Fijian Bikers Farewell Tao

Bikers around the country gathered in numbers to pay their last respects to a fallen biker, Hua ‘Jerry’ Tao, at the Na­dovi Cemetery outside Nadi yesterday.

The Fiji Motorcyclists Association (FMA) provided a guard of honour for the fallen rid­er, from the Lautoka Hospital en-route to the cemetery.

Association president Rodney Fong, during the eulogy, said ‘Jerry’, their friend, would surely be missed.

“Though all the heartbeats we all feel, I for one dare say I draw some comfort from know­ing Jerry met his end doing the one thing he truly loved, riding his motorcycle, and love riding his motorcycle he most certainly did,” he said.

“By all accounts, Jerry took extremely good care of his Honda CB750. But he was planning an upgrade to a Harley Davidson 883 Sports­ter, something I have no doubt he would have achieved in due cause.

“Apart from a farewell for our brother Hua Tao, this is a movement by the FMA to raise awareness around the need to ride safely and for motorists to be mindful of our presence on the roads.”

The late Mr Tao was 42-years-old when he died at the Lautoka Hospital on December 27, following an traffic accident on December 22, 2019 at the Nawai stretch outside Nadi.

A total of five bikers were en-route from Si­gatoka to Nadi when the alleged incident hap­pened. Three suffered injuries – ‘Jerry’ was one of the three injured bikers.

The late Mr Tao was born in China and moved to Fiji in 2012. He owned and operated a successful tour business, among other ven­tures.

He is survived by his mother, fiancé Jin Ling, brother and an 11-year-old daughter.

Fiance Jin Ling weeps during the funeral of Hua 'Jerry' Tao at the Nadovi cemetery outside Nadi town yesterday. Photo: Waisea Nasokia

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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