Sela, 10, and another of Mr Taufa’s granddaughters, Ardelle Lee, 16, who was staying the night.
The family announced Tau’s death last month.
“Today we farewelled the Patriarch of the Taufa Family, one of the survivors of the devastating Slacks Creek House Fire back in 2011”, a post on Facebook by the Logan Housefire Network Support said.
“Taukinukufili Taufa known as Tau to many sadly passed away 13/1/22 after a long battle with Dementia”, it said.
“Today we said goodbye to him to join his 11 Angels tragically taken on the 24th August 2011.
“Tau, you are loved by many and will certainly be missed by many especially your Daughter Treicee, and sons Sam and Loto.
You are reunited with your Queen”.
