December 28, 2025, started like any other Sunday in the quiet Sydney suburb of Quakers Hill. But just before 5am, screams pierced the dawn on Illabo Street. Neighbours called emergency services, reporting a disturbance. When police arrived, they found a scene of unimaginable horror: 38-year-old Anaseini Waqavuki lay dead in her kitchen, multiple stab wounds ending a life full of quiet dreams and fierce love. Outside on the footpath, her friend Epi Naitini, 30, clung to life with severe injuries to his stomach and hands. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed hours later.

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Within 30 minutes, a 47-year-old man walked into Blacktown Police Station and surrendered. He was Anare Vunitabua, Anaseini’s ex-partner of six years. Charged with two counts of murder, he was refused bail and is due back in court in February 2026. Police have classified the incident as domestic violence-related—a chilling reminder that separation can be the most dangerous time for victims.

As Australia reeled from yet another alleged femicide, the story took on deeper layers of tragedy. Anaseini, a Fijian mother who had sacrificed everything for her family’s future, left behind three children in Fiji: Joshua, 17; Salote, 14; and Rupeni, 12. Now, as her body prepares for repatriation to Perth for burial, her family faces a desperate new fight—bringing her orphaned children across the ocean to say goodbye to the mother they adored but saw only through screens.

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From Fiji to Australia: A Dream Built on Sacrifice

Anaseini Nai Waqavuki left her village in Nakini, Naitasiri, Fiji, in 2018. Like thousands of Pacific Islanders, she chased better opportunities abroad—not for herself, but for her children. She settled first in Sydney, working tirelessly as a care nurse, sending money home to support Joshua, Salote, and Rupeni, who stayed with grandparents and extended family.

She was the sole breadwinner, the pillar holding everything together. Daily video calls kept the bond alive. “She had big dreams for her kids,” her grieving mother Saini Rokoiwaca told Fijian media. Anaseini planned to bring them to Australia for education and a brighter future. She hadn’t returned to Fiji since leaving, but her love crossed the miles unfailingly.

Friends and family paint a portrait of a woman who lit up rooms. “She always put everybody first, before her,” said niece Georgina Bulewa. “A people person. Everyone loved her. Always smiling.” Neighbours in Quakers Hill described her as happy, friendly—the kind of person who made a new country feel like home.

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But behind that radiant smile lay pain. Anaseini had endured domestic violence in her relationship with Vunitabua. Her mother had urged her to leave what she sensed was toxic. Two months before the tragedy, Anaseini finally ended it, seeking peace and independence.

The Fatal Night: No Love Triangle, Just Domestic Violence

Early reports suggested a “love triangle gone wrong,” implying jealousy over a new romance. But family and friends swiftly corrected the narrative. Epi Naitini was not Anaseini’s boyfriend—he was a happily married friend from the Fijian community, with a wife and children back home. On the night of December 27, they had been socializing with others, sharing drinks in what witnesses described as a relaxed gathering.

Naitini’s widow, Elisapeci Marama Naitini, spoke of their good relationship with Anaseini, regular video calls including the children. “There was no romance,” insisted Anaseini’s best friend Alisi Tuilevu. “He was just a mate.”

This wasn’t jealousy over a lover—it was alleged control and rage from an ex who couldn’t accept the end. Police believe Vunitabua targeted both because Naitini was there, a symbol of Anaseini’s new freedom.

The Fijian community in Australia and back home mourned deeply. All three involved were Fijians, turning a personal tragedy into a communal wound. Vigils and tributes flooded social media, with calls for stronger action against domestic violence.

Children Left Behind: A Future Shattered

In a modest home in Fiji, three children now face life without their mother. Seventeen-year-old Joshua, awaiting exam results that could shape his future, told reporters: “My year without mum will start soon.” The weight of that reality crushes him. Younger siblings Salote and Rupeni cling to photographs, struggling to comprehend why Mum won’t call anymore.

Grandmother Saini holds the family together, but grief is overwhelming. “She remained closely connected with her children through regular video calls and constant messaging,” she said. Anaseini was planning their move to Australia—visas, schools, a reunion. Now those dreams are ashes.

The children remain in Fiji under family care, but the emotional toll is immense. Experts warn of long-term trauma: sudden loss, separation amplified by distance, and the violent nature of their mother’s death.

The Desperate Plea: Bring Them Home to Say Goodbye

Anaseini’s body will be flown to Perth for burial, where some family members reside. But the children are stranded in Fiji. Flights, visas, passports—costs mount quickly for a grieving family already stretched thin.

Niece Georgina Bulewa launched a GoFundMe titled “Anaseini Nai Waqavuki.” “Anaseini has left behind her children in Fiji, who are now facing life without their mother,” she wrote. “This is a heartbreaking reality… As we grieve this devastating loss, our family is also facing the unexpected financial burden of funeral and memorial arrangements, as well as supporting loved ones both here and in Fiji.”

The fundraiser aims to cover repatriation, funeral costs in Perth, and flights for the children. Donations poured in from the Fijian diaspora and strangers moved by the story. “Let them say goodbye,” became the plea echoing online.

Community groups like the Red Heart Movement highlighted the campaign, framing it within Australia’s femicide crisis. “Behind her warm smile, Anaseini endured domestic violence… Despite the pain, she remained strong.”

A Wider Crisis: Another Name on the List

Anaseini’s death marks yet another alleged domestic violence homicide in Australia—a crisis claiming women’s lives at alarming rates. In 2025 alone, dozens of women died this way. Advocates demand better prevention, faster intervention, and cultural change.

For Pacific Islander communities, the pain is acute. Migration often means women bearing the financial load alone, vulnerable in new countries. Support services like 1800RESPECT struggle with cultural barriers.

As 2026 begins, Anaseini’s children wait. Will they make it to Perth in time? Will they hug their mother’s casket, whisper final words? Or will distance deny even that small mercy?

This is more than a tragedy—it’s a call to action. For Anaseini, who gave everything for her children’s future, the least we can do is help them attend her farewell. Her smile may be gone, but her love endures. And in bringing her babies home, perhaps they can begin to heal.