Alcohol allegedly involved in drowning death of Vanuatu fruit picker in Renmark

As police continue to investigate a Pacific Island fruit picker’s drowning, a community leader has said alcohol abuse among migrant workers is ‘an ongoing challenge’.

Joe Koumera was working in Renmark when he drowned in the River Murray. Picture: Facebook

As tributes flow for a Vanuatuan fruit picker who drowned in the River Murray, a Pacific Islands community leader has warned alcohol abuse is a worsening problem among seasonal workers.

Joe Koumera, a 42-year-old father, was expecting to fly back home in November to see his family, but following an all-day search on Monday, police divers retrieved his body from the water at Renmark just before 6pm.

It was his first visit to Australia, and Pacific Islands Community SA chief executive Tukini Tavui said those close to the situation, including police, believed Mr Koumera and friends had been drinking shortly before his death.

A large scale search was conducted off the banks in Renmark. Picture: Riverland Commercial Photography

Though police continue to investigate the circumstances and are preparing a report for the coroner., Mr Tavui said “a growing number” of Pacific Islanders working in Australia were turning to alcohol because of the distance from their traditional societies.

“The freedom that they have now (in Australia) is a very new thing, so there’s a question of how do you manage this,” Mr Tavui said.

“Back home, they have their elders, their families, who set rules and the boundaries – you have to remember that a lot of them are subsistence farmers who are suddenly making $1000

Pacific Islands Community SA chief executive Tukini Tavui. Picture: Supplied

a week.

“That’s the challenge every employer is managing. Islanders have a strong work ethic, they get the job done and they’re good at what they do, but it’s what happens after work that’s creating issues.”

Upon hearing of the disappearance, Mr Tavui said he first thought the Vanuatuan may have “absconded” in search of other work, but it soon became apparent something more serious was afoot.

Conversations are now under way with South Australia’s “fairly small but close-knit” Vanuatuan community to repatriate his remains.

Mr Koumera was due to return home to Vanuatu. Picture: Facebook

With just under 1000 Islanders in the Riverland under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, Mr Tavui said he was working with police and community elders to better integrate Islanders into their host communities.

“During the 2022 floods, we saw a lot Islanders working with (State Emergency Service) to fill sandbags, so that’s just one example of what we’re trying to achieve with volunteering,” he said.

“There’s a level of cultural competency that we still need to work towards, but there’s also a level of personal responsibility some of those workers have to take.”

Mr Koumera’s employer PPL Contractors posted to Facebook saying it was “a very sad day as we wake up mourning the loss of one of own PLL family”.

Renmark Paringa Council mayor Peter Hunter said the whole town would be reacting to Monday’s events.

“The loss of life is a tragedy and our thoughts are with Mr Koumera’s family and friends as they work through their grief,” he said.

“We value the workers from the PALM scheme and thank them for their contribution to the Riverland.”

Police are preparing a report for the coroner.

Originally published as Alcohol allegedly involved in drowning death of Vanuatu fruit picker in Renmark