ANZAC Day in Madang

By PETER MEMAFU

ANZAC DAY in Madang commenced with a large turnout of more than 500 plus people despite an earlier freak storm and two heavy downpours.

ANZAC Day in Madang

People converged onto the Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse (otherwise known as Madang’s Kalibobo Lighthouse), including visiting Australians, New Zealanders and Papua New Guineans.
“Madang ANZAC Days are always the biggest gathering throughout Papua New Guinea"
 These were the remarks of the acting chairman of the organising committee, Richard Coleman.
"ANZAC day commemorates both WW1 and WW2 and it is a time when we remember those of our loved ones who fought in the war,” he said.
Rev Joseph Toua of the United Church in Madang opened the ANZAC Dawn Service with a prayer while Divine Word University's Fr Philip Smith did the Bible reading quoting the Book of Isaiah 49:1-6 and shared a beautiful sermon of our purposes in life and he made references to the earlier French explorers who thought PNG was the ends of the earth and named some of the famous landmarks called the Finnisterre Range (meaning the ends of the earth) and the Kalibobo Lighthouse
Br Andrew Simpson,  who represented Australia,  spoke of peace with direct references made to a song called “A Note to God” that was performed by Emamnuella Memafu before his brief remarks
“I’d ask for wars to end and for peace to mend this world," we part of the words of the song.
Maureen Hill, who is a longtime resident of Madang, represented New Zealand and was honored to speak about her heritage and continuous involvements with ANZAC and Remembrance Days over the years.
She also made references to the significance of Madang’s Kalibobo Lighthouse as well.
All ANZAC Days in Madang are usually hosted by the Melanesian Foundation and the Madang Resort Hotel and also with the help of other private sector groups that help provide the famous ANZAC Day Gunfire Breakfast.