Importance of the cultural sector in Papua New Guinea

By WILSON THOMPSON

In recent months, there were newspaper reports of the National Museum and Art Gallery of PNG having problems with its electricity, water and telephone services and its imminent closure to the public.

Then, there was public disapproval about the decision of the National Government to export the “Swamp Ghost” to USA.

Minister Charles Abel issued a statement that it was one of the hardest decisions.

True to his words, he has recently visited three reconstructed aircraftsawaiting their return to PNG and a new home.

They are based at RAAF base in Queensland and also in NSW.

Unlike the Swamp Ghost, they are safely located in Australia.

Should they be returned to sit idle at the Jacksons Tarmac, as one of the DC3 donated fore display lays in shame near the ATS Base at Jacksons?

 In one of the Public Accounts Committee Hearing in 2003, the then Director, Soroi Marepo Eo’o, with his executives, including the current Director, Simon Poraituk, said that the NMAG was a periphery organisation.

The committee members were taken back and requested explanation in no uncertain terms.

Mr Eo’e said that the NMAG was one of the oldest and the surviving instruction in PNG commencing in 1915, yet, its existence had not been recognised by successive governments after Independence.

When pressed further,  Mr Eo’e and his  management said that even before the National Parliament and other administrative headquarters moved to Waigani, the National Museum was the landmark and icon established in 1977.

Despite being very close to Parliament and the National Government, its plight has been denied and despite that, it has continued to survive.

He argued that despite budgetary Requests and submissions and PIP submissions for renovation of Old House of Assembly, Independence Park and Heritage and Convention Centre and revamp of the Museum, funding was not available.

It is a worldwide phenomenon where the cultural sector is given prominence early in the Independence struggle and new museum and historical Centers are built but cannot be maintained over the years, as other social and economic realities do not allow.

The National Museum, National Library and National Archives are no exception.

At or after Independence, these were given prominence.

Even the Independence activists were identified with the cultural icons and sector.

For example, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare was the first President of the Trustees of NMAG at the declaration of the Independent Sate of PNG.

He was followed by person in Sir Moi Avei, John Kasaiplowa, Arthur Jawomdimbari, Bernard Narakobi, Stalin Yawa and the list continues.

Our current Governor General was the immediate President of the Trustees of the NMAG when he was elected to the post in 2003.

Despite the prominence and the wealth of experience, the Government has often turned a blind eye.

Unfortunately, it is due to circumstances and the need to improve the social and economic wellbeing and development of the country through communication, transport and other social service infrastructure.

Nevertheless, in recent years, the government has now given some attention to the sector.

With donor assistance, the National Library has now been renovated.

The NMAG was allocated funds to replace its ailing air conditioning system at cost ofK2 million.

However, this has also resulted in usage of more electricity and water to work the cooling system and thus the ripple effect on the recurrent funds of the NMAG.

Minister Abel, a young and energetic Minister, has now come onto the scene and is quietly working out strategies as to change the scenario.

 He has emphasised on tourism development and the development of the cultural sector as the attraction.

Last month, Minister Abel travelled to Goroka and Kainantu and without fanfare, whether by design or fate, gave K160, 000 as grant assistance to the Eastern Highlands Cultural Centre in Kainantu.

 It was the first in 25 years and they could not believe but openly shed tears of joy.

 The centre is one of the icons of Kainantu, despite being called a ‘cowboy country’.

The staff of 15 has survived not from government payroll and funding but sheer hard work by operating their kiln and weaving sections. They produce one of the finest cups, plates, and the likes from clay as well as weave rugs.

The EHCC pays for the clay at K100 per load and also asks sheep farmers to provide wools.

The products are sold mostly to expatriates attached into Kainantu by SIL Ukarumpa and the NARI, coffee and inland fisheries research centres in Aiyura Valley.

Also, they sell at various Shows and also most are sold to Brian Bell Group of Companies.

At the same juncture, the Minister also signed a Memorandum of Agreement between the JK McCarthy Museum, branch of NMAG with the University of Goroka to expand its inaugural Cultural and Heritage Management Studies.

It has progressed over the last five years and now has its own diploma programmes.

This was further extended with another signing committing the National Cultural Commission and UOG in area of theatre, performing arts and dances and music.

Culture and environment are fundamental to our very existence as Papua New Guineas, something which sets us aside from other nations of the world. 

PNG is blessed with abundant natural resources and so as rich and varied cultural heritage expressed through different art forms, dance traditions, ritual practices and over 800 different languages, each maintaining its uniqueness and vitality. 

We must be mindful that the engine room of our development i.e., mineral, petroleum and forest industries are winding down operations and the Government need to look at alternatives.

 There are certain resources which are already inherent in the country such as culture and tradition, flora and fauna and the geography that can be utilised to provide employment, income earning opportunities, assist in poverty alleviation as well as in promoting the conservation of cultures, environment and the society norms and values.

It is evident that the Minister is trying to find synergy to harness PNG’s great potential in its cultural heritage to combine with  culture, environment and tourism.  

 Hence, Papua New Guineans can develop within their societal setting in utilising culture, environment and other diversity to conserve, protect as well as promote its use to alleviate poverty, create employment and income earning opportunities and to pass these down to future generations.

The author served as Trustee of the NMAG from 1999-2000 and also from 2003 to 2005 and as First Secretary for Culture and Tourism from 2003 to2005. Telephone (675) 323 5644 or mobile 696 74 9796 

 

Win A House For X'mas and Support the Leditami Foundation!

 

Papua New Guinea Kumuls put up a commendable performance

Our Papua New Guinea Kumuls put up a gutsy performance against England before going down 32-22 in Townsville, Australia, last night as the Englishmen survived a tough fired-up challenge from Papua New Guinea to win their opening match at the rugby league World Cup.

 

It seemed that most, if not all, of Papua New Guinea was glued to their TV sets last night cheering their heads off.

 

My kids were oblivious to the world as the Kumuls dominated the first half.

The English trailed the Kumuls 16-12 at halftime and were heading for an embarrassing first-up loss before rallying in the second half for a six tries to four victory in tropical conditions in northern Queensland.

Leeds Rhinos winger Lee Smith scored a hattrick of tries on debut, two of them in the opening half as England overcame their opening examination in cut-throat Pool One, which also features leading title hopes, Australia and New Zealand.

Papua New Guinea gave the game away in the second half through mistakes and poor discipline.

 

Brian Noble on England's narrow win

Caption: Paul Wellens is caught between PNG duo Tuu Maori and George Keppa

By Brian Noble
Wigan Warriors coach and BBC analyst

England were probably a little surprised by the enthusiasm shown by the Papua New Guinea team in Saturday's World Cup opener but despite the narrow margin of victory, it was a great workout for Tony Smith's side.

PNG showed up strongly and were really close to causing a major upset. But at the end of the day for England it was about getting the win and the points in the group.

It was a nervous and anxious night for England supporters but their team showed enough composure and patience in the second half to get the win.

When Tony Smith sits down and has a look back at the game, he will think it was what England needed. They can use that performance as a template for the next games in the competition and improve against Australia next weekend.

PNG probably played to their full potential but England are smart enough to recognise that they cannot afford to play as they did here in Townsville against Australia and New Zealand. I'm sure the Australian media will give them a hard time over this result but that's the nature of the beast.

The fact that England were not at their best is probably a good thing at this early stage of the competition. It is important to remember that it's not how you start - it's how you finish - and they could have three or four more games to play as the tournament goes on.

The defence looked a bit rusty but you could expect that. You are going to get caught with a couple of things you probably would not do when you are completely on your game.

The game and the result will help wake England up and make them recognise that this competition is alive and vibrant and you are not going to walk over anybody in it.

Tony Smith will probably be a bit relieved because all coaches have horrible nights when the bounce of the ball does not go your way and you commit more errors than you would like to, but he will be pleased with the win.

I thought Rob Burrow and James Roby sparked England at crucial times. Adrian Morley and Jamie Peacock looked better for the run-out and Maurie Fa'asavalu and James Graham also looked good going forward.

There was a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium with the locals backing the Kumuls and they responded with great enthusiasm.

For PNG, the Hull KR duo of Stanley Gene and Makali Aizue were outstanding, as was their hooker Charlie Wabo, who came on from the bench and did some great things.

Stanley, who led his side superbly, belies the years and keeps putting in superb performances. He's done it for Hull KR a couple of times this season and who knows how long he can go on for?

It's alleged that he has four passports where his age ranges from 44 to 34 and his true age is probably somewhere in between. Having coached him at Bradford for a year, I've seen a passport with 42 on it!

I think PNG really fancied turning over England here and that's what made for such an exciting game.

This may have been their best chance to beat one of the big three teams. Australia and New Zealand may not see as much enthusiasm from the Kumuls as we saw here.

Brian Noble was speaking to BBC Sport's Elizabeth Hudson

England survive World Cup opener scare

TOWNSVILLE, Australia: England survived a tough challenge from fired-up Papua New Guinea to win their opening match at the rugby league World Cup 32-22 here yesterday, Gulf Daily News reports. The English trailed the Kumuls 16-12 at halftime and were heading for an embarrassing first-up loss before rallying in the second half for a six tries to four victory in tropical conditions in northern Queensland. Leeds Rhinos winger Lee Smith scored a hattrick of tries on debut, two of them in the opening half as England overcame their opening examination in cut-throat Pool One, which also features leading title hopes, Australia and New Zealand. The fourth finishing team in the pool is eliminated and the pressure is now on PNG to upset either the Kiwis or the Kangaroos to have a hope of playing in the semi-finals of the 10-team tournament. St Helens winger Ade Gardner scored twice with Warrington centre Martin Gleeson England's other tryscorer, while Leeds Rhinos' Kevin Sinfield landed four goals. The Kumuls' tries came from Penrith hooker Paul Aiton, Jason Chan, Rod Griffin and George Kepa, with skipper and Salford Reds' fullback John Wilshere landing three goals. England were made to fight all the way before securing the win and fell behind at halftime to the committed Kumuls, featuring several players from the English Super League and Australia's National Rugby League. PNG were unable to maintain their intensity in the second half, although Aiton ended the English second-half domination by scoring a consolation try in the 75th minute. But England will need to lift on their opening effort for their second match of the tournament against hosts and nine-time World Cup champions Australia in their next game in Melbourne on November 2. The Kumuls head to the Gold Coast to try and stay alive against the Kiwis next Saturday. New Zealand and Australia play in Sydney today.

PACIFIC ACP STATES COMMITTED TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATING EPA WITH EU AS SINGLE REGION

The Pacific ACP States have reaffirmed their commitment to continue the negotiations of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) “as a single region” based on existing negotiating positions as agreed last March.

At the two-day PACP Trade Ministers Meeting (PACPTMM) held in Nadi, Fiji 20 – 21 October, the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to conclude the negotiations as a unified region and their support for the efforts made to date by PACP Officials supported by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).

In considering a progress report on the state of negotiations, Ministers recognized that while progress had been made on various technical issues at the September meeting of PACP and European Commission (EC) officials, a number of significant EPA issues remained outstanding that would require some time to work through.  They directed their officials to continue their efforts in that regard and to meet directly with the EC side when such a meeting was required to make significant progress

The PACP Trade Ministers agreed that it would also be useful to discuss the region’s approach to the EPA during the November meetings of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and PACP – EU Joint Parliamentarians with their European counterparts in Vanuatu.

The Ministers also considered the possibility of launching a PACP Ministerial Mission to selected European capitals to seek their support for the PACP States’ position on the EPA.

The PACP Trade Ministers agreed that the Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Relations, Hon. William Haomae, who is currently the Alternate Lead Spokesperson for the EPA negotiations, will temporarily assume the role of PACP Lead Spokesperson.

The meeting also discussed the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement, (PICTA) the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus with Australia and New Zealand and other trade-related issues and gave directions for follow-up action by officials and the PIFS to strengthen regional integration among the Forum Island Countries (FICs) and to deepen trade and economic cooperation between FICs, Australia and New Zealand.

Trade Ministers from the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu attended the meeting.  The Republic of the Marshall Islands and Palau were represented by senior Trade Officials.

The meeting was chaired by Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Fiji’s interim Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Provincial Government and Multi-Ethnic Affairs.

For more information, contact Dr Roman Grynberg on phone 679 331 2600 or email: romang@forumsec.org.fj

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toyota Sprint Triathlon

The Toyota Sprint Triathlon will definitely be realised on Saturday November 1. 

Adverts will be placed in the local daily newspapers plus stories on the radio. 

Organisers say there are enough keen athletes to run the event. 

Entries are still coming in and they are confident they can attract a minimum of 14 athletes - comprising of men and women.

 

You reap what you sow

All forms of gardening are rewarding and satisfying.

But vegetable gardening, largely because the gardener can be in charge of the whole operation from seed collection to consumption, is possibly the most-rewarding.

In addition, well-grown home-produced vegetables cannot be matched for flavour and nutritional value.

And with care, considerable savings – especially in a city like Port Moresby – in the family’s food budget are possible.

Port Moresby, unlike a place like Goroka – where you can grow all types of succulent, mouth watering vegetables – has an arid year round climate.

(This is apart from a brief respite during the December to March period, when the rain comes down in buckets and vegetables – especially corn – abound all over the capital city.)

An old Chimbu man living in the capital is disproving this by growing pak choi (Chinese cabbage), tomatoes, pumpkins, taro, bananas, pawpaw, sugar cane, beans, shallots, aibika, corn, tapioca, yams and pineapple, among others.

All this from a swampy, stinky, grass-covered piece of land just past the Stop and Shop supermarket at Rainbow, Gerehu.

Miuge Opi, from Nombuna village in Kerowagi, Chimbu province, is also making a killing when he sells his fresh vegetables at market.

And mind you, he doesn’t use fertiliser from the shops, rather, dry leaves from nearby trees as compost and mulch.

My daughter and I met him recently while walking down from the supermarket, and as I admired his vegetables, we got into a chinwag and he gave me two free samples of pak choi to try out for lunch.

Necessity, in a city like Port Moresby where the cost of living is very high, made Mr Opi turn to the land.

He was left high and dry in Port Moresby a couple of years ago when he came with his sister to collect his late brother-in-law’s final entitlements.

His sister, Mr Opi says, squandered up the money and he had no means of surviving in Port Moresby.

His respite, fortunately, came in the form of this vacant piece of land beside a smelly drain.

“I have 12 children and two wives back home in Chimbu,” Mr Opi confides.

“I was worried about how I could get back home when no-one could help me to buy an airline ticket.

“I saw that the answer was on the land, government land, covered in swamp and grass.

“I cleaned it up and started to make a garden.

“I planted Chinese cabbages, tomatoes, pumpkins, taro, bananas, pawpaw and others.

“I saw that there was good money in this and was a means for me to earn money honestly and through hard work to travel home.”

Every day, Mr Opi walks down from Gerehu Stage Two, works the land until late, and if his vegetables are ready for harvest, he takes them straight to market.

“I work in the morning and in the afternoon I sell my vegetables,” he says.

“Many people like my fresh garden produce.

“I make K60-K70 a day on good days, while on slow days, I make K30 or K40.

“Don’t be idle, you must work the land.

“Money is in the land.

“I have tried this out and I already have a lot of money, more than enough to travel home for Christmas.”

Next time you’re driving to Gerehu, past the Stop and Shop supermarket, slow down and take a look at the drain to your left.

Chances are, you’ll Miuge Opi amidst his admirable vegetable patch, and you might even be able to pick and buy fresh-from-the-garden veggies.

Advanced Communication Skills Training

Facilitators:    Joys Eggins & Patrick Matbob

Dates:             November 10 - 14, 2008

 

Who is it for?

This training is designed for people working in community development, those seeking to undertake development work, those in private or public sector work that have limited experience in communication activities, working with the media, or publicity. Participants will develop basic skills and understanding that will prove useful in a range of roles, including communications officers, community development workers, community education officers, human resource managers, salespeople.

 

Prerequisite: Participants must be fluent in speaking and writing English and be computer literate.

 

Course description:

The practical orientation of the training uses participants’ own experiences and situations to assist them to develop skills in writing effectively, promoting an organisation, writing a funding proposal, and writing a media release. To further strengthen their practical skills, participants will complete a communication project for their organisation or an organisation of their choice.

 

Topics to be covered include:

·        Writing a media release

·        Layout and design

·        Writing a project proposal

·        Promoting your organization

·        Report Writing

 

Outcomes:  

Upon completion of this training you will be able to;

1. Write effectively
2. Promote your organisation
3. Assist with writing a project proposal
4. Write a report
5. Develop communications suitable for a community awareness campaign
6. Write a media release

 

Facilitator’s Profile:

Prior to coming to Divine Word University, Patrick Matbob worked as a journalist with the Word Publishing Company (Wantok & Times of PNG newspapers) and the Post-Courier. He has experience in a wide area of news reporting and editing through which he honed his news writing and reporting skills. Seeking to share his experience as a journalist with others, Mr. Matbob came to Divine Word University in 2000. He has facilitated a course in basic news writing for CIS media officers. He obtained his Masters Degree in Journalism Studies in England and has a broader, global understanding of media and how it can be done most effectively both in the PNG and the global context.

 

Joys Eggins has practical media experience, having worked for the Religious Television Association. She also has a Bachelor of Communication Arts from Divine Word University. Early this year Joys facilitated a Project Management and Proposal Writing workshop for the World Bank Tingim Yut Kompetisen project. She has twice facilitated the Advance Communication Skills training in 2007.

 

Training Fees:            K870

Training fees include course materials, lunch, tea and access to computer laboratories. All course fees are inclusive of GST. Limited accommodation is available on the Divine Word University (DWU) campus. Should a participant require accommodation and other meals (breakfast and dinner), these services would be in addition to the course fee.

 

Venue:

Divine Word University

Madang

Papua New Guinea

 

Dates: November 10 – 14, 2008

 

Registration:

Contact Diwai Pacific Limited for more information:

 

Catherine Jude

Diwai Pacific Ltd.

DIWAI PO Box 59, MADANG

Madang Province

Papua New Guinea

Phone: (675) 854 1807

Fax: (675) 852 3138

Email: cjude@dwu.ac.pg or smoriarty@dwu.ac.pg

Web: www.diwaipacific.com.pg

 

 

 

 

Pink Ribbons

Hi all
October is recognised as the month to promote breast cancer awareness worldwide.
I am selling Pink Ribbons on behalf of the cancer society.
The ribbons are selling at K2 for the big ones & K1 for the small ones .
'Remember breast cancer has the potential to affect someone you know'

Christine Pakakota
Assistant News Editor
The National
Pacific Star Limited
Phones: (675) 324 6731
Facsimile: (675) 324 6868
Post: PO Box 6817 Boroko, NCD
Papua New Guinea
Email: cbpakakota@thenational.com.pg

Bulolo website

I’ve found one of the most-beautiful websites on Papua New Guinea, one on Bulolo, http://www.freewebs.com/bulolo_png/.

It belongs to former Bulolo resident, Ronald Delvalle, who was born in Lae in 1981.

“Bulolo is a small town found in the mountains of Morobe Province, almost two hours drive from Lae City,” he writes on his Home page.

“Most people who will find this page, have actually lived in Bulolo and have been searching for pictures from the place which at one time or another they called home, as I have.

“Lucky for you I went back to Bulolo recently in April-May of 2007, where I managed to take hundreds of pictures of Bulolo, including the surroundings, as well as Zenag, Wau, and Lae.

“I had included a short photo album of pictures which scanned from my family album of pictures taken at Bulolo International Primary School - unfortunately if you did not already know, the school was burnt down sometime in 2002.

“S0 it was impossible to get my hands on pictures of the school.

“So if you happen to have any pictures of the school, please feel free to email them to me at brada_81@yahoo.com.au.

“Hope you enjoy strolling down memory lane, as I did, when I took these pictures.

“Feel free to leave a message, for anybody you maybe looking to get in touch with and please don't forget to sign the guestbook!”

 

 

Massive changes in Wau-Bulolo: Governor

Morobe Governor Luther Wenge says the current mining and prospecting going on in Bulolo district will bring about massive changes to the historical mining towns of Wau and Bulolo.

He said they have been nominated by the Morobe provincial government as among the growth centres of the province,

“All I can say is Hidden Valley and Wafi mines will no doubt bring substantial change to the face of Bulolo and Wau towns,” Mr Wenge said today (Monday, October 20, 2008).

“In fact, we have a 15-year plan starting from 1997-2012, and in the plan, among other things, there will be growth centres in Morobe province.

“We’ve nominated Wau, Bulolo, Finschhafen and Mutzing.

“These centres will provide services like banks, hospitals, education, factories and others.

“At the moment, everyone is coming to Lae for these services.

“It costs the people money to come to Lae.

“When we develop the growth centres, people will stay back and develop these areas

“Wau and Bulolo will also serve parts of the Huon Golf; Finschhafen will serve Tewai/Siassi and Kabwum; while Mutzing will serve the Markham Valley, Nawaeb and parts of the Highlands.

“These growth centres will help in the implementation of this Morobe provincial government policy.”

 

Wau-Bulolo to receive 50% of Hidden Valley royalties

Morobe Governor Luther Wenge says Bulolo district will receive 50% of royalties from the Hidden Valley gold mine when it starts pouring gold next year.

He revealed this in an interview today (Monday, October 20, 2008) after weeks of the Morobe provincial government being locked in a row with the Bulolo district over royalties from Hidden Valley.

Bulolo MP Sam Basil wants 50% of those royalties to be set aside for his district, particularly to develop street lighting and water supply in Wau and Bulolo, and his argument with Mr Wenge over this has made international headlines.

The Morobe government is set to get 36% of royalties, amounting to about K12 million a year, when Hidden Valley starts pouring gold next year.

Mr Wenge said that the Morobe provincial joint budget & priorities committee, made up of all 10 Morobe MPs, met last Friday and resolved that half of Hidden Valley royalties coming to the Morobe government should be given to Bulolo district.

“What we’ve decided is to split the royalties 50/50,” he said.

“Fifty per cent will go for towards the development of Wau and Bulolo towns.

“We don’t want to see Wau and Bulolo having a repeat of what happened in the colonial days when they were left with nothing after the miners left.

“We want good hospitals and good services in Wau and Bulolo.

“They will be growth centres.

“The remaining 50% coming to the Morobe provincial government will be used to invest in education for our future generations and also in agriculture.

“There are exciting times ahead but we have to be wise in our decision-making.

“I challenge the people to invest their money in sustainable developments like agriculture.”

MrWenge also admitted that provincial capital Lae was undergoing massive development as a direct result of ongoing mining and prospecting in the province.

“Lae City is out of land right now,” he said.

“There is a lot of property development going on, especially in residential and commercial.”

Pictures of the Hidden Valley Gold Mine Project

Captions: 1. Giant trucks and other equipment, operated solely by landowner villagers including women, at Hidden Valley. Picture by SIMON ANAKAPU of NOROBE MINING JOINT VENTURES. 2. Visitors being shown around the Hidden Valley gold mine project.3. An aerial view of the Hidden Valley Mine Project area stretching down to Hamata. Picture by SIMON ANAKAPU of MOROBE MINING JOINT VENTURES.

Arrows of Eldorado - how the Wau-Bulolo goldrush all began

In the early part of last century it was almost as if bowmen were guarding the gold that lay on the edge of their country more richly than anywhere else in the whole Pacific.

Fierce fighters lived along the Markham, the big river flowing into the Huon Gulf.

The Markham’s big tributary we call the Watut – and that was the river that led to the new gold, the new Eldorado.

The story is that Watut gold was discovered by a German prospector, Wilhelm Dammkohler, and that he was killed by the Kukukukus.

American prospector Arthur Darling, in 1910, apparently did go up the Watut and into its tributary, the Bulolo.

There he found gold, rich gold

However, Darling and his team of Orokaiva boys were attacked by the local tribemen and had to exit.

When he recovered he went across to the new Lakekamu goldfield to try to win enough gold to outfit himself again.

On the Lakekamu field Darling spent a lot of time talking and mapping and planning with William Park, who was called “Sharkeye”.

Darling was at Samarai preparing to go up the Waria, when he collapsed, and soon afterwards died.

He had left Sharkeye Park knowing enough.

Somewhere right up the Watut was the source of gold that coloured the sands of the lower Markham, and the way to reach it was not to go right around by the rivers but to cut in overland from the coast.

However, it was a foreign country, and although the Governor, Hahl, the best of the German administrators, did (about 1910) actually encourage Australian prospectors to come in and apply for permits to prospect, a man still needed more gold than Sharkeye had, to outfit himself for a months-long trip.

Before he had enough gold the war with Germany came.

It was a war that ended German rule in north-east New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago in six weeks, with little shooting.

When the military administration ended and the Australian Mandate started, in May 1921, Sharkeye Park was already going in and out of Morobe on the New Guinea side.

Now he headed up the Francisco River, looking for a way, through a mountain range that peaks up to nearly 10,000 feet, to the rivers that flowed on the other side.

He came back sick, broke, and not knowing what to do next time…

William Park was called “Sharkeye” because he had a twist or a squint in one eye.

Park was, apparently, an Australian who had been a miner most of his life, was hard-faced and in his fifties, could “work like a tiger”, was jungle-wise and native-wise, hated to owe a penny, had more bouts of fever that he could count, suffered from piles, had his last tooth removed by Jack Nettleton, drank anything, and although it is untrue to say that he never wore boots, he often worked without them. (He died, a very rich man, in Vancouver in 1940)

In 1922 he needed a partner for two good reasons: he was broke and he had lost his permit to employ native labour when he flung a whiskey bottle out of his tent and it struck a native on the head and killed him.

He was staying with Jack Nettleton, who had a trade store on the coast and was good to Park, and who had some money and a permit to work natives.

Park told Nettleton what he knew.

Nettleton, an English-born rover who had been everything from a salmon-fisher in Canada to a freight-clerk in New York, by way of jobs ion Seattle, in Portland (Oregon) and Idaho, had stayed on in New Guinea after being a warrant-officer in the Army during the war.

In August 1922 Park and Nettleton struck inland and crossed the heavily jungled rivers of the Kuper Range beyond which lay the Bulolo River, forking off the Watut, and more gold, fantastically more gold, than anywhere else in Papua-New Guinea,

They found it where Koranga Creek and Edie Creek come into Bulolo – gold that was to give them each a fortune; and when they had taken all they wanted, there was enough left for the six-million-dollar company, Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd, to win, in the 30 years following, 56 tonnes of gold, then worth 28 million pounds.

This was October 1922 and according to new issue Australian mining ordinances no claims could be worked until 1^st April 1923.

April came and soon the richest parts of the Bulolo River were locked up in leases granted to the first-comers, including Morobe District Officer Cecil J. Levien. J. Levien.

April 1923 came, and soon the richest parts of the Bulolo River were locked up in leases granted to the first-comers, including Levien.

Late arrivals had to look elsewhere.

This is what Bill (W.G.) Royal and Dick (R.M.) Glasson were doing in 1926, trying to find the source of the Bulolo’s gold, when they came into Edie Creek and decided to go to the head of it.

What showed in the dishes they panned in these streams was gold in unbelievable concentration – if it was gold.

At first glance – according to Bill Money, who was in partnership with Royal, Glasson, F. Chisholm and Joe Sloane – it looked too dark.

The Edie gold, alloyed with silver, was heavily stained with manganese but rubbed shiny and was the real stuff of Eldorado.

Joe Sloane said to his mate who was running his sluice box at 11.30am: “Y’d better clean up Bill. The bloody gold’s running outa the box.”

That day they got 272 ounces.

Where the Bulolo was rich big-scale dredging, this was incredibly smaller-scale sluicing.

About six million pounds worth of gold was won from the top of Edie Creek.

The Edie “Big Six” – Bill Money, Bill Royal, Dick Glasson, F. Chisholm, Joe Sloane and Albert Royal – all became rich men.

More and more white miners came and, again, the late-comers had to look elsewhere.

There was gold in the Watut as well as in the Bulolo.

Where was the source of the Watut’s gold?

Men who dreamed of finding another Edie Creek began to look for it.

They began to look for it on the other side of the Watut.

 

 

 

 

 

Bulolo Golf Club is the oldest in Papua New Guinea

Caption: 1. View from the 4^th green to the 5^th tee. 2. Bulolo Golf Club, the first golf club to be built in Papua New Guinea in 1947. 3. Inside the Bulolo Golf Club

Bulolo Golf Club, the eldest in the country, held its 60^th anniversary and reunion from June 8-10 in 2007.

Currently, it has members from Bulolo-Watut and even Lae and Wau, and usually has a competition on Saturday afternoons.

 The course is a nine-hole course, which goes up and down hills, challenging players and at the same time allowing them to enjoy the surroundings and course layout.

Given Bulolo's rich and colourful history and characters, it is a great opportunity to meet old friends, and the usual Bulolo hospitality will be on offer.

"Bulolo Golf Club is the oldest Golf club in the Country still on the same location as it started,” said president Brian Boustridge.

"Port Moresby Golf Club is older but their golf course was moved to a different site from the original at some stage."