Overcoming Noosa torpor to get in touch

Noosa, Sunday: With the weather on the Sunshine Coast finally breaking out in Sp[ring's great splendour and the Nossa Jazz Festival in full swing, not to put to fine a point on it, the ASOPA PEOPLE blog has loomed a little less importantly in my daily routine. Apologies for that.

The Papua New Guinea Association's steering group in South Australia will hold its first meeting on Friday under the capable chairmanship of Jan Kleinig. In addition to Jan, the eight-person committee includes former PNG Director of Health Dr Roy Scragg, Peter Routley, Jim Moore, Ian Hopley, Graham Taylor, Graham Inns and Allan Jones – a great line up by any measure.

Meanwhile, Nick Booth has been appointed to manage the PNGAA website and plans are already in train to refine the site and make it more interactive. The site will be redesigned and modified include up to date PNG news (edited by former ABC and AAP journalist Bob Lawrence) and a Readers' Forum that will operate to better connect PNGAA members as well as people who are generally interested in PNG affairs.

Another thing. If you haven't yet responded to the PNGAA's discussion and consultation paper on its future, go to the PNGAA link [left, under ASOPA PEOPLE Extra] and give us the benefit of your views