Heartbroken family reveal unfulfiled dreams of expectant dad

MOVING TRIBUTE VIDEO: The family of Tee Weka share the musical legacy and trail of heartbreak felt by all that knew him.

‘He was the star of his own show’.

The family of Tee Weka share the musical legacy and trail of heartbreak felt by all that knew the expectant dad.

The 27-year-old Trebonne man was killed Friday afternoon when his car veered off Abergowrie road near Ingham and rolled into cane fields, just minutes from his home.

Affectionately known to friends and family as Torres, parents Toru and Lausi Weka identified his musical talents early on and approached close family friends, Lester and Rei Vaele, who were involved in the industry to care for him while he studied at the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney.

Torres lived with Mr and Mrs Vaele in Sydney, Melboure and Cairns from 2008 where he toured and was mentored by Mr Vaele who is also a singer and musician.

Mr Vaele, who has eight children, said that it wasn’t uncommon in Polynesian and Melanesian cultures to have this kind of upbringing in order to provide their children with the best opportunities in life.

“It happens in the islands all the time and his parents would say to him you will treat them as your parents and he did, Rei was called Mama Bear and I was Dad,” he said.

“Most of his upbringing was with my kids and it’s like that old saying ‘only mothers can tell them apart’.

“We joke that he could speak Samoan better than my own children.”

Tee ‘Torres’ Weka was lead singer for the Empire Funk Band.

Mr Vaele said his family was in disbelief when they heard of his death and were now left with the challenge of coming to terms with their heartbreak.

“Our kids are distraught at losing their brother,” he said.

“It was like me and my wife hugging five year olds again, this has broken them.”

For Mr Vaele, it’s a disappointment that the best of Torres’ life was yet to come as his partner, Amy Barbi is expecting their first child together.

Torres had a natural ability to light up a room and draw everyone’s attention with his charismatic and funny personality to match his talented singing.

“His passion to want to share the messages in the music he was singing,” he said.

“He was the star of his own show.

Tee ‘Torres’ Weka with other members of the Empire Funk Band which he was lead singer for.

Mr Vaele said Torres was an incredible role model and mentor which is why he was perfectly suited to his job as a residential supervisor at St Teresa’s Catholic College, Abergowrie.

“He wanted to really break into the music industry but as he got older he realised the passion to perform was better than anything a label could offer him,” he said.

“People know him for that, every day he would livestreaming his passion for music but kids is where is heart was, hence why he stayed in that industry.

“His version of making everything good in the world was putting a smile on people’s face, he wanted his heart to touch yours – that’s the kid we know.”

Mr Vaele said funeral arrangements weren’t finalised and that the family would be following their strong Christian, and Papua New Guinean cultural protocols.

Tee’Toress’ Weka graduated from the Australian Institute of Music.

Originally published as Heartbroken family reveal unfulfiled dreams of expectant dad