Port Moresby’s fascinating WW11 history

Long before the arrival of the white man, the Motuan people of the area now known as Port Moresby, traded their pots for sago, other food and canoe logs, with their partners from the Gulf of Papua.
They sailed from Hanuabada and other villages, built on silts above the waters of the bay.
They also intermarried with the Gulf people and created strong family and trade links.
The Hiri expeditions were large-scale.
As many as 20 multi-hulled canoes or lakatoi, crewed by some 600 men, carried about 20,000 clay pots on each journey.
To the Motuans, the Hiri was not only an economic enterprise but they also confirmed their identity as a tribe because of the long and dangerous voyages.
These voyages are commemorated in modern times by the annual Hiri Moale Festival held at Ela Beach in September.
The area was already an important trade centre by the time Captain John Moresby, of HMS Basilisk, first identified the area of the site later to become known as Port Moresby.
The Englishman had just ventured through the Coral Sea at the eastern end of New Guinea and upon encountering three previously unknown islands landed there.
At 10 o’clock in the morning of the 20th February, 1873, he claimed the land for Britain and named it after his father, Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby.
He called the inner reach "Fairfax Harbour" and the other “Port Moresby”.
Actual European settlement of the site did not occur until a decade later when the south-eastern part of New Guinea island was annexed to British Empire.
British New Guinea was passed to the newly established Commonwealth of Australia in 1906, and became known as Papua. From then until 1941 Port Moresby grew slowly.
The main growth was on the peninsula, where port facilities and other services were gradually improved.
Electricity was introduced in 1925 and piped water supply was provided in 1941.
Japan had been on the roll since the early 1930s with the rise of Japanese Imperialism.
Japanese troops invaded Manchuria in 1933, China in 1934, and then came into the South Pacific by attacking Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941.
The ambitious Japanese wanted a stranglehold of the South Pacific, including Australia.
The former Australian territory of Papua, which comprises the south-eastern portion of the island of New Guinea and some groups of small islands, is separated from the Australian mainland only by the 145 kilometre-wide Torres Straits.
Port Moresby, the most important centre, has a good harbour on the Gulf of Papua and its situation so close to the Australian mainland makes it eminently suitable as a naval and military base for operations in the south-west Pacific.
It became a vital point to hold when the Japanese invaded New Guinea.
On January 23, 1942, the Japanese landed at Kavieng on New Ireland and at Rabaul on New Britain where they quickly overcame the Australian defenders, with the ultimate objective of taking Port Moresby.
Before WWII, Port Moresby was a small administrative center for the Australian territories of Papua and New Guinea.
During the war it was the strategic objective of the Japanese during the Battle of Coral Sea and the overland during the Kokoda Trail campaign.
Japanese invasion attempts were unsuccessful, but the area was subjected to many air attacks.
Japanese air raids against Port Moresby started on February 2, 1942, and continued until April 12, 1943 (plus later nighttime harassment raids).
The area became a major American and Australian staging area and airfield complex in support of the Allied push to the north of New Guinea, including Kokoda and Buna/Gona.
The Battle of the Coral Sea from May 5 to 8 averted a Japanese sea borne invasion of Port Moresby and the American success at the Battle of Midway in June not only destroyed Japan's capacity for undertaking long range offensives but also provided the Americans with the opportunity to move from the defensive to the offensive.
The Japanese, who were regularly bombing Port Moresby with 20 to 30 bombers with fighter escort, decided on the overland attack across the Owen Stanley Range.
It was on July 21, 1942, that Japanese troops landed on the northern coast of then New Guinea and unexpectedly began to march over the Owen Stanley Ranges with the intent of capturing Port Moresby.
It was out of here that the Australian 7th Division resisted the Japanese General Horii's overland attempt to capture Port Moresby, and the advance was halted within 30 miles of the city.
Had the Japanese succeeded, the mainland of Australia would have come under dire threat.
Nearly the entire city has some connections with World War II
These include Port Moresby (Town) Prewar town and wharf area; Konedobu Northern area of the town; Kaevaga North of Konedobu ; Waigani former 5-Mile Wards Drome and the PNG goverment headquarters; Gordons South-east of Waigani PNG Modern History Museum; Boroko Located to the east of town ; Gerehu Area to the north of the present day University of PNG; Kila Kila East of Port Moresby town, former 3-Mile Drome; Mount Lawes Peak behind Port Moresby; Fairfax Harbor Port Moresby's Harbor; Bootless Bay Inlet to the east of Port Moresby; Idlers Bay Inlet to the west of Port Moresby, Roku village; Joyce Bay Bay to the east of Port Moresby, Local Island
By 1944, Port Moresby had six airfields. Jackson was the largest, and was named after Australian ace pilot John Jackson, leader of RAAF Squadron 75, who was killed in a dogfight against Japanese planes over Port Moresby on April 28, 1942.
Wartime airfields in the area included the following:Kila Drome (3 Mile) Airfield for fighters and bombers; Ward Drome (5 Mile) Airfield for heavy bombers and transport planes; Jackson Airport (7 Mile) Main airfield still in use today by Air Niugini; Berry Drome (12 Mile) Fighter and medium bomber base near Bomana; Schwimmer (14 Mile) Fighter and medium bomber base; Durand Airstrip (17 Mile) Fighter and medium bomber base; Rogers (Rarona, 30 Mile) Fighter and medium bomber base; Fisherman's (Daugo) Emergency landing strip on off shore island
There are a number of abandoned gun emplacements, bunkers and fortifications. These were constructed by Australian Engineers in 1944, but never used, then abandoned after the war.
Basalisk Battery Largest, three gun battery to the west of Moresby ; Paga Hill Battery Gun battery and radar set location hill outside Moresby ; Gemo Island Battery Gun position on offshore island, overlooking the east ; Bootless Bay Battery Gun position at Bootless Bay; Boera Battery Gun position west of Port Moresby

Below is a timeline of major events in the Japanese bid to take Port Moresby.


03/02/1942 Japanese air raids begin on Port Moresby.

10/03/1942 Japanese aircraft attack Port Moresby.

23/03/1942 Port Moresby is again attacked by Japanese aircraft.

04/05/1942 The Japanese Port Moresby invasion force leaves Rabaul, in New Britain.

19/07/1942 Japanese invasion fleet leaves Rabaul for Buna, New Guinea.

21/07/1942 Japanese land at Buna.

26/08/1942 Two thousand Japanese land at Milne Bay, South East of Port Moresby and advance up Kokoda Trail.

06/09/1942 Australians force total Japanese evacuation of Milne Bay, with just 1,000 troops surviving to be evacuated.

08/09/1942 Japanese advance from Kokoda to the Owen Stanley Mountain Range in an overland drive for Port Moresby, New Guinea.

11/09/1942 Japanese drive halted by Australians at loribaiwa, just 32 miles from Port Moresby.

Vision City K1 billion project planned in Port Moresby

THE Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group is undertaking the most ambitious commercial property development ever undertaken in the country at an estimated cost of K1 billion.

Named Vision City, the proposed multi-user complex will incorporate a three-storey megamall, a 12-storey hotel with more than 290 rooms, a twin-tower office block, a convention centre and about 120 serviced apartments.

It is located on a 9.2 hectare site fronted by Waigani Drive and Sir John Guise Stadium.

Vision City will create a new focal point for shopping and business in addition to Boroko, the downtown area and Harbour City.

The master plan for the spectacular project, to be undertaken by the RH Group’s property subsidiary, Dynasty Development Ltd, has been approved by the National Capital District Commission and a ground-breaking ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2008.

Work will begin first with the shopping mall which will take about a year and a half to complete.

Besides a large hypermart and department store, the megamall will feature more than 50 retail outlets.

The entire project is expected to take between seven and 10 years and will create about 1,800 jobs at the peak of construction.

“Once Vision City is completed we expect that about 5,000 people will be employed or accommodated within this vast complex that will virtually represent a city within a city,” said RH managing director James Lau.

“It will be home to some 250 business entities and be responsible for generation of business activities worth K200 million to K250 million a year.

“This and other projects being undertaken in Harbour City and in the downtown area are destined to turn Port Moresby into one of the most dynamic and vibrant cities in the South Pacific.

According to Dynasty, the mini-city complex will have a floor area of 150,000 sq metres or more than seven times the floor space in the 19-storey Deloitte Tower.

The 33,000 sqm shopping mall alone will increase Port Moresby’s current shopping floor area by more than 20% and generate around 1,200 jobs.

Similarly the hotel, which will be managed by an international chain, will be the largest in the city.

The twin 10-storey office blocks will be built in two phases.

On completion they will boost the available office area by 60,000 sq m, about three times more than the space available in Deloitte Tower.

Mr Lau said the RH Group had spent several years planning this mixed commercial and residential development.

“This project will only be successful if the PNG economy continues to experience strong growth and we are confident that initiatives undertaken by the present government in recent years will ensure a healthy climate will prevail for private sector investment and growth,” he said.

“The extremely strong growth in employment in the past two years is one of the factors that make us confident that a visionary project of this scale can be a commercial success by providing many more world-class amenities for public use.

The complex will incorporate various high-tech features to take care of growing concerns about greenhouse effects and climate change.

The hotel, for example, will employ sun-shading devices to maximise natural ventilation and natural lighting and an “external skin of steel mesh over part of the façade” will reduce power requirements.

The landscaped courtyard for the serviced apartments will also allow for better cross ventilation and improved entry of natural sunlight.

There will be 2,600 parking lots, with a third of them under cover.

Residents of the apartments will have use of squash courts and a gymnasium.

Wesley Kigasung's vision for "healing and reconciliation"

For three days last week, the people of Lae, Morobe province and Papua New Guinea came together as one.

They – from different church denominations - put aside their differences, held each other, wept, and sang songs of praise to the Almighty.

It was, indeed, a time for healing and reconciliation.

It took the life of Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG leader, Bishop Reverend Dr Wesley Kigasung, to bring us all together.

The funeral and burial of Dr Kigasung was something that has never been seen before in this country and will be talked about for many years to time.

In my 20 years in journalism, I have covered many, many funerals, and can vouch for that.

The body arrived at Nadzab airport from Madang last Friday after a week of mourning in which it traveled to Port Moresby, Mount Hagen, Madang, and then Lae before the final journey home to Dr Kigasung’s Aluki village in Bukawa, Morobe province.

The body of Dr Kigasung was given honours befitting royalty from the moment it arrived at Nadzab just after 11am from Madang.

Tears started falling from the moment the Missionary Aviation Fellowship Twin Otter touched down at Nadzab.

The body was met by Morobe provincial government and church officials, as well as members of the Wampar circuit of nearby Markham Valley villages.

The Wampar, once feared warriors before the Miti (Word of God) brought change to their land, welcomed Dr Kigasung with a traditional song of mourning normally reserved for great chiefs and warriors.

It was then taken by hearse, escorted by a long motorcade of vehicles, to Lae, to ELC-PNG schools and churches in the city, and finally to Ampo, headquarters of ELC-PNG, where it was officially handed over by the military to church officials.

The drive from Nadzab to Lae took three-and-a-half hours as thousands of people lined the 45km stretch to pay their final respects.

At Ampo, the body was taken to the old St Andrew’s Church at Ampo for a final service with all members of Dr Kigasung’s congregation before being taken to his official residence for a final night of mourning.

Last Saturday thousands of mourners – including inmates from Buimo Jail - turned up at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium to bid farewell to a man they had come to love.

Representatives from the Lutheran World Federation in Germany, Lutheran Overseas Partner Churches in America, Australia and Germany were also present at the funeral.

Leaders from government, church and the private sector also attended the funeral.

The casket arrived just after 10am where it was received by chief mourner and Assistant Bishop Rev Zau Rapa and Morobe Governor Luther Wenge.

It was then carried by six PNG Defence Force pall-bearers who led the mourning party which consisted of his family, pastors and deacons representing the 17 ELC-PNG districts.

After a welcome address by master of ceremony Bami Sorokeinuc and an opening prayer by Anglican pastor Tennyson Boga, the Mass was celebrated by Reverends Kasek Kautil, Kaek and Boga.

The eulogy was read by Dr Kigasung’s eldest daughter Joanna who said her father always stressed the need to “think like God and not like man”.

After the eulogy, tributes were accorded to Dr Kigasung by Rev Rapa, Mr Wenge, representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and Overseas Partner Churches.

The service ended at 2pm to the song “He Leadeth Me” before the viewing of the body and laying of wreaths by thousands of people.

Dr Kigasung’s body departed at around 4pm on Saturday by road for his Aluki village.

Thousands of people from the Bukawa villages, Lae, Morobe province, Papua New Guinea and overseas flocked to Aluki to see Dr Kigasung buried in a concrete tomb just after 3pm last Sunday.

Heavy overnight rain last Saturday night and Sunday gave way to bright sunshine in time for the burial.

It ended a week of mourning in which Dr Kigasung’s body traveled to Port Moresby, Mount Hagen, Madang and Lae before the final journey home to Aluki.

Thousands of people lined the road from Lae to Aluki to bid farewell to Dr Kigasung as his motorcade drove past.

In emotional scenes, men, women and children wept, sang, waved banners, flags and threw flowers at the motorcade.

In one of the most-moving scenes, at Situm primary school, children sang a touching tribute to Dr Kigasung which brought tears to the eyes of those in the motorcade.

Many commented that the respect accorded to Dr Kigasung between Lae and Aluki, as well as that shown between Nadzab and Lae, and at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, had never been seen before in this country.

At Aluki, tears again flowed freely for its favorite son as local villagers, those from Lae, and others from Siassi Island – the place where Dr Kigasung was born and the last place he visited – sang traditional songs of mourning for the charismatic and much-loved leader of 1.2 million Lutherans in PNG.

As daylight came, I also broke down and wept, for this dear friend and brother of me and my late wife, Hula, who passed away so tragically on Easter Sunday this year.

The funeral service was delayed because of the non-arrival of Morobe Governor Luther Wenge as expected.

The burial was later delayed again because of the slow drying of cement in the concrete tomb because of the wet conditions.

VIPs present included Lae MP Bart Philemon, Tewai/Siassi MP Vincent Michaels, Bulolo MP Sam Basil, former judge Don Sawong and Kambang Holdings chairman Namon Mawason as well as a representative of the American Lutheran Church.

ELCPNG Jabem District president Reverend Gedisa Okamaisa said Dr Kigasung was a “humble” servant of God and the people.

“He left us at a time when we least expected,” Rev. Okamaisa said.

“His death is a call for us to take ownership of the church.”

I leave the last words to Dr Kigasung, who told me in a rare interview in 2006: “I believe with a new inspiration and motivation from the members of the church, the future of the church will be more exciting and challenging.

“But I believe the future will find a new empowerment as people reactivate their faith and are ready to share that faith and through that sharing, they will be able to put their resources together in building their church.

“The future of the church is in the guidance and direction of the Lord God.”

malumnalu@yahoo.com

Bishop Kigasung is laid to rest

Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG leader, the late Bishop Doctor Wesley Kigasung, was laid to rest at his Aluki village in Bukawa, Morobe province, after 3pm last Sunday, May 25, 2008.

Thousands of people from the Bukawa villages, Lae, Morobe province, Papua New Guinea and overseas flocked to Aluki to see Bishop Kigasung buried in a concrete tomb.

Heavy overnight rain last Saturday night and Sunday gave way to bright sunshine in time for the burial.

It ended a week of mourning in which Dr Kigasung’s body traveled to Port Moresby, Mount Hagen, Madang and Lae before the final journey home to Aluki by road from Lae last Saturday afternoon.

Thousands of people lined the road from Lae to Aluki to bid farewell to Dr Kigasung as his motorcade drove past.

In emotional scenes, men, women and children wept, sang, waved banners, flags and threw flowers at the motorcade.

In one of the most-moving scenes, at Situm primary school, children sang a touching tribute to Dr Kigasung which brought tears to the eyes of those in the motorcade.

Many commented that the respect accorded to Dr Kigasung between Lae and Aluki yesterday, as well as that shown between Nadzab and Lae last Friday, and at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium last Saturday, had never been seen before in this country.

At Aluki, tears again flowed freely for its favorite son as local villagers, those from Lae, and others from Siassi Island – the place where Dr Kigasung was born and the last place he visited – sang traditional songs of mourning for the charismatic and much-loved leader of 1.2 million Lutherans in PNG.

Last Sunday's funeral service was delayed because of the non-arrival of Morobe Governor Luther Wenge as expected.

The burial was later delayed again because of the slow drying of cement in the concrete tomb because of the wet conditions.

VIPs present included Lae MP Bart Philemon, Tewai/Siassi MP Vincent Michaels, Bulolo MP Sam Basil, former judge Don Sawong and Kambang Holdings chairman Namon Mawason as well as a representative of the American Lutheran Church.

ELCPNG Jabem District president Reverend Gedisa Okamaisa said Dr Kigasung was a “humble” servant of God and the people.

“He left us at a time when we least expected,” Rev. Okamaisa said.

“His death is a call for us to take ownership of the church.”

A tribute to Bishop Reverend Dr Wesley Kigasung

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, one of the largest mainline churches in the country with up to 1.2 million followers, is mourning the sudden death of its charismatic leader – the American university educated Bishop Reverend Dr Wesley Kigasung – who passed away early today (Thursday, May 15, 2008) aged 57.

He will be remembered by Lutherans all over the country for his skills as a preacher of the Word of God.

Wesley Waekesa Kigasung comes from Aluki village in the Bukawa area of Morobe province.

He was born on July 16, 1950, and is married to Susie Manempen Kigasung of Mindere village in the Rai Coast area of Madang Province.

The Kigasungs are blessed with two daughters and two grand daughters.

The young Wesley Kigasung received primary education in remote Menyamya and later on Siassi Island where he did secondary schooling at Gelem High School (now Siassi High School) from1966 to 1968.

He completed High school at Asaroka Lutheran High School in Goroka, Eastern Highlands in 1969.

Kigasung attended Martin Luther Seminary from 1970-1975 and graduated in 1975 with Diploma of Theology and Bachelor of Theology.

He received further studies at the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby from 1976 – 1978 and graduated from the University in 1979 with the degree of Master of Arts majoring in history of PNG).

From 1979 to 1980 he served as Circuit Pastor in remote Kaintiba, Gulf province.

In 1981 Kigasung was called to teach at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae until the end of 1982.

In March 1983 he left with his family for Germany for language studies.

Towards the end of 1984 he again left for further studies in Chicago, USA, where he graduated in 1986 with the degree of Master of Theology at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

Kigasung continued studies for his doctoral degree and completed all doctoral work in 1989, when he received the degree Doctor of Theology from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

He resumed work as Lecturer at Martin Luther Seminary towards the end of 1989.

In 1991 he was appointed Principal of Martin Luther Seminary and served as Principal until 1997.

In January 1998 Kigasung was elected Head Bishop of the church at the Kimbe Synod.

Kigasung is widely respected as an intellectual and a leading preacher of the word of God in this country.

“I believe it is a special gift from God,” he told me in a rare interview in 2006.

“From my early years in school I already developed the skill of speaking in front of my peers.

“Through the years I have challenged myself to develop my abilities in order to serve well.

“I like to read a lot and I have read lots of books on leadership and other books that help to develop my skills in working and communicating with people.

“My philosophy in life is to do well in a given task; to face life and responsibility without fear and doubt; to take criticisms and face difficult situations with humility and respond with positive attitude and be more proactive rather than being reactionary.”

Kigasung says being the spiritual leader of all Lutherans is not an easy task but he finds so much joy in serving God.

“It is not easy,” he says frankly of his job.

“Very challenging and very demanding.

“But there is much joy and satisfaction in serving God's people.

“I find much joy in meeting people of different cultures and different works of life and back ground and of different nationalities.

“You see and experience God's wonders and life in the faces of these different people in the church.

“I leave my future in God's hand.

“This is my last term as Head Bishop.

“I hope and pray that the Lord will grant me good health and strength to serve him in another role after this final term as bishop.”

From January 9 to 13, 2006, the ELCPNG held its 25th Synod at remote Wasu in Morobe province, where Dr Kigasung was reelected for a third four-year term.

The first Synod was held in 1956 at Simbang, Finschhafen, the site of the first landing of the pioneer German missionary Johannes Flierl in 1886.

It was at this Synod that the Church adopted its Church Order (or Constitution)

The first Head Bishop of the newly founded Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of New Guinea (ELCONG) was elected in 1956.

He was an American missionary, the Reverend Dr John Kuder.

The three Head Bishops preceding Dr Kigasung were Bishop Dr. John Kuder (1956 – 1972); Bishop Sir Zurewe Zurenuoc (1973 – 1981) and Bishop Sir Getake Gam (1982 – 1997).

Dr Kigasung was reelected at a time where there is splintering within the church through the Lutheran renewal movement; when there are criticisms from within the Church itself that it has become sluggish and has been sidetracked from fulfilling its greatest mission of spreading the word of God; that it has become so vocal on business matters without paying any attention to evangelism, ministerial training, health, education and the welfare of its pastors and evangelists; and there has been talk about the creation of a Lutheran university in Lae.

So what of the future?

“The major plans for the future of the Church is to revisit the mission of the church; to revitalise the church to become more responsible and accountable in financial matters; improve leadership responsibility; improve pastoral responsibilities as well as addressing the concerns of the pastors and other church workers.

“I encourage all Lutherans to share their faith in the many gifts and talents that they possess to help build the church.

“I want to introduce to the church the theme for the new period of this church for the next 50 years.

“I want to challenge all genuine and committed Lutherans with the theme: ‘Sharing the Faith, Building the Church’.

“All Lutherans are asked to come forward in support of their church by ‘Sharing their Faith in Building the Church’.”

New mining and petroleum company


A new 100% nationally-owned company has been formed to assist landowners with their mineral and petroleum assets.

The company, Samuel Were Petroleum, a subsidiary of Bright Star Morning Corporation, is run by Samuel Were, a petroleum geoscientist from the Western province who is a graduate of the University of Papua New Guinea.

The company was dedicated by United Church Reverend Siosi Momoru at a ceremony at the NCD Botanical Gardens presided over by Western Province Governor, Dr Bob Danaya, who commended Mr Were for the grassroots approach he is taking to helping resource owners.

SWP is already involved in 14 mining and petroleum projects in Western, Central, NCD, Morobe, and East and West Sepik provinces.

Mr Were said a second batch of 14 projects in 14 provinces was underway while the third and final batch would include 10 projects in 20 provinces.

He said petroleum and mineral resources already discovered included oil shale, pegmatite, tin, iron, aluminium, beryl, lamprolite (diamond host rocks), manganese, chromites and zinc.

“This means new industries to come to the scene,” Mr Were said.

“All our chemical and laboratory testing is done by ALS Chemex Lab in Brisbane, Australia.”

Governor Danaya, who announced that the Fly River provincial government had secured the services of SWP as its mining and petroleum consultant, said the people of PNG should no longer be spectators on their own land.

“Since the 1900’s, Papua New Guinea has always been the envy of the world because of her huge deposits of mineral and petroleum resources all over the country,” he said.

“Our people have continued to be mere bystanders and/or spectators, only performing the roles of labourers or guiders without realising any tangible benefits as resource owners.

“It is therefore in the interest of our people, particularly the resource owners that they are seen to be proactively involved and/or are supported to participate fully in the earth resource projects from exploration to development stages.

“This must be the ultimate that we must strive to achieve in Papua New Guinea.”

PNG orchids wanted in Singapore

Hi orchid gardeners of PNG.

I received this email from Jeremy Seah in Singapore, email pangansari@singnet.com.sg, wanting to buy PNG orchids.

Hi Malum Nalu,

Like to know if orchids from PNG are now available for export?
You have any link to exporter which I can contact via email?

Regards
Jeremy Seah