Keith Jackson & Friends: PNG ATTITUDE

Once again we ask readers to give a helping hand

KEITH JACKSON

WELL, I HAVE TO ADMIT it beats me.

Deakin University keeps inviting Papua New Guineans to its annual PNG talk fest (sponsored by AusAID) without providing travel support for those folk who can’t afford to make the trip to Melbourne.

The next event (on 4-5 April; program not yet ready) is entitled Leadership for the Next Generation and again Martyn Namorong (just commended by Telikom PNG as playing “a significant role in shaping the national discourse”) has been invited to speak.

The $250 registration fee has been waived but travel and accommodation costs are prohibitive. Unless Martyn gets support, he won’t be able to make the conference.

He has managed to save half the $1,500 required for the trip, but is in urgent need of the $750 balance. So once more I appeal to readers for assistance.

You can remit whatever donation you can afford (no, PNG Attitude is not tax exempt) to Keith Jackson, NAB 082-302, Account 50650-1355. And please send me an email here to let me know. I'll make sure the funds get to Martyn.

Today, 8 March, is International Women's Day....

Even a tomorrow got its own

JEFFREY MANE FEBI

Heard the ticking of dawn
As with eyes without a lens I looked
Wrinkles of love lazily they pass by
Then Earth delivered and I was hooked
Hisses of storms old hastily rush by

Many a vivid plot pregnant with
Chances unaccounted for marched.
‘Aaha heart’, said I … ‘look at you’,
‘Look at me … who between us’
‘Is in greater pain … you knew!?’

Even a tomorrow got its own
Chances to be unaccounted for to moan
‘Oh’ said the heart. ‘My joy isn’t yours’
‘And your pain is certainly yours’.

Jan Hasselberg is launching his book Beautiful Tufi in Moresby this Wednesday. Please let Jan know at janhass@online.no if you would like to attend the Moresby presentation.

Papua independence leader's extensive freedom tour

Office of Benny Wenda

WEST PAPUAN INDEPENDENCE leader Benny Wenda will embark on his first official overseas tour this month having successfully fought to have an Interpol Red Notice against him removed.

Wenda is now free to travel and is visiting political leaders, lawyers, activists and supporters in in six countries to build support and awareness of the campaign for self-determination for the people of West Papua.

Ahead of the tour, Wenda spoke of his hope that “it will further raise the voice of the West Papuan people whose cries for freedom and justice have been largely ignored by the international community for the last 50 years”.

After first visiting the US, Wenda will travel to New Zealand from 8 February, launching the International Parliamentarians for West Papua at Parliament House in Wellington on 12 February.

In Australia (13-25 February), he will host an event at Parliament House, Canberra, attended by politicians and members of the legal fraternity. He will also visit Melbourne, Sydney and Perth as well as meeting Aboriginal elders.

Wenda’s tour of Melanesia from 25 February to 10 March will conclude in Papua New Guinea, where he will speak to parliamentarians and meet community leaders.

Benny Wenda is travelling with his lawyer Jennifer Robinson and independent filmmaker Dominic Brown.

Tour updates: Web:   www.bennywenda.org   Twitter: @BennyWenda

Christina Violaris learning centre opens in Alotau

JULIUS VIOLARIS

THE CHRISTINA ALEXANDROU VIOLARIS Learning Centre has been opened in Alotau, the capital of Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay Province,.

The building is named after Christina Violaris and is dedicated to her memory.

It incorporates a Buk Bilong Pikinini library on the ground floor and comes complete with built-in sick bay, office, a bathroom for very small people, kitchenette and various storerooms.

Upstairs is a small lending library for adults, a computer room with internet access, an office and a large area with tables and chairs for older students to study undisturbed at night.

Night study will be supervised by retired teachers so they can help students requiring assistance with homework and assignments.

The Centre will also be used for running all sorts of courses for Nawae Construction employees, community programs and, eventually, adult literacy courses.

The new building was opened by Alexandros S Violaris, the husband of the late Christina Violaris, and the Buk Bilong Pikinini library was opened by Titus Philemon MP, Governor of Milne Bay province.

The local communities of Rabe, Waema and Mutuya presented Alex Violaris and me with a big pig and many vegetables and baskets and buai to show their appreciation of having the library in their community.

In Canberra for the Walkleys & some PNG links

KEITH JACKSON

THIS MORNING I WRITE FROM Canberra where, tonight, I’ll be attending the Walkley Awards which recognise the best journalism in Australia over the past year.

It’s not just the mercury that’s been soaring in the nation’s capital this week; the politics also have been absolutely red hot. But this blog’s PNG Attitude not Political Attitude, so I’m not going there.

That made clear, this year’s Walkleys are being held in the grand precincts of Parliament House but with any luck it’ll be the wine not the whine that's doing the talking.

Ingrid and I are attending as guests of Queensland University, of which I have the honour, along with eminent Pacific journalist Sean Dorney, of being an adjunct professor in the School of Journalism and Communication.

And Queensland University is at the Walkleys because it sponsors the Award for International Journalism.

I’ll be sitting with the head of school-designate, Prof Libby Lester, leaving the University of Tasmania for warmer climes, and the acting head of school, Dr Rhonda Breit.

And I’ll certainly be wanting to talk about how Sean and I might be able to work with the university to build a stronger connection with Papua New Guinea.

That is a great opportunity and one well worth pursuing, especially given the school’s pioneering Centre for Communication and Social Change, which specialises in the study, research and practical application of communication in sustainable development.

Back to the Awards. Each year, more than 1,300 entries are submitted and my old mate Laurie Oakes, who has a strong PNG connection and who is chairman of the Walkleys, says it’s never been more important to promote excellence in journalism.

"Given the challenges now facing the media in this country, it has never been more necessary to recognise, reward and showcase excellence in our industry,” Laurie says.

And what is his PNG association? Well, he’s the late Tom Cole’s son-in-law.

Tom, who was to become an eminent author (The Last Paradise, Spears and Smoke Signals, Hell West and Crooked) spent 30 years in PNG as the first professional crocodile shooter, later establishing a coffee plantation in the Highlands.

Small world, isn’t it?

The 57th annual Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism will be broadcast on SBS 1 from 9.30pm (AEDT) tonight

Access to Life photo exhibition at Powerhouse Museum

A POWERFUL PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION, that has already moved millions of people around the world through its touching images of AIDS-affected communities, opened at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney yesterday.

Access to Life features the work of some of the world's best photographers from the global agency Magnum Photos, world-renowned for interpreting and chronicling people and personalities, global issues and events in a compassionate and meaningful way.

For the first time, a series of new photos from Papua New Guinea will be included in the exhibition, taken by acclaimed British photographer Chris Steele-Perkins.

They join photographic case studies from India, Vietnam, Russia, Swaziland, Haiti, Mali, South Africa, Peru and Rwanda.

More than 250 photographs by nine international Magnum photographers feature people with HIV and AIDS, their families and communities, and the health care workers from 10 countries.

The photos capture the emotional stories of people before and four months after receiving the antiretroviral treatment.

Access to Life is in Sydney for World AIDS Day 2012 and coincides with the 30 year anniversary of the first case of HIV being diagnosed in Australia.

Created by Magnum Photos in partnership with The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Access to Life was launched in Washington DC in 2008.

It has since toured major cities around the world including Rome, Madrid, Olso, Oakland, New York, Tokyo and Seoul.

Let’s hope ti can get to Port Moresby and other PNG cities soon.

Photo: UK Magnum photographer, Chris Steele-Perkins, has produced a prolific body of work and recently shot photographs of AIDS-affected regions in Papua New Guinea. This portrait shows Camillo and his now HIV-free son Henry

New Voices: What Australia can learn from PNG

DANIELLE CAVE – The Interpreter /Lowy Institute

THE RECENT LOWY INSTITUTE PNG New Voices Conference was a much-needed shock to the complacency I have become attuned to as a member of Australia's international policy community.

It was the best Lowy Institute conference I have ever attended. In fact it was the best conference I have ever attended full stop. This is because again and again the speakers demonstrated qualities that are rare in Australian-based public discussion: passion, frankness, courage, creativity and a talent for generating new ideas. The determination to get their views across shown by those who participated was infectious. 

PNG Government representatives (from Foreign Affairs, Treasury and Sports), business owners, senior NGO managers, economists, journalists, artists, students and future political candidates gave honest and considered views of where they see their country going and why PNG's politicians are not doing enough to deliver for the people they serve. Now, over email and social media, these same people are forming new networks, debating policy ideas and coordinating future meet-ups, interviews and events.

PNG public servants that spoke at PNG New Voices were careful to explain that 'the views in my speech don't necessarily represent the views of the government of PNG', before presenting fresh and frank perspectives, strong opinions and creative policy ideas. I can't image an Australian public servant able or willing to do the same.

Australia's international policy expertise within the public service is increasingly locked away from public view and public discussion. Trapped in rigid hierarchies and spread across about a dozen internationally-focused government departments, most will only reappear when they jump ship into a non-government or private sector role.

Too many of these specialists spend more time briefing, coordinating and thinking about their department's place in Canberra (and their branch's place in their department, and so on) than using their knowledge to inform international policy formulation. The burden and cyclical nature of the vast demand for briefings – for politicians, senior government employees and even for mid-level public servants – is inhibiting the strategic capabilities of the public service. 
 
Australian Government departments, intentionally or unintentionally, hinder public debate by putting up barriers that limit and discourage the participation of policymakers and public servants. The requirements to get clearance to engage in public discussion can be so demanding that a policymaker needs to assess whether it's worth their time and effort.

It's rare to see an Australian public servant ask a question in a public forum, let alone offer their opinion or idea on a topic. The barriers to participate in public discourse that have helped contribute to the over-cautious nature of Australia's internationally-focused policymakers need to be abolished. This inactive approach to participating in public discussion and debate is self-harming and short-sighted for Australia, a country which sees itself as a creative middle power.

The chalkie mob that triggered the start of PNG Attitude

KEITH JACKSON

THE ASOPA CLASS OF 1962-63 gathers in Canberra today, 50 years on, for three days of reuniting, reminiscence and solidarity.

It’s the fifth time in the last 10 years that this group of former cadet education officers has got together.

Each time the ranks thin: this week we’ll miss ‘Dubbo’ Dave Kesby [pictured as a young ASOPA graduate soon after arriving in PNG], Bill Bergen, Dave Argent and Bill Wilson. All fine men.

When the first reunion was mooted early in 2002, I committed to producing a newsletter to stimulate a bit of interest. So was born Vintage, which morphed into ASOPA People, that became a blog of the same name which later transformed into PNG Attitude.

At each step in this process, the scope of what we did expanded until we have the website as it exists today.

ASOPA, for those unfamiliar with the acronym, was the Australian School of Pacific Administration – a very important Australian-based institution in the colonial history of Papua New Guinea.

The ASOPA story is both compelling and unusual – you can read all about it here.

But back to the Class of 1962-63. Later today 36 people, including 25 of the original 58 students, one of whom was me, will convene at a haunt called the Tradies Club in the Canberra suburb of Woden.

Unlike back in 2002, when they had remained unmet for 40 years, most of them will recognise each other.

For three days they will catch up with each other’s recent histories, reflect on times and people past, compare medical conditions, chat and laugh a lot, probably have a bit too much to drink, and once more enjoy their shared company.

The Canberra-based organisers, who have developed a fine program but have no control over the weather, are Ian Mclean, Bob Davis and Geoff Chapman.

It will be a grand time.

David Bailey’s ‘Papua Polaroids’ on show for first time

Art Newspaper (UK)

AS A PHOTOGRAPHER for British Vogue, David Bailey found fame capturing the “swinging” London scene of the 1960s.

But, says the vintage photograph dealer Daniel Blau, Bailey’s photography “goes much deeper than what you can see in a glossy magazine”.

This month, Blau’s London gallery will show for the first time Bailey's Papua Polaroids taken when the photographer ventured into the Papua New Guinea highlands in 1974.

The photos were unexpectedly discovered by Blau during a recent visit to Bailey’s studio. Blau believes the market for instant photographs is undervalued.

“They are the most direct proof of the communication between the artist, the sitter and the viewer,” he says.

Luk Save Art Show to hold 10th anniversary exhibition

22 & 23 September at Crowne Plaza Hotel Ballrooms, Port Moresby

THE LUK SAVE ART TEAM is pleased to announce that its 10th Anniversary Exhibition will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby and will be for the first time open to the general public.

Founded in 2003 at the Royal Papua Yacht Club, Luk Save has evolved into the largest celebration of contemporary art in Papua New Guinea. 

It proudly displays work from artists throughout PNG, of all ages, training and backgrounds and is, for many, their primary experience of a formal exhibition.

Built on an ethos of inclusion our international art ‘rock-stars’ stand alongside self-taught talent.  The only rules are that it must be original work, can not have been exhibited elsewhere and be current, that is, created in the year between shows.

The quality of the artwork presented has increased dramatically over the history of the event with many artists stretching boundaries and concepts to deliver their most inspirational pieces for the exhibition. 

The incentive to improve and create their best was recognised by NASFUND in 2010 with the addition of the NASFUND Art Award for ‘Best in Show’. 

Chosen by a panel that draws on academic, artistic and curator experience from Australia and New Zealand, it is a significant prize and has undoubtedly been instrumental in the strengthening of quality presented in the exhibition.

Alongside the show, the Luk Save team produce The Catalogue.  This has become a much sort after collectors item with copies being held by the National Library of Australia and the Pratt Institute of Art in New York.

Created with the backing and support of Deloitte, it is the sole record of the journey of contemporary art in Papua New Guinea over the past 10 years and is a joyous celebration of the art displayed.

The 10th Anniversary Exhibition draws together over 230 artworks from drawings and paintings through sculpture, pottery and photography from across the country.  All work presented is available for sale and this is the primary income generating event for the art community each year.  In the past 9 years, Luk Save has paid over K1.8 million direct to artists.

Saturday 22 September:  7pm – Opening Night Cocktail Party, ticket only access. Tickets available from Art Stret Gallery, Steamships Hardware Compound, Waigani.  K250 includes a copy of the Luk Save Collection Catalogue, food and drinks

Sunday 23 September:  9am – Open Day, free of charge all day

Kokoda demons were a struggle for the 'Angels'

CATHERINE ARMITAGE | Sydney Morning Herald

DEVENI TEMU'S FATHER NEVER SPOKE of his devastating experience as a carrier on the Kokoda Track.

The only references he ever made to the war were the names he gave around their Central Province village commemorating places he had been - his nephew Warisota; the family dog Buna; the pet pig Higaturu; a new banana variety, Koitakini.

The father, Temu Purikei, stayed silent until his death in 1990, not just because it was painful to speak of but because he also did not want to bring the Australian soldiers into disrepute.

Mistreatment of forced carriers is now established as fact, says Mr Temu, a librarian at the Australian National University.

As a lone Papuan voice at the Australian War Memorial's conference this week to mark the 70th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign, he says the ''so-called fuzzy wuzzy angel'' was a myth.

His father, like many of the Papuan carrier/labourers, was third or fourth-generation Christian, educated in a Christian school and an emerging leading man of the village, Mr Temu said. He was from the middle class of Papuan society. ''These were the pastors, deacons, elders and mission teachers.''

When recruited by army officers who came looking for young, fit-looking men, they went because the village pastor, whose orders it was customary to obey, told them the London Missionary Society headquarters would appreciate their contribution to the war effort.

Some made their escape but his father was tracked down. The village pastor told Mr Temu's mother that her husband lost most of the flesh from his back during the bitter fighting around the beachhead at Buna and only survived because his cousin refused to accept the doctor's pronouncement of death and cared for him in a hideout.

Eventually Mr Purikei was taken to the Gemo Island Native Hospital, where he composed a traditional lament in the Hula language, part of which translates as ''Longing to come out of my mountain hideout/Feeling overwhelmed, bereft of my kinsfolk/Self pity and loneliness/This is not a job of my own choice''.

Mr Temu says it is hard to describe his feelings about his father's experiences. ''It is difficult for me to imagine what he went through. Obviously it was not done in a humane way,'' he said.

His father returned a changed man in 1945, determined to devote his life to developing the village church and working for the welfare of the people.

He taught them skills he learnt, including how to construct pit latrines and open-air showers, cook rice and bake damper. He had six children who became engineers, medics and MPs.

In an open canoe for the Pacific’s past & future

KEITH JACKSON

THIS IS A HEART WARMING STORY of an adventurous open canoe voyage designed to draw people’s attention to climate change and sea levels – two related issues of significant environmental and humanitarian impact worldwide and, even more immediately, in the Pacific.

To raise awareness of these issues, the 48' open canoe Climate Challenger will leave Manus today on a challenging voyage which is emulating some of the great traditional seafaring exploits of the past.

The people of Manus and guests gathered at Lorengau last weekend to wish the vessel well before its long and risky journey around the Pacific.

During the speeches, although the rain poured down, support for the crew did not waver and the people gave their blessings before Governor Charlie Benjamin officially cut the ribbon signifying the beginning of the voyage.

The great Pacific canoe voyage is an initiative of Manuai Matawai [pictured] of Pere village who works with The Nature Conservancy and Selarn Kaluwin of Mbuke who work with the World Wildlife Fund in Manus, Papua New Guinea.

They are passionate about raising awareness of climate change, clean oceans, a clean atmosphere and, as a curious extra, connecting the people of Mbuke on Manus Island with the lost Titan tribe on Yap Island in Micronesia.

The canoe voyage is partly funded by AusAID under its ‘building the resilience of communities and their ecosystems to the impact of climate change’ program.

The voyagers write:

Climate change is here to stay. Science has blamed human induced activities for causing these changes [to which] we must respond individually, provincially, nationally and globally to adapt and mitigate [them].

In Manus Province, the people of Mbuke, at their own initiative, had responded by planting yams and water security. They are also planting mangroves to protect the shoreline. The people of Pere also planted mangroves for coastal protection and planted sago on higher ground.

Both Pere and Mbuke set aside marine protected areas to protect and manage reef fish, coral and other commercial invertebrates as part of their effort in building the resilience of their community and ecosystem to the impact of climate change helped by The Nature Conservancy and WWF respectively.

Deep in history, the Mbuke and Pere people hailed from a Titan tribe known as Mwanus. They are sea people and dependent on the sea for their livelihood. Part of the great voyage will be an attempt to connect with this lost tribe.

On board Climate Challenger are 10 local navigators, dancers and musicians to share the Manus culture throughout the island destinations to be visited: Kavieng, Lihir, Buka, Shortland Island, Taro (Choiseul), Honiara, Nauru, Kiribati (Tarawa), Marshall Islands (Majuro and atolls), Kosraie, Ponape, Truk, Puluwat, Soral, Yap, Palau, Wuvulu, Aua (Manus), Ninigo Group, Hermit and finally back to Lorengau.

The trip is expected to take 70 days and cover more than 3,200 km of the Pacific.

Hurley Papua photos exhibit opens in western Sydney

VARIOUS SOURCES

THE EVOCATIVE IMAGES of Frank Hurley, one of the greatest Australian photographers of the 20th century, are now showing at the University of Western Sydney’s Parramatta campus.

Frank Hurley: Journeys into Papua is a touring exhibition developed by the Australian Museum (featured in PNG Attitude in 2008) and hosted by the Whitlam Institute within the University of Western Sydney depicts an artistic legacy from a career spanning nearly 60 years.

On display are 82 framed photographs taken on two journeys to Papua in the early 1920s. The photos reflect both an Australian-controlled Papua – a place where government and missionaries exerted a strong influence in the areas they occupied – and a more traditional Papua. The culture clash between the colonial settlers and the Papuan people is clearly captured in the mesmerising images.

Like everything Hurley touched, the Papua photographs were cloaked in controversy. Moral questions were raised about the circumstances in which Hurley took the photographs.

He was accused of theft, bullying, duplicity and unethical behaviour. Although Hurley was largely innocent, he did not mind the accusations. There was always a Barnum and Bailey side to Hurley. And if a bad headline swelled the number of people paying to see his slide shows, Hurley would milk it for all it was worth

The photographs are extraordinary and include scenes of mission life, landscapes and the first aerial photographs taken of Papua. There is a magnificent a four-frame panorama of a Papuan village which has never been seen before. But mostly there are portraits - dozens of haunting photographs of people who had never seen a camera but were persuaded to pose despite their obvious apprehension.

The photographs that caused much controversy were those which Hurley took of his party carrying guns in the remote Lake Murray district. They had been told to carry guns by the Lieutenant-Governor because Lake Murray wasn't under government control. But a missionary saw a photo and drew the conclusion there had been violence.

Hurley’s subsequent slide shows were a huge success, with tours of the US and Britain. His book Pearls And Savages became an international bestseller, encouraging him to return to the region to make two feature films.

By 1927 Hurley was going through difficult times, forced to take a desk job. He decided to sell much of his Papua collection of glass-plate negatives and lantern slides to the Australian Museum.

WHAT: Frank Hurley: Journeys into Papua Photographic Exhibition
WHEN: Until 26 October 2012, 10:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday (after hours by appointment)
WHERE: Margaret Whitlam Galleries, Female Orphan School, Parramatta South Campus Corner of James Ruse Drive and Victoria Road, Rydalmere
COST: $5 per person

It is still not to late to enter this essay contest....

Old warhorses meet young colt: result - symbiosis

BY KEITH JACKSON

ON MONDAY, DELIVERING THE OPENING REMARKS at his first public forum in Sydney, Martyn Namorong had relied heavily on notes; some of which fell to the floor while he was presenting. Their disorder was not a great help to fluency.

Martyn also had a series of slides to illustrate his talk. Not needed. Especially when you forget they’re there and have to scrabble though them every few minutes to find where you’re up to.

You only need visuals when your content has no other visible means of support.

Despite such technical difficuties, the event was a great success.

Martyn later went on to the Kokoda Track Foundation (see picture), where he again wowed the assembled group.

Yesterday lunchtime – at Mido Restaurant in Neutral Bay, Sydney – Martyn, poised somewhere between the ABC and the SBS and their need for interviews, and sitting on a single beer throughout, fronted a round table of (let me be polite) older gentlemen.

All of whom had spent some time in PNG in the 60s and 70s. A tough audience. Tough as in: ‘What’ve you done with place since we left, eh?’

There were ex chalkies, ex journos, ex military, no ex kiaps thank god. It was a tough enough gallery. But a fair one.

So it was that the assembly threw every issue at Martyn except what happened to the kitchen sink – corruption, media freedom (or otherwise), Chinese influence, demographics, Chinese illegal immigrants, gun running, what happened to old so-and-so from Karkar, Bougainville, politics, even the events of the day (the Supreme Court had just declared Somare the rightful prime minister, again).

Our man Martyn, who had been out and about all morning, and who I anxiously wondered was across the day’s events, was on top of every question and every nuance.

Not a question without a substantive, informed and often witty answer.

I wish the camera crew had been present for this event: the old colonials meeting the newest edition of the post-independents. The two groups, despite being separated by two generations, saw eye to eye on just about everything.

I also wish I had the memory bank (and the space here) to repeat the anecdotes about times past with which Martyn was regaled by the likes of John Highfield and Leo Carroll and Phil Charley.

Each story received with a silent smile and eyes glistening with encouragement.

No question unanswered, no tale unappreciated, no false statement unchallenged (but in the gentlest way).

If you get a chance to catch up with Martyn Namorong in Australia, make sure you do. You won’t regret it.

On Tuesday Martyn also featured on the ABC's Late Night Live and on the SBS-TV News as well as being interviewed for Radio Australia and having a guided tour of the ABC broadcasting centre in Sydney. Early in the morning he had written an 800 word article for The Age newpaper.... http://www.sbs.com.au/news/video/2237661694/Leadership-crisis-grips-PNG

Martyn Namorong will talk to Australians about PNG

MARTYN NAMORONG, Papua New Guinean political activist, award winning writer and much quoted blogger, will begin a two week lecture tour of Australia next week.

The privately-funded Take the Truth to Australia tour will enable one of Papua New Guinea’s new generation of writers and thinkers to speak about the issues afflicting his country – one of which he says is Australia itself.

Namorong, 25, who sells betel nut in Port Moresby’s markets to earn money to support his writing, is well known for his gritty and accurate portrayals of the struggling and increasingly depressed society that is today’s PNG

“I don’t dream anymore,” he says. “I am grounded in reality. I grapple with the facts as they are.”

In 2011 Namorong was recognised for his writing when he won the inaugural Crocodile Prize, PNG’s national literary award.

As a medical student at the University of Papua New Guinea, Namorong witnessed the troubles of PNG at first hand and now chooses to live a lifestyle no different from that of the vast majority of his compatriots.

“The system of education in this country [Papua New Guinea] is a failure trap,” Mr Namorong says.

“It is supposed to groom Papua New Guineans, but all it does is produce a lot of failures.”

Namorong has been acclaimed as the foremost of a growing group of Papua New Guinean writers unafraid to speak boldly on issues of corruption and public waste and who are using social media to stimulate pressure for social change.

In Australia he will meet with politicians, journalists and people interested in PNG affairs.

______________

Martyn will be in Sydney (21-22 May), Melbourne (23-26 May), Canberra (27-29 May) and Brisbane (30 May-2 June). He is available for media interviews

Media contact: Ben Jackson: 0417 407 565 | (02) 9904 4333 | bjackson@jacksonwells.com.au

MEET MARTYN NAMORONG
TAKING THE TRUTH TO AUSTRALIA TOUR
An initiative of PNG Attitude & our readers
Sydney - Monday 21 May 2pm - Jackson Wells, Neutral Bay
Melbourne - Thursday 24 May 4pm - Venue TBA
Canberra - Tuesday 29 May 4pm - Hotel Kurrajong
Brisbane - Friday 1 June - watch this space for venue & time
Contact Keith Jackson here to book

International investment conference for Port Moresby

BUSINESS ADVANTAGE INTERNATIONAL

PORT MORESBY IS TO HOST its first international investment conference in September.

The 10–11 September event, The Papua New Guide Advantage 2012, will bring local and international investors together to discuss how the private sector can drive PNG’s development over the next decade.

It will be coordinated by the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with Business Advantage International. Partners for the event will include the National Capital District Commission, BSP, ANZ and Deloitte.

The conference will be split into two days, with a general investment summit on the first day and a second day focused exclusively on infrastructure. Speakers will include international experts and local business people.

“We want to create an event that allows investors to knuckle down and focus on the tremendous range of business opportunities there are in PNG,” said David Conn, Executive Director of POMCCI.

“There will be a strong focus on regional development. As the host chamber, we’re keen to reach out to PNG’s other chambers of commerce so that they can also be a part of this exciting event,” he said.

Jackie Barton, British High Commissioner to PNG, said “September will be the perfect time for UK companies to come to PNG and learn more about investing here.”

The event will focus on business sectors outside mining and petroleum.

The Papua New Guinea Advantage Conference will take place at the Gateway Hotel, Port Moresby on 10 and 11 September.

This morning’s Anzac Day pic from Bomana

AUSTRALIA'S MINISTER FOR DEFENCE, Stephen Smith MP talks with Uncle Richard Archibald after the Dawn Service at Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby this morning.

Uncle Richard was in Papua New Guinea to perform the Aboriginal cultural ceremonies to bring his relative Private Frank Archibald's soul to rest.

Private Archibald was shot by a Japanese sniper while trying to save a friend during the Kokoda campaign, in November 1942.

The only surviving member of Private Archibald's 11 siblings, 74 year old Aunty Grace Gordon (nee Archibald), and other relatives, travelled with Uncle Richard to Port Moresby to take part in the ceremonies.

There are more Australian war dead at Bomana than at any other war cemetery in the world.

The Occupy Waigani protest as it unfolded

BY MARTYN NAMORONG
THE NAMORONG REPORT

AND WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY IT IS as the sun beats down through the cloudless sky and scorches all life in Port Moresby.

The streets are largely deserted and the few people who venture out carry on rather nervously. Port Moresby’s notorious traffic jams are nowhere to be seen and for once the city looks like the most liveable place on earth.

Angau Drive in Boroko with its lush vegetation has a slow stream of pedestrians, much to the annoyance of street vendors who prop up stalls near the footpath. The roundabout near SP Brewery lacks its usual scrum of vehicles puffing out toxic fumes.

Along Kennedy Drive, where mobile giant Digicel is headquartered, a mother escorts her child back from Gordon’s Secondary School. They’re both immersed in conversation about the constitutionality of the Judicial Conduct Act and parliament’s decision to postpone elections.

The Gordons main bus stop and market area is unusually slow as a small crowd mingles around waiting for buses or buying mobile phone credits.

The largest city in the South Pacific, Port Moresby, has been shut down for Occupy Waigani, a protest organised to demand that parliament rescind its decision to interfere with the judiciary and to postpone the elections.

Meanwhile, at around 10 am, students from the University of Papua New Guinea are all gathered on campus for their march to Sir John Guise stadium.

As news filters that the University students are moving, a vocal crowd of predominantly teenage primary schoolboys leaves the stadium and heads towards the Government Offices at Waigani.

The boys are stopped by police opposite Morauta Haus – the office complex that houses the Prime Minister’s Department.

The schoolboys display a rather offensive styrofoam placard.

Back at the stadium a live band performs to a growing crowd of about 5,000 people. Everyone is waiting for the arrival of the university students.

An hour later the students enter Independence Drive. The students were advised to march to the stadium instead of taking public transport.

It is a lesson learnt from Tahir Square that once a small group with great legitimacy takes the streets, the sympathetic public joins the queue. And it worked as the students march to Waigani with a 5,000 strong crowd.

Sir John Guise stadium is now packed with about 10,000 people. Many Port Moresby residents have never seen such a crowd.

This crowd serves as an ominous warning to Port Moresby based politicians as the clock ticks is way down to election time. One protestor described the crowd as the largest she had seen since the 1991 South Pacific Games held at Sir John Guise Stadium.

The rhetoric begins on stage and the crowd cheered rausim! rausim! rausim! [rescind! rescind! rescind! in Tok Pisin] as various speakers called on the O’Namah regime to rescind its recent decisions.

Unionists Michael Malabag and John Paska address the crowd first. Legal expert Dr John Nonggorr then articulates the unconstitutionality of these changes in Tok Pisin. No doubt Dr Nonggorr had done an excellent job in Tok Pisin.

As Dr Nonggorr speaks, the O’Namah regime’s convoy enters the stadium. Opposition Leader Dame Carol Kidu also makes her way in. As the O’Namah entourage comes to a standstill at the stadium, it is booed by the crowd.

The politicians make their way up the stadium and there is minor chaos on stage as seats are sought for them. Dr Nonggorr then continues his rhetoric and presents a synopsis of the petition.

Prime Minister O’Neill is given the petition by unionist Michael Malabag while UPNG student president Emmanuel Isaac presents another to Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen. The Trawen petition calls on the Electoral Commissioner to go ahead with the elections as scheduled.

Here are the outcomes of Occupy Waigani at Sir John Guise stadium as summarised by ActNow:

1) The issue of writs is officially postponed until 18 May (Mr Trawen said so!).

2) Today's parliament sitting is postponed to 10am Wednesday.

3) The Judicial Act will be repealed as long as Injia and Kirriwom step down (Mr O'Neill said so).

4) The issue of the march will blow over and people will forget (Mr Namah said so).

5) Mr O'Nelil wound down his window and waved royally to all of us gathered at the Sir John Guise Stadium when leaving.

6) Mr O'Neill stated clearly that only the Electoral Commissioner has the authority to delay or not the 2012 National Elections therefore he can't give assurance that elections will run according to schedule.

7) Mr O'Neill stated clearly that he will repeal the Judicial Act if Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Nicholas Kirriwom step down.

The enthralling history of those early encounters

http://www.oceanicartsociety.org.au/

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF riveting presentations coming up at a meeting of the Oceanic Art Society at the Australian Museum, Sydney, this Wednesday.

First, Michael Waterhouse, author of the highly regarded book on the PNG goldfields, Not a Poor Man’s Field, will speak about some of the black-white encounters in PNG, both of the bloody and friendly kind.

Michael will show rare images and early film footage shot in the then Mandated Territory.

Then Steven Alderton, assistant director of the museum, will talk about his vision for future displays of the museum’s extensive holdings of Pacific artefacts.

His talk, entitled Spirit Faces Display and Beyond will follow on from the impressive display of Melanesian masks which you will see as you reach the first floor.

Date: Wednesday 11 April, 6.30 pm

Venue: Australian Museum, via the William Street entrance then to the 1st floor

Entry: Non-OAS members $15, students $5.

Transparency drags feet over democracy march

BY MARTYN NAMORONG
THE NAMORONG REPORT

AUSAID FUNDED ANTI-CORRUPTION NGO, Transparency International PNG, is still undecided as to whether it will join tomorrow’s march on the Papua New Guinea parliament.

TIPNG receives funding under AusAID’s so called Democratic Governance Program, which, as we now see, is just a whole lot of hot air.

Yesterday in response to statements put out by march organisers, TIPNG Chairman Lawrence Stephen stated:

For the record TIPNG is part of a huge number of organisations objecting to attempts to defer the elections. We are taking action. We have not been invited to be part of a public demonstration.

In any case, the protest organisers say they will go ahead without this bourgeoise club. A meeting has been called today at 12pm at the Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress office in Korobosea.

There, a joint press conference will be held hosted by PNGTUC presidents, UPNG students, NGOs, political candidates, social media partners, youth and others.

Meanwhile, UPNG student activist, Nou Vada, has criticised prime minister Peter O’Neill for calling tomorrow’s march illegal.

In a rallying call to all parties involved in tomorrow’s protest, Mr Vada stated:

O'Neill has said whatever marches on Tuesday will be illegal...

We need to either listen to the lawbreaker's pronouncement of law and obey or act in what is purportedly civil disobedience, as the students did a few weeks back, and negotiate our way through the blockades and the cocked weapons.

Pick a course of action now. The time for action plans has come to an end. Pick a course of action now.

Mr Vada also called on all civil society organisations and the general public to support the students of UPNG who will be marching tomorrow.

Meanwhile the PNG Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said separation of powers is a key component of democratic institutions and the law passed by the O’Neill government last week would see parliament interfering in the conduct of judicial proceedings.

“The constitution provides for the separation of powers such that the judiciary is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the politicians and public servants obey the constitution,” Chamber president John Leahy said in a statement.

“Actions such as the Judicial Conduct bill attempt to undermine these sacrosanct constitutional arrangements.

“The law should be repealed and additional resources provided to the Ombudsman Commission to help them do their job using laws that are already in place.”

Namorong tour off – inefficiency & corruption intervene

BY KEITH JACKSON

THERE WAS A HELLUVA LOT HAPPENING YESTERDAY. Primarily, the Papua New Guinea government decided to shirt-front Australia (and especially foreign minister Bob Carr, who at the time of writing was unusually mute) by saying ‘stuff you, we’ll have our election if and when we feel like it’.

And Julia Gillard responded with a weak “disappointed and concerned” statement , perhaps suddenly aware that a neighbouring country she hasn’t given a toss about until now is going show her up as a foreign policy and strategic greenhorn.

But, for us here at PNG Attitude, it was the day of the Namorong Fiasco.

As readers will know, Martyn had been scheduled to visit Down Under for a conference at the Deakin Institute in  Melbourne.

Then, after being delayed in making his travel arrangements by AusAID's tardiness, he asked for assistance from this blog.

And we gave it. With readers contributing funds to cover the visit, we were able to step in, converting a brief conference appearance into the 10-day Take the Truth to Australia Tour.

But there was one thing we couldn’t control: the tortuous, inefficient and corrupted processes of the PNG passport issuing authorities.

For the bulk of these past few days - through the totally supportive Australian High Commission in Port Moresby and a senior PNG goverment minister – I tried to secure, through each respectively, a visa and a passport for Martyn. And in a heck of a hurry.

Martyn had retained global consultancy Deloittes as his agent to obtain the passport - and they had failed lamentably in this task, for reasons that still remain unclear.

Mid afternoon yesterday, it looked like we might succeed in securing the passport, but we didn't.

The passport process in PNG is so corrupted that, even with high profile help we couldn't pull it off.

This was to be Martyn’s first trip beyond PNG's borders and, as you might expect, he is bitterly disappointed.

Martyn emailed me at the end of the day yesterday, and the caps are his:

BAD NEWS

THANK EVERYONE ON MY BEHALF

RIGHT NOW I DON'T WISH TO SPEAK OR WRITE ABOUT THIS

But much will be written in future, I feel sure. By Martyn, me and others.

I spoke to Martyn on the phone a number of times yesterday and, in my last conversation, said he should take his time in getting the passport, then give us a few weeks – in which period we will reinstate the tour.

We'll add a visit to parliament in Canberra next time, for good measure.

And won't Martyn have some truths to tell.

Martyn is ready to take the truth to Australia

BY KEITH JACKSON

THE MAN WHOSE NAME Papua New Guinea's The National newspaper has banned from its pages, Martyn Namorong, is getting ready to take the truth to Australia.

In 2009 - when still a medical student at the University of Papua New Guinea - Martyn began The Namorong Report blog with a point by point summary of one of his lectures.

There was little action on the blog – and no sign of what was to come -until early 2011, when an article, The land of the disenfranchised, was republished by the PNG Attitude website.

And so a wonderfully talented writer emerged into public view. Namorong went on to win PNG’s Crocodile Prize national literary award for the best essay and is now a political activist and PNG’s most prolific and internationally quoted blogger.

Martyn is from the Fly River in western Papua, the most impoverished region of PNG. He dropped out of medical school in his final year and, to fund his writing, took to the markets of Port Moresby selling buai (betel nut).

Apart from providing a source of income, this experience offered some deep insights into the struggling and depressed society and culture of modern PNG, impressions which greatly influence his writing.

Now Martyn is to make his first trip outside PNG as he embarks on a lecture tour of Australia (Take the Truth to Australia, 10-20 April) funded by private subscription after the federal government dithered over whether it should provide him with assistance or not.

I always thought all my life that I was destined to great things and make a difference to humanity. Today, faced with the uncertainty about the future and the hardship of living in the city, I’m more concerned with being able to survive each day. I am more concerned about my own welfare than saving the world.

The system of education in this country is a failure trap. It is supposed to groom Papua New Guineans but all it does is it produces a lot of failures. In grade 8 tens of thousands get thrown out, in grade 10 and 12 thousands more fall through the crack in the system.

In my case, I regret going to medical school because now I am just an unskilled person. I am definitely not skilled to survive in the savannah of East TransFly nor do I have formal qualifications to be recognised in the cash economy. Thus by default I sell betel nut on the street like many other disenfranchised people.

I don’t dream anymore, I am grounded in the reality. I grapple with the facts as they are. Perhaps there are too many visionaries and dreamers such that no one is there to deal with the reality of life in Papua New Guinea.

“Namorong,” writes journalist Doug Hendrie, “joined a growing group of [Papua New Guinean] writers who are unafraid to speak boldly of the issues holding their country back, and challenging the mainstream media.”

 

Martyn will visit Melbourne (10-15 April), Sydney (15-18 April) and Brisbane (18-20 April). He is available for media interviews and for a limited number of corporate or group presentations.

Media contact: Ben Jackson (0417 407 565)  Meeting contacts: Linda Koerner (Melbourne, 0449 962 252), Keith Jackson (Sydney, 0411 222 682), Murray Bladwell (Brisbane, 0413 057 673)

Kemish demonstrates commonsense on PNG

BY ROBIN MEAD

AROUND 100 PEOPLE PACKED the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney yesterday to hear Ian Kemish, Australia’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, expound on the PNG-Australia relationship.

Keith Jackson being unable to attend, I went in his place and hope this report will give some impression to the readers of PNG Attitude . The speech transcript and other reports will also be available online through the website of the Lowy Institute.

It was a rare experience and a welcome opportunity to hear some up-to-date views on the many facets of the PNG-Australia special relationship.

As I arrived I was met by Alexander Rhooney, Lowy Institute intern and himself a blogger of some renown.

At the same time I met a Namatanai lady from UPNG who is on an AusAID postgraduate scholarship at Sydney University, her thesis being in the area of education quality. I sat next to a fellow from the investment sector. The room was full of a range of individuals, journalists, corporates – all kinds.

Lowy Institute executive director Michael Wesley opened the session with some background, referring to the shared history of Australia and PNG and pointing out some economic facts: including minerals rising as a percentage of GDP from 2% in 2006 to 8% in 2012 and 10 years of uninterrupted growth.

Mr Wesley alluded to the challenge to develop these economic returns into tangible growth, sentiments echoed by High Commissioner Kemish.

He also mentioned problems that challenge PNG and are at odds with economic prosperity: including high maternal and infant mortality and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Turning to politics, he referred to last August’s election – “what some commentators called generational change” – however the December mutiny and associated events had attracted international attention and did not augur well.

“The Australia-PNG relationship will continue to be complex.” With this, he introduced Ian Kemish.

I was impressed and encouraged by the content and substance evidenced in Mr Kemish’s remarks.

He demonstrates a good breadth of understanding, evenhandedness and common sense on PNG, and I think this is appreciated in both PNG and Australia.

He gave a balanced speech, covering a range of topics, and this was followed by a 20-minute Q&A session. More details soon...

Kemish to speak at Lowy Institute this week

AUSTRALIA’s HIGH COMMISSIONER TO Papua New Guinea, Ian Kemish, will be speaking at the Lowy Institute for International Policy at lunchtime this Wednesday, his chosen subject being PNG’s dilemma: Crisis, boom or more of the same?

Significant economic growth has been recorded in PNG in recent years, the Institute’s notes for the free public address say, and the LNG project currently under construction is unprecedented in scale.

The question is whether our closest neighbour can translate this opportunity into real and sustained development.

Health, education and transport infrastructure need stronger support from PNG’s own government, which has not done enough in recent decades to match the efforts of foreign donors and the churches.

Meanwhile, PNG’s institutions have been put to the test amidst political turmoil in the lead-up to what will be historic elections this year.

Ian Kemish believes that Australia’s focus should be on helping PNG unlock its own potential. He argues that, as a close supporter of PNG, Australia should remain closely engaged at all levels through this challenging political period, and not hesitate to express its views clearly in response to developments of concern.

He argues that in order to be effective, our approach should be to speak with respect, acknowledging PNG’s sovereignty and, for the main, communicate in private.

Details: Wednesday 21 March. 12:30–1:45 pm. Ground floor, 31 Bligh Street, Sydney. RSVP before 5pm Tuesday 20 March. You can book here

Australia Week 2012 launched in Port Moresby

THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION is staging its sixth annual Australia Week celebrations in Papua New Guinea this week.

High Commissioner, Ian Kemish AM, launching the event, said the week is a celebration of the friendship between Australia and PNG.

“It’s an opportunity to showcase Australian culture and our close links with PNG. These links are strong and diverse: we share a history and geography; we share a love for sport and our sporting heroes; and we are all connected through people-to-people links. There are many Australians whose lives are intertwined with PNG,” Mr Kemish said.

During the launch Mr Kemish and Education Minister, Theo Zurenouc, on behalf of the PNG government, opened an art exhibition by noted Australian and PNG artists, John Gould and Ratoos Gary.

The exhibition which is on display until Friday is one of many activities organised for Australia Week. Other activities include a film night screening top Australian short films; a performance by Restless Dance Theatre, Australia’s leading dance company featuring disabled and non-disabled dancers; and a concert with a mix of Australian and PNG musicians.

Stan Jackson’s funeral will be held at the Cardinal Freeman Village Chapel at 137 Victoria Street, Ashfield, Sydney at 2pm on Friday 9 March with wake starting at 3pm

Art museum receives PNG objects collection

THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING Art Museum in the United States recently acquired a gift from the Salgo Trust for Education that will be featured in the museum's coming exhibition, Journeys along the Sepik River: Tribal Art from Papua New Guinea.

Nicolas M Salgo, the late Hungarian-American financier and diplomat, amassed an eclectic collection of art and formed the Salgo Trust for Education. The extensive Salgo collection is located in a trust, in an art history research centre in Port Washington, New York.

While on a trip to New Guinea in the early 1970s with famed architect I M Pei, Salgo collected these objects. Made of carved and painted wood, they are based on traditional art from the rivers, but were made long after the art of those areas was influence by the West.

These objects are considered the best and most creative work from PNG and are held in high regard by collectors and museums such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York, says Susan Moldenhauer, the art museum's director and chief curator.

The uncertain road to Melbourne

BY MARTYN NAMORONG

ONE DECEMBER AFTERNOON I had suggestions from friends on Facebook about this conference to be held in Melbourne. They said I should write something to present. They thought I had some insights to contribute.

I looked up the conference details and contacted the organisers at Deakin University, Melbourne. Last week I got a response from the university.

If we are to talk about securing a prosperous future for PNG we have to talk about an exit strategy and timetable for all so called development partners to pull out of PNG.

Just as my trip to Melbourne is full of uncertainties, I also do not wish to raise false hopes about me providing answers to what are essentially difficult questions.

What I am certain of this that the current model of development is fundamentally flawed because it is built on the legacy of domination.

Colonisation now has a black face that perpetuates that colonial legacy. You don’t govern your people using a system that was intended to dominate them. You cannot secure a prosperous future unless to address the issue of neo-colonisation.

We need to recognise that the current systems of government are inherited from our colonial masters.

These systems were created for the purposes of taming so called primitive natives and pacifying them.

In other words, they are systems of domination and subjugation and therefore in light of their failure to bring development to the so called primitive natives, continue to serve the original purpose they were created for. 

In Melbourne, in the one paper, I am going to compress as many ideas from my blog as possible.

I hope this to be the most definitive summary of what I believe is right and wrong with PNG and the way forward.

Conference aims to generate positive PNG future

RADIO AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA'S ALFRED DEAKIN INSTITUTE is to host a conference entitled Papua New Guinea: Securing a prosperous future.

The event announcement says it will be "exploring the opportunities and challenges for a Papua New Guinea seeking security and prosperity."

At this stage the complete program is yet to be finalised, but one person who will be attending the April event is outspoken PNG blogger and commentator Martyn Namorong.

His blog has often been the place where news about what is happening there, which various politicians, corporate groups and others do not want in the public arena, will first appear and he is part of what is a growing force in PNG, and around the region.

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.

Charles & Camilla to visit PNG later this year

PRINCE CHARLES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL will visit Papua New Guinea in November as part of a more extensive tour of Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The royal tour is part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on 6 February 1952.

Prince Charles first visited PNG as a schoolboy in the 1960s.  He has returned periodically since but this will be Camilla’s first visit.

Daru church gospel singers visits Thursday Island

BY MARK ROY
Torres News Online

MEMBERS OF THE SOUL HARVESTERS church congregation from Daru took to the seas of the Torres Strait in banana boats last month to bring their gospel to Seisia and Thursday Island.

The sounds of their soulful brand of gospel music reverberated around Anzac Park earlier in January as people from the Torres Strait joined their brethren from Papua New Guinea for sermons, prayers - and a whole lot of singing and dancing.

More than 100 people gathered in the park for the three-hour religious celebration. The Soul Harvesters Church was part of the Pentecostal Church, the national church in PNG, Pastor Phillip Henry said.

“We have a working partnership with Hope Fellowship and the Australian Christian Church under the Assemblies of God ministries in Australia, and are fulfilling a prophecy that has been spoken by Smith Wigglesworth in Sydney, about a fire coming from the north,” he said.

Smith Wigglesworth, often referred to as ‘the Apostle of Faith,’ was one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal revival that occurred a century ago.

Pr Henry said he hoped to see a bigger turnout when the Pentecostal group return to Thursday Island in mid-2012.

He said 29 members of the congregation had made the trip to the Torres Strait in four banana boats. “Once our visas were approved, the boat journey took about six hours,” he said.

“We cleared customs and immigration on Thursday Island and arrived in Seisia on 24 24. We then came across to Thursday Island on 7 January at the request of Pastor George Nona.”

Australia’s national year of reading 2012

BY BRENDA CURRIE

AUSTRALIAN LIBRARIES AND LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS are behind a campaign to turn 2012 into the National Year of Reading, linking together all the great things that are already happening around books, reading and literacy, and giving them an extra boost, with inspirational programs and events taking place across the country.

Libraries will be partnering with government, the media, writers, schools, publishers, booksellers, employers, child care providers, health professionals and a whole host of other organisations that share our passion for reading.

Our message will be that it doesn’t matter what you read – romance and adventure are just as relevant as a classic novel. Everyone can start their reading journey with content that they find interesting and engaging.

The story can be in any format – books, e-books, novellas, magazines, screen games. And it doesn’t have to be a story. Non-fiction is fine too, and then there’s poetry, graphic novels, newspapers, song lyrics.

The National Year of Reading 2012 is about children learning to read and keen readers finding new sources of inspiration. It’s about supporting reading initiatives while respecting the oral tradition of storytelling. It’s about helping people discover and rediscover the magic of books. And most of all, it’s about Australians becoming a nation of readers.

While much of the activity will happen through partners and at a local level, we will be running four national campaigns.

The Reading Hour (like Earth Hour, on 25 August 2012)

Public library membership drive

One Country Reading (favourite books for adults, teens, children)

Writers-in-residence in workplaces

Visit the website www.love2read.org.au for more information.

Brenda Currie is project manager with Melbourne-based Library Agency

It's a new era for PNG Sisters of Mercy

AUSTRALIAN CONGREGATIONS and their sisters in Papua New Guinea will form a new Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and PNG on the 180th anniversary of the founding of the order next month.

The Institute, which includes 14 of the 17 Mercy congregations, is to take effect on 12 December, the anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Mercy by Venerable Catherine McAuley in Ireland.

Since 2005, the 17 Australian congregations and the Autonomous Region of PNG, which has been federated within the present Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia since 1981, have been searching for the best way to nurture their unity and to strengthen their capacity.

Sister Nerida Tinkler, President of the Institute said: "This search has involved much prayer, frequent theological reflection on the social needs of our time, careful study of the life and ministry of our founder, Catherine McAuley and her vision for religious life, and several comprehensive consultations in which all sisters were encouraged to participate.

"Eventually it led us to the point where 14 of the congregations, as well as the Autonomous Region of PNG, decided to petition the Holy See for permission to relinquish their independence and to come together as one new congregation."

In July, the Holy See approved the proposal and on 12 December each of the 15 groups will cease to be a separate canonical and legal entity and its sisters will become members of the new Institute.

The 15 uniting groups, comprising some 930 sisters, are: Adelaide, Ballarat East, Bathurst, Cairns, Goulburn, Grafton, Gunnedah, Melbourne, Papua New Guinea, Perth, Rockhampton, Singleton, Townsville, West Perth and Wilcannia-Forbes.

The foundation of the new Institute will be celebrated with a Eucharist in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, on 18 December at 2pm.

Source: Catholic News, 21 November

The kiap as philosopher - and grump

BY PHIL FITZPATRICK

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE between a kiap and a grumpy old man?

The answer to that question might be found at Buddina on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on Sunday 13 November, just one week from now.

Apparently the venerable old beer bellies are holding an annual gathering.

I’ve been tempted but never actually made it to one of these soirees.  The closest I came was a convivial get together of old webfoots from the Western District, organised by Col Middleton on his property on the Darling River south of Bourke.

It was enjoyable but it took me weeks to walk off the effects of the booze.

One of the things that make me wary of such gatherings is the critical presence of all those ancient “real” kiaps.  I was a contract kiap and a product of the baby boom.

Some of us had different ideas to the blokes who came before us, and our relationships with Papua New Guineans tended to be less formal, friendlier and more egalitarian.

Perhaps I’m just imagining this divide, perhaps not.

I’ve followed the prognostications of the kiap philosophers on such websites as the Exkiap Network and in the pages of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia’s Una Voce over the years, and the conservative bent, to me at least, is very evident.

One of the recurring themes is how the Papua New Guinean people have stuffed up their country since 1975.  The resigned ‘I told you so’ shrug is palpable.

A lot of these blokes left in the 1970s and 80s and have never been back.  Their philosophies have definitely evolved into the armchair variety. 

I sometimes wonder why they bother and, more importantly, whether they are even worth listening to – not that my own opinions are gilt-edged.

Another of their targets is the hapless response of Canberra to Papua New Guinea.  They don’t actually come out and say it but you can hear them thinking, “why don’t they ask someone who knows what’s going on up there; we know what’s what, we can tell them how to do it properly”.

Aside from the fact that they probably don’t know what’s what any more, I’m not sure that Papua New Guinea would want to be advised by some old grump who has spent the last 35 years living in a condo on the Gold Coast.

However, there is an interesting and relatively recent - and possibly useful - phenomenon in the field of kiap philosophising that bears consideration.  It can be loosely described as “Son of Kiap”.  It could equally be labelled “Son of Didiman” or “Son of Tisa”.  It is a sort of sequel to the main event.  I’ve got one in the family myself.

He’s been back and forth to Papua New Guinea for several years now.  Currently he is inexplicably in cahoots with the son of our esteemed blog master running OHS and management courses at Hides.

I like to exchange ideas with him about what is going on in Papua New Guinea.  He finds the place and the people enchanting.  He did time in Timor and Iraq as an army captain, so he has seen the worst and the best.

This has moulded his views, and he has this refreshing idea that people, no matter where they live, are equal.

No colonial hangovers or superiority at all.

I guess one day he’ll hang up his boots and become philosophical about it all too.  I wonder if the generation after him will write him off as an old crock.  He’s got a son with a burgeoning sense of adventure to do that to him one day too.

Papua New Guinea didn’t end in 1975 as some would have it.  It will be there to enjoy for many generations to come.

Enga students a big hit at DWU cultural show

BY JOE WASIA

 
THE DIVINE WORD University cultural show is an annual event in which students from all over Papua New Guinea participate.

All 21 provincial clubs at DWU come together to display their cultures. And on 27 August the show attracted 6,000 people from both PNG and abroad.

It provided an opportunity for Enga students from DWU and the Lutheran School of Nursing, to present themselves as proud Engans.

We are a group of 105 students, member of Enga Student’s Association: 87 from DWU and 18 from the Nursing College.

As a unique province in the country (we speak only one common language across the province) we were proud to showcase this to the crowd. Many tourists (especially Australian, Europeans, Asians and Americans) joined us in the famous Engan dances, waipa and silimuli.

Parents and relatives from the Enga Province came to DWU with traditional costumes and bilas to dress their sons and daughters for the occasion.

It’s an expensive exercise to take part in the show: the cost of hiring costumes, transport for each parent from Madang to Enga (K140), food and accommodations was all met by the Enga Students Association and individual students.

The DWU Cultural Show Committee gives K500 to each provincial club to take part. The rest of the cost is met by the club.

The Enga students participation in this year’s show was more successful than ever. This was made possible by financial assistance from reputable people like Namba Tumu (K500), Dr Jimmy Aipit (K500), Joe Tari Tipanja (K400), Fr Dr Robert Laka (K500), Max Kitao (K500), Peter Andoi K300 and Peter Lyakae (K400) and from other personal contributions. Big thanks to them.

We are proud of sponsors, parents, and ESA executives for making this event the most successful ever.

Joe Wasia is 2011 President of the DWU Enga Students’ Association

Novocastrians celebrate I-Day in formidable style

BY PETER KRANZ

THE NEWCASTLE Papua New Guinea Association and the PNG Newcastle Students had a great Independence Day party at Mayfield Diggers Club on Saturday night.

There were over 80 attendees and we had a great night of wonderful food, PNG items, traditional dancing, presentations and speeches, ending with a disco.

Don't underestimate the PNG-Australian relationship as it is celebrated by many communities around Australia come Independence Day, 16 September.

This was a family affair with many kids taking part in dancing, dressing in bilas and chasing red, yellow and black balloons all around the club.

We had traditional grace and a prayer from Pastor Rumbrawer, and a blessing from the local Aboriginal community elder, who said we were all brothers and sisters, and of course many PNG songs and anthems from everyone present.

We enjoyed the Pate Pate dance from the PNG ladies of Newcastle as well as New Guinea Islands cultural dances by the Hunter Valley PNG ladies, then PNG DJ's playing local favourites into the small hours. Some lucky people won airline tickets to Port Moresby in the raffle.

I met many friends as well as some new guests from the latest students to come to Newcastle, including three nursing sisters and a doctor from Port Moresby General Hospital here on update training courses. This is an important example of how good can come from our relationships.

We also heard a presentation from Rod Ingersoll about his work for Rotary in re-equipping schools at Pogera and in the Eastern Highlands and re-establishing the nature reserve first established by Sir Edward Hallstrom at Baliem near Nondugl in the Wahgi Valley.

I suppose it was a small thing in the broad world of PNG-Australia relationships, but it was moving and powerful. We are just one example of what is repeated around the country each year.

The depth of the relationships between PNG and Australia blooms around our two countries. I talked to one old expat didiman who said, "I say to my wife, never forget your PNG heritage, family and friends. It is part of what makes you so special."

His wife said, "I came to Australia 20 years ago, but I will never forget that I am a Simbu ambai. I love both countries."

I second those comments.

Lepani praises voluntary Australian assistance

BY DONALD HOOK

HIGH COMMISSIONER to Australia, Charles Lepani, has used an Independence Day reception in Canberra to thank several Australians for help they are giving to PNG.

He said they represented charities and non-government organisations, and there was an Army colonel who paid her own way to PNG to distribute relief supplies to villagers.

People mentioned by the High Commissioner were:

Christopher Adams, of Cooma Rotary Club, and David Bryson, of Cooma’s Monaro High School, for promoting strong links with PNG students

Dr Genevieve Nelson, executive director of the Kokoda Track Foundation, and Anne Sophie Hermann, of Buk Bilong Pikinini.

John and Janis Kleinig of the Oro Community Development Project

Colonel Linda Reynolds of the Australian Defence Force

Mr Lepani and guests at Friday’s Independence Day reception at the Papua New Guinea High Commission also mentioned the Crocodile Prize Awards.

 

PNG-related events planned for September in Sydney

BY TOM NEESON

WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER - Battle for Australia Commemoration Service

The Battle for Australia Commemoration Service is on this Wednesday at 11am at the Cenotaph in Martin Place.

This annual event honours those who served on land, sea and air in the battle for Australia from 1942 to 1945. These battles took place in parts of Papua New Guinea and the Coral Sea. Australians had fought for the British Empire before, but this was the first time there was a direct threat of the invasion of mainland Australia.

Papua New Guineans courageously supported Australians in the war. The courage and efforts of these civilians – the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels – of Papua New Guinea are also remembered and honoured.

Jasmine Hopkins and Trevor Tongi will represent the children of PNG at this year’s Battle for Australia Commemoration Day, placing flowers on the Cenotaph to remember and thank those who gave so much. The public are welcome to attend.

SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER - Independence Thanksgiving Church Service

The Melanesian Lotu has organised this service at Uniting Church McCredie, 486 Guildford Rd, McCredie. The service is starts at 11.30 am. Lunch will be at 1 pm in the church hall.

Please bring some food to share but let Angela (0247301871) or Margaret (9313 4025) know of what you are bringing so that we do not double up on food. Melanesian Lotu will provide most of the meat, bread rolls, tea, coffee, and soft drinks.

Come and join in singing and praising God for our Papua New Guinea.

SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER - Independence Sports and Picnic Day

This will be held in Centennial Park from 10 am. We will meet at the Ash Paddock, which is between the Randwick Gate and the Children’s Cycle Track. Please bring some food to share for lunch. The adults’ events will be held in the afternoon and will include Touch Football, Volley Ball and 100m Dash. Please start organising your teams.

Sydney PNG Wantok Club Incorporated

ABC program on Day of Repentance ‘puzzle’

TONY EASTLEY, ABC AM host: Papua New Guinea is marking its newest public holiday - Repentance Day, but the holiday was announced with little explanation and it's left many people confused. PNG correspondent Liam Fox explains.

LIAM FOX [PNG correspondent]: Like a religious vision the announcement came out of the blue. Eleven days ago a government press release declared 26 August to be the National Day of Repentance and it would be marked with a public holiday. The statement was two sentences long with no explanation of the purpose or significance of this new public holiday.

JACK EDWARD: Basically a time when we ask the people of our nation to come together and pray and ask the Lord to forgive us for the wrongs that are happening in our nation.

LIAM FOX: Pastor Jack Edward from the Shema Evangelism Ministry is the Repentance Day coordinator. He says it used to be an annual, informal day of prayer but two months ago a group of churches asked the then acting prime minister Sam Abal to turn it into a public holiday. Pastor Edward says Mr Abal agreed and hey presto, PNG has a new state-sanctioned day off.

JACK EDWARD: So everybody can find time to go to a church and pray or if they cannot able to, then stay back in their house and also pray for the country.

LIAM FOX: What do you think non-Christians will feel about this holiday?

JACK EDWARD: Well, I think they will, some of them will have questions about it. Most of them will think why are we doing anything, what is the reasons behind that but we feel this is a national issue.

LIAM FOX: It is a predominantly Christian country but there are other religions here. There are thought to be more than 4,000 practising Muslims in PNG and their spiritual leader is Imam Mikail Abdul Aziz. He's not against the idea of Repentance Day but says it could send the wrong message that reflecting on one's wrongdoings can be done just once a year.

MIKAIL ABDUL AZIZ: No, not only one day. We need to repent every time we do wrong, we must repent and will not commit it again.

LIAM FOX: Businesses in particular have been left confused by the sudden creation of a new public holiday.

DAVID CONN: We've suddenly been told a couple of weeks out that, you know, Friday is not a working day and you just close down or if you keep operating, it means you have got to pay double pay.

LIAM FOX: David Conn is the CEO of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce. He's says there's been so few details about Repentance Day he had to get a copy of the Government Gazette to confirm today is a holiday.

DAVID CONN: I think we've finally convinced our members that it is actually a public holiday. A lot of people thought it wasn't, a lot of people have been arguing the toss with us that it’s not.

LIAM FOX: Prayer ceremonies are due to be held across the country to mark Repentance Day. But it remains to be seen whether Papua New Guineans turn out en masse to atone for the sins or just relax and enjoy a long weekend.

Source: ABC AM Program

A great moment for the Enga students

BY JOE WASIA

THE NIGHT OF the Saturday 23 July was an exciting moment for Enga students at Divine Word University and its affiliated Lutheran School of Nursing when the Enga Students Association hosted it first Fundraising Coffee Night on the main campus.

Invitations were given to all Engan leaders, business houses and many working class people in Madang. The letters were also given to provincial clubs including the proposed Jiwaka and Hela provinces.

It was exciting to see that all the invited guests turn up except two who conveyed their apologies.

They included prominent businessmen and long time residents of Madang Max Kitao, Joe Tari Tipaija and Peter Andoi. They all pledged K500 each to the ESA.

Also present were Argmark Hardware branch manager Peter Lyakai and DWU lecturer Dr Fr Robert Laka who pledged K400 and K500 respectively. Another businessman Jackson Sisiak pledged K200.

ESA patron and medical doctor from Modilon General Hospital, Dr Jimmy Aipit, pledged K500 plus a huge pig while another Engan medico, Dr Kone, pledged K300. Dr Steven Toraso was also present on the night.

One of the strongmen and diehard supporters of ESA in Madang and potential candidate for Kompiam Ambum electorate in Enga, Namba Tumu, pledged another K500 in addition to last year’s K500 contribution to the club. He also promised to supply vegetables to ESA for its end-of-year function in October.

Also with us was the First Secretary of Defence, Bill Buka Toraso (an Engan). He pledged K200 to the club. Former DWU students Peter Manu, Nathan Lati and Waimin Kaitas Michael were also present. The presence these people made us proud.

On behalf of the Enga Students Association executives, students and friends here at DWU and LSON, I would like to thank all the guests, fellow students, Director of Student Services Steven Namosa and Dean of Men Andrew Pohon for their commitment, words of encouragement and donations to the club.

Their response shows they have a heart for the young people. As one of our speakers mentioned that, unlike white people, we are an emerging generation who are learning what the white people have been living and experiencing.

Our fathers and forefathers have lived a completely different Stone Age lifestyle and now we are starting to shift away from that lifestyle.

It is good that young people of this generation are moulded, shaped and directed by such inspirational words so that we may live a better life now and in the future.

If you teach one person you are teaching a thousand. We thank them so much with our hearts full of gratitude.

As the Bible says, every raindrop that falls from heavens comes for a purpose.  We believe, the words of encouragements shared with us that night will make a great difference in our personal lives.

We did not expect such huge donations from them. Our motive behind organising the event was to allow the leaders to share encouragement, thoughts and experiences with us.

It was a social night organised by the ESA where we all come together, tell stories, socialise and get to know each other.

However, they made us so proud that they were all willing to give something extra to the Enga Students Association. That is sign of a real heart for young people. Thanks for the support.

With the donations, we will be working towards three proposed activities: producing an Enga Students Year Book; participating in the DWU Cultural Show on 27 August; and end-of-year functions in October.

We thank these good people once again for the kind and loving heart they have for young people. We believe God Almighty will continue to bless them so that they can bless others the same way.

Joe Wasia is 2011 President of the DWU Enga Students Association

Digicel Foundation gets stamp of approval

FEW ORGANISATIONS have received the prestigious honour of being featured on a postage stamp, however the Papua New Guinea Digicel Foundation was given the tribute recently when it was announced that it was to be commemorated on a PNG postage stamp.

The announcement was made to honour the Kaugere Women’s Resource Centre – a Digicel Foundation-funded project that offers immediate shelter to women and children in crisis as well as being used as a training and empowerment facility.

The PNG stamp – valued at K1.05 – was selected, amongst other projects, to be depicted on the new stamps related to “Urban Safety and Crime Prevention in PNG”.

“The Digicel Foundation is honoured to have received this prestigious award which commemorates our work with the Kaugere Women’s Resource Centre,” said Digicel Foundation CEO, Marina Van der Vlies.

“We have engaged in over 100 projects throughout PNG since the Digicel Foundation’s inception and we are thrilled to be working to support urban safety and crime prevention across the country.”

Source: Jamaican News

PNG community of Newcastle fundraising

 

The PNG Community in Newcastle is holding a fundraser today, Saturday, from 7pm to 11:30pm.  It will be held at Wallsend Memorial Hall,  corner of Cowper and Low Streets.  Entry is $20 per person and free for children 16 and under.  PNG style refreshments will be served, entertainment provided  and raffles held to help raise money for the Newcastle PNG Association.  All friends of PNG most welcome!

Blood and Treasure - SBS TV [Sunday 8:30pm, Monday 1:30pm]

It’s 14 years since the war ended over what was once the world’s largest copper mine, at Bougainville and now Dateline has uncovered claims that the PNG government was acting under instruction from mining giant Rio Tinto when thousands of people were killed in the civil strife that ensued, a claim denied by Rio Tinto subsidiary Bougainville Copper Limited.

 

SBS chief correspondent Brian Thomson reports for Dateline and, with negotiations now underway to reopen the abandoned mine, asks if Bougainville could be heading for a repeat of the bloody battle over its resources.

US celebration of Pacific attracts hundreds

PACIFIC NIGHT, Washington’s single largest annual event celebrating Pacific culture, took place at the New Zealand Embassy yesterday. In recognition of the diverse cultures, peoples and cuisines of the Pacific, the large-scale reception attracted hundreds of people.

In recognition of the diverse cultures, peoples and cuisines of the Pacific, the large-scale reception is a collaboration by Pacific embassies and missions which brings a slice of Pacific life to the US capital.

“Pacific Night seeks to encourage awareness, cooperation and understanding on a range of issues of mutual importance to the Pacific and the United States,” said New Zealand ambassador Mike Moore.

“The reception was a great night out, which also provided an opportunity to highlight the challenges facing the Pacific region.”

In a first, prior to this year’s reception, a seminar was be held on The Future of the Pacific with speakers including Dr. Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chris Seed, New Zealand’s Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The seminar was chaired by Meg Taylor, a former Papua New Guinea ambassador to the United States, now the Compliance Advisor at the International Finance Corporate and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.

At the reception, Pacific-style food and drink were served, and guests were entertained by a range of performers including a didgeridoo player from Australia, and dancers from Samoa, Hawaii and Fiji

Source: New Zealand Embassy Washington