Top team heralds a renaissance in PNG writing

KEITH JACKSON

THE CAUSE OF WRITING AND READING home-grown literature in Papua New Guinea was advanced significantly last night with the election of the first leadership team of the PNG Society of Writers, Editors and Publishers.

Amanda Donigi, 32, a professional publisher and editor of the new Stella women’s magazine has been elected as the inaugural president and Jimmy Drekore, who celebrates his 36^th birthday this week, is vice-president.

Jimmy, who is a chemist with Newcrest Mining, founded the Simbu Children Foundation in 2005. He won the Crocodile Prize poetry award in 2011.

The other officers of the Society are:

Ruth Moiam (Secretary). Ruth, Public Diplomacy Coordinator, Australian High Commission, is a communication & journalism graduate. She won the 2007 Divine Word University poetry prize.

Gina Samar (Treasurer). Gina is an accountant who writes as a hobby. She lives in Wewak and works on Lihir Island assisting landowner companies.

David Gonol (Committee Member). David is a lawyer with the National Court and author of I’ve Grown to Love Jesus (2011) and is now writing a book on ‘underlying law’.

David Kitchnoge (Committee Member). David is an accountant who is also a talented essayist and poet.

Regina Dorum (Committee Member). Regina is a laboratory technician. She is an aspiring novelist who would like to enhance her writing skills to become a full time writer.

Steven llave Sr (Committee Member). Steven is a development economist with over 20 years experience working with the PNG government, UN, World Bank, ADB, AusAID and World Vision. He writes poetry and songs and comes from the same language group as the late Sir Albert Maore Kiki. He has started work on his first book.

“We have a lot to do from here on,” Jimmy Drekore commented, thanking the members of the Society who had “entrusted us with the mandate to take this Society forward.”

The Society was incorporated at the end of 2011 and is taking over responsibility for the administration of the Crocodile Prize and its associated educational and publishing programs.

The 2012 winners of the seven categories in the national literary awards will be announced in a ceremony at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby tonight.

Comments

[Bernard Yegiora]

Corney, it was a pleasure meeting you and others as well.

[Jimmy Drekore]

Thankyou Steven for this piece. Thankyou everyone who voted for this team to take charge and bring Crocodile Prize forward. Thankyou to all our wonderful sponsors and supporters and we hope you will continue your support for the 2013 Crocodile Prize.

There is huge work ahead for us hence we will need everyone's support to making Crocodile Prize bigger and better in 2013. Thankyou and looking forward to working with you all.
_________

Jimmy Drekore is the new Vice President of the PNG Society of Writers, Editors and Publishers - KJ

[Steven Ilave(Snr)]

For me it’s a real privilege to serve on the committee in the Society and I thank those who had confidence in me to vote me in. I hope that I do not disappoint.

I would like to sincerely thank Keith, Phil and others like them for getting the society started. I would like to now contribute and do my bit to encourage and promote the work of talented young PNG artists around me.

I have been so inspired by passionate young artists like Martyn Namorong, Jeffrey Feeger and Marie-Rose Sau, to name just a few.

Below is a short tribute I did recently for Jeffrey Feeger on his work against land-grab on Paga. I guess it captures why I want to be involved:

The Paga Saga – A tribute to Jeffrey Feeger

Empty sullen looks of stolen dreams under blue canvases
Steals and stills his heart as he pours over his blank white one
With brush, pen, colour, skill and resolve
He works, fights and writes back hope
Dreams and paints back justice
Seeing beyond cheap blue tents
Beyond the stink of sewer pipes at Ela
Beyond crowded miseries on stilts at Wanigela
Beyond match boxes on stilts called Hanuabada
Beyond rusting war relics at the bottom of Fairfax harbour
Beyond simple replicas of the Fuzzy- Wuzzy at Ela Makana
Beyond the white mans comforts of Crowne Plaza
Beyond the rich mans high-rise called the Grand Papua
Past the businessman’s Deloitte tower
Towards a Grandeur Sun - rise on Paga
For that homeless child and his mother

Steven Ilave (Snr)
2012

[Corney K. Alone]

Congratulation Leaders!
Our support will be with you all.

Keep the writing fire-zeal burning!