Nic Nat laments crash tragedy Eagles star laments crash tragedy

Geraldton’s Fijian community – as well as West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui – are devastated at the shock loss of local man, Epeli Katonivere Burewe.

Naitanui is a cousin and former housemate of Mr Burewe, who was tragically killed in a two-vehicle collision at Arrowsmith last Saturday.

Naitanui expressed his grief in posts on Instagram.

“That smile was so infectious, cuz, ” he said.

“You were like a brother to me and (twin brother) Mark and words don’t come close to explaining how much pain our hearts have and how much we are gonna miss you.

“Rest easy Pip, you’re in a much better place now.”

As Naitanui and his brother celebrated their birthdays on Monday, Naitanui also remembered his mate.

“This same day last year you helped Mark and I smash our birthday cake, ” he said.

“All us boys are gonna miss ya tonight Pip!”

Mr Burewe was one of five passengers in a Ford Transit Van which was hit head-on by a silver Toyota Tarago when it crossed onto the incorrect side of the road. A 29-year-old woman, a Chinese national, appeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with dangerous driving occasioning death.

She was released on bail on a $5000 personal undertaking and a $5000 surety to appear before the Perth Magistrate’s Court on May 26. A Chinese interpreter has been requested for that court appearance.

The five men were employees of Relines Australia and had just finished a shift at a gold mine in the Pilbara. They had flown to Perth and were on their way back to Geraldton.

A Relines Australia spokesperson said Mr Burewe was a well-respected employee.

“Funny, big smile, he was a fun guy to have around, ” said the spokesperson.

“We’re finding it pretty tough.”

West Coast spokesman Gary Stocks said Mr Naitanui would play against Port Adelaide on Sunday and wear black armbands.

Mr Burewe was born at Robinvale in Victoria and was adopted in his early years. After living in Meekatharra and Perth, the family moved to Sydney.

However, Mr Burewe didn’t settle, and his uncle, Samila Junior, described him as a “lost child” who moved around a lot after turning 18.

“He was trying to find his own path in life, ” he said.

“Geraldton is the only place he stayed for longer than three years.

“Friends and family is what made him stay, and the love we all showed him.”

Mr Junior only met Mr Burewe when he was 23.

“He was the type of person who made friends with everyone, ” he said.

“Always happy, always making jokes.”

Mr Burewe was a man of strong faith and attended the Geraldton Seventh-day Adventist Church every weekend.

He was also a promising sportsman. He was a member of the Geraldton Rugby Club and was due to make his debut for Towns Football Club tomorrow. Club president Brad Muir said the players would wear black armbands in their away match against Mullewa.

The Geraldton rugby community raved about the young man they described as “impressive”.

The Geraldton Rugby Club will tonight hold a memorial match in his honour.

Geraldton Rugby Club president Dave Tyson said Mr Burewe was a fantastic young man, who would be sorely missed.

Coach Warren Abrahams said he was saddened to learn the news of Mr Burewe’s passing, and his life had been cut short in the prime of his sporting prowess.

Close friend Akuila Vakacegu said he was distraught at the loss of his mate.

Mr Vakacegu said Mr Burewe was the first friend he made when he came to Australia in 2012.

“He was a great guy, ” he said.

“I didn’t know a rugby club existed in Geraldton until I met Epeli.

“He invited me to come to the club, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be playing rugby.”

Geraldton Fiji Association president Salome Hargove said Mr Burewe was well-known in the Fijian community.

“It’s impacted all of us; we’re traumatised by his passing and miss him so much, ” he said.

Mrs Hargrove described him as a humble “gentle giant”.

Mr Burewe was two metres tall, the same height as his famous cousin Naitanui.

He struck up a friendship with Geraldton Fijian couple Ravu and Va Tagive and their family at a Seventh Day Adventist camp at Karalundi in 1996. One of the Tagive boys, Enoch, went on to study with Mr Burewe at Northam.

Three years ago, Mr Burewe came to Geraldton and shared a house with Enoch for about a year and half.

Enoch’s mother, Va, said he was part of the family. “He was like our fourth son, ” she said.

The last time she saw him was on the Tuesday before the crash.

“Pip being Pip, he was always joking, ” she said.

“He said ‘I’ll see you when I came back’, but unfortunately this happened. He would have died happy, coming back from work. He would have been proud. He loved working in the mines.”

Kick-off for the memorial rugby match is 6.30pm for seniors, with juniors starting at 5.30pm at Rugby Park. The Fijian community are putting on a curry and sausage sizzle with all welcome.

A traditional Fijian burial will be held this week.