Martyn Namorong to speak in Australia - maybe

BY KEITH JACKSON

PAPUA NEW GUINEA BLOGGER, buai seller and former medical student, Martyn Namorong, has been honoured by Deakin University in Melbourne by being invited to present a paper at a forthcoming conference on PNG.

Martyn has been asked to be part of an expert panel who will present on the subject of Youth sub-cultures: identity and land rights in contemporary PNG at the PNG in Transition Conference to be held on the university’s Geelong campus.

But there’s a problem. (There’s always a problem!)

Not only will PNG’s leading (and most courageous) public voice on social issues have to find his own way to the conference (a somewhat daunting task if you’re flogging buai in the markets of Koki and Badili), he’s going to have to stump up the necessaries for air travel, accommodation and expenses.

And, to add insult to injury, the university types who organise these things want Martyn to unfold $250 for the conference and the conference dinner, even though he’s their guest.

Here at PNG Attitude we’re seeing what can be done to identify funding for Martyn’s trip but, as you might expect, we may need to call on the assistance of readers if the other channels don’t come up with the readies.

The conference is hosted by the Alfred Deakin Research Institute in partnership with the Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles.

We’ll keep you informed.

By the way, if Martyn’s visit to Australia can be arranged, with the help of readers we’ll also be seeking to organise speaking engagements in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra.

Email me here if you believe you can assist.

Comments

[Bernard Sinai]

This is great news. I believe Martyn will become the first Papua New Guinean blogger (I could be wrong) to speak overseas. Congratulations, Martyn!

If you do make it to then I suggest mixing up hospitality in your speech.

Once again, congratulations.

[Victoria Stead]

Martyn, that's really excellent news about the conference. It will be a much better event with voices like yours included in it. The fact that the organisers will not even pay your conference registration and dinner costs is, frankly, embarrassing. Papua New Guineans could teach Australians a lot about what hospitality means.

[Alex Harris]

What an embarrassment. How typically ignorant of overpaid public servants to not grasp the circumstances of a buai seller from PNG.

Wish I was more than a struggling writer. I am not personally in a position to assist financially. But I do look forward to meeting Martyn at one of these events. Thanks Keith.
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There's a thought - a weekend at Noosa! - KJ

[Colin Huggins]

Well done to the person concerned with this generous donation. Likewise to your company Keith.

Maybe "Ausaid" could be asked to help with the assistance of the Australian High Commission?

At least we, down here, will know that some money has been well spent and no squandered.

I hope the good Senator and her staff are reading all this? I will be visiting the office during the week.

I think Mrs. Barbara Short also with a comment on that video, makes a very strong point on the "maintenance debacle" that has been allowed to occur.
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However, I fail so see what US troops in Darwin have to do with the subject?

[Keith Jackson]

One of our readers has already offered K1,500 to help Martyn on his way, which I will match. That disclosed, I hope it won't be becessary for any of us to dig deep on this one.

If the Oz government is fair dinkum about cultural exchange, it should pick up the entire tab. And for speaking engagements in Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane as well.

My company, Jackson Wells, will organise media and other PR (not that this will be difficult for this fresh and informed voice on the real PNG).

Readers should watch this space. A collective effort will be required.
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BTW, this is the 9,000th comment to be registered on PNG Attitude. Thanks folks - KJ