Many readers of this Blog have been wondering how they can make comments.
If you want to do so, scroll down to the bottom of a posting, click comments, and you can write to your heart's desire as to what you think about me, the Blog, as well as how it can be improved.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Malum
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Blogging in Papua New Guinea
By Goroka Bogger, Robert Schilt (http://www.trupela.com/)
I have been an avid blogger since early 2005 and although I have never attracted thousands of regular readers nor created layouts to blow your mind, I have thoroughly enjoyed the process and have remained reasonably consistent as far as the frequency and the content that I publish.
What triggered the whole blogging thing for me was when I decided to come and work as a volunteer in Papua New Guinea back in early 2005, I was seeking a means to share the adventure with the family and friends back at home.
A so called Blog (or Weblog) seemed like the perfect medium for achieving this need and so this is when blogging for me got of to a flying start.
There are currently thousands of online articles, news feeds, websites, and of course blogs available for the Blogger (just ask Google!) - from tips and techniques, to customisation guides and of course a myriad on the esoteric topic of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
Blogging can be as simple or as complex, as fun or as serious, as little work or as time consuming as you want. In the end and if you decide to start your own blog - you and only you can decide the what, the when and the how’s - the means, the guidance and resources to do it are generally widely available.
Believe it or not but there are folks around that have found a way to make a comfortable living out of blogging.
Whether it’s designing blogs for another people, writing stories, or even those that have found a way of creating an unattended blog - one that is capable of automatically “pinching” stories/posts from other websites/blogs/newsfeeds and then re-publishing them as their own, these blogs normally carry adverts which of course make money for the owner.
There are times I wished that I was in a position to immerse myself into blogging full-time - then again I’m glad that I have other responsibilities in my life which drag me away from the potentially addictive nature of this cyber past-time.
Although my basic reason for blogging remains the same as it was back in early 2005 when I started out, the interest and curiosity in the incredibly diverse selection of tools available to bloggers has really caught my fancy.
There are many times when I can see how caught up I have become in the periphery tasks associated with blogging such as customisation, SEO and function.
In the end it’s the quality and content that attracts the readers plus it has always been my intention to preserve uniqueness and individuality of my web presence.
When I reflect on this I always end up making a decision to drop the nerdy/techo stuff and refocus on my primary reason for blogging: the writing and the sharing.
This post was inspired by the following stories I read recently by PNG journalist Malum Nalu: “How PNG can benefit from Blogging” and “Blogging offers endless possibilities for PNG“.
You can read Malum’s stories and other quality articles by him on his blog at: “http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/”
I set out to write “10 Tips for the Newcomer to Blogging” but got carried away with the above - a future post will give 10 tips for those wanting to setup a blog and don’t quite know where or how to start.
Stay tuned!!
I have been an avid blogger since early 2005 and although I have never attracted thousands of regular readers nor created layouts to blow your mind, I have thoroughly enjoyed the process and have remained reasonably consistent as far as the frequency and the content that I publish.
What triggered the whole blogging thing for me was when I decided to come and work as a volunteer in Papua New Guinea back in early 2005, I was seeking a means to share the adventure with the family and friends back at home.
A so called Blog (or Weblog) seemed like the perfect medium for achieving this need and so this is when blogging for me got of to a flying start.
There are currently thousands of online articles, news feeds, websites, and of course blogs available for the Blogger (just ask Google!) - from tips and techniques, to customisation guides and of course a myriad on the esoteric topic of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
Blogging can be as simple or as complex, as fun or as serious, as little work or as time consuming as you want. In the end and if you decide to start your own blog - you and only you can decide the what, the when and the how’s - the means, the guidance and resources to do it are generally widely available.
Believe it or not but there are folks around that have found a way to make a comfortable living out of blogging.
Whether it’s designing blogs for another people, writing stories, or even those that have found a way of creating an unattended blog - one that is capable of automatically “pinching” stories/posts from other websites/blogs/newsfeeds and then re-publishing them as their own, these blogs normally carry adverts which of course make money for the owner.
There are times I wished that I was in a position to immerse myself into blogging full-time - then again I’m glad that I have other responsibilities in my life which drag me away from the potentially addictive nature of this cyber past-time.
Although my basic reason for blogging remains the same as it was back in early 2005 when I started out, the interest and curiosity in the incredibly diverse selection of tools available to bloggers has really caught my fancy.
There are many times when I can see how caught up I have become in the periphery tasks associated with blogging such as customisation, SEO and function.
In the end it’s the quality and content that attracts the readers plus it has always been my intention to preserve uniqueness and individuality of my web presence.
When I reflect on this I always end up making a decision to drop the nerdy/techo stuff and refocus on my primary reason for blogging: the writing and the sharing.
This post was inspired by the following stories I read recently by PNG journalist Malum Nalu: “How PNG can benefit from Blogging” and “Blogging offers endless possibilities for PNG“.
You can read Malum’s stories and other quality articles by him on his blog at: “http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/”
I set out to write “10 Tips for the Newcomer to Blogging” but got carried away with the above - a future post will give 10 tips for those wanting to setup a blog and don’t quite know where or how to start.
Stay tuned!!
Friday, July 11, 2008
"The Blogging Curse"
A poem by Goroka Blogger Robert Schilt
Internet,
Wordpress,
SEO,
Digg it man!!
Out of control,
out of mind,
I’m hooked…
piddly dial-up connection!
Instead of writing and posting,
I’ve been obsessed!
The right theme,
the perfect widget,
the ideal plugin!
De.licio.us!
Feedburner
and RSS feeds,
not to mention comments.
Engrossed in stats…
How can I attract more readers?
More bots…
than real people,
embarrassing!
Optimisation,
tagging
and stylesheets,
gibberish.
In the meantime…
over 1000 broken links,
posts without excerpts
and tabs playing up in Firefox!
Blogging…
what is it all about really?
The writing,
the playing…
or both?
What purpose does it serve,
whether I have two sidebars
or just one?
Customise that header!!
Google it!
Add that feed!
Check out the forums!
Time…
Full-time…
Where do they find it?
These folks.
As for me,
got to cut back,
find that balance
and get back to blogging!
Internet,
Wordpress,
SEO,
Digg it man!!
Out of control,
out of mind,
I’m hooked…
piddly dial-up connection!
Instead of writing and posting,
I’ve been obsessed!
The right theme,
the perfect widget,
the ideal plugin!
De.licio.us!
Feedburner
and RSS feeds,
not to mention comments.
Engrossed in stats…
How can I attract more readers?
More bots…
than real people,
embarrassing!
Optimisation,
tagging
and stylesheets,
gibberish.
In the meantime…
over 1000 broken links,
posts without excerpts
and tabs playing up in Firefox!
Blogging…
what is it all about really?
The writing,
the playing…
or both?
What purpose does it serve,
whether I have two sidebars
or just one?
Customise that header!!
Google it!
Add that feed!
Check out the forums!
Time…
Full-time…
Where do they find it?
These folks.
As for me,
got to cut back,
find that balance
and get back to blogging!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Blogging offers endless possibilities for PNG
The column that I wrote last Friday on “How PNG can benefit from Blogging” opened up the eyes of many people in this country to how they can benefit from the technology that is freely available on the Internet.
It became very obvious to me that in this rapidly-globalising Information Age that we are living in, so many Internet users in PNG just use it to send and receive e-mails, as well as browse it to download music and pictures.
How about uploading stories and pictures to promote our beloved Papua New Guinea?
Two of the many people who responded to my article were from Goroka.
Japanese, Russell Deka Harada, ICT manager at the University of Goroka, was so impressed with the article and my Blog that he will use it as an example of how PNG can promote itself on the Internet at the UOG open day today.
Robert Schilt, IT Manager at Goroka General Hospital and a regular Blogger since early 2005 (http://www.trupela.com/) was also impressed with the article and is promoting my Blog on his Blog.
“I was reading your story about the Blog in the Weekender,” Mr Harada wrote.
“I am Japanese but I am in Goroka near 11 years.
“I have very big interest in PNG local culture so I will still live in Goroka and to develop latest Internet / e-mail technology through our University.
“Most important thing you said was that we have very unique culture in here and we should upload so many stories using Blogs.
“At this moment, so many Internet users in PNG are just using e-mail functions and browsing Internet to download music and pictures only
“But in the future we should upload our unique culture through the Internet to the world.
“I visited your Blog site and I have a lot of impressions.
“I am very surprised that I have never seen some Papua New Guineans write several stories on Blogs.
“This week Friday, our University has its open day.
“At that time can I introduce your Blog site to the public?”
Mr Schilt wrote: “I have added your RSS Feed to my news reader so will keep in touch with your stories.
“And just to let you know I also made reference to your article on Blogging on my Blog post.”
Nancy Waim from the Media Council of PNG commented: “Of all the things I read on The National, I reckon this article on Blogging is really an eye-opener for many.
“There are many others out there who do not know the availability of these avenues for information dissemination and also in creating your own space on the net as you mentioned.
“Good on you.”
Eliud Uwasenko from Pacific Adventist University: “I am interested in setting up my own Blog after reading your article.
“Please provide further information on how to go about in setting up my own Blog.”
Dr Philip Raif from Lae: “…thanks again for very good information on IT.
“I have been trying to find more about Blogs etc and now you may assist me with how to access and download templates on Blogs.
“If you can assist with some information I will be grateful.”
Robert Koela from Port Moresby: “I read with interest your article published in The National issue, Weekender of Friday 4th July titled ‘How PNG can benefit from Blogging’.
“I must say that I am very interested in creating my own Blog on the Internet.
“Though, I have not taken any computer training in this, I am nonetheless, acquainted with the Internet and most associated programs and computer language.
“I would very much appreciate some pointers/tips and references on where I could get more information in going about achieving this.”
Jacinta Yadamatti wrote from Divine Word University: “I am a third-year Business Studies student at the Divine Word University and I write in response to your article titled ‘How Papua New Guinea can benefit from Blogging’ published in the Weekender, The National, on Friday the 4th July.
“I found this article very informative and interesting!
“Immediately after reading the article, I went online to do some research on Internet Blogging and I found some very interesting theories, most of which you have outlined in the article.
“I even signed up with a cricket Blog site.
“I am a follower of the game, but I haven't written a thing in it yet.
“My purpose of writing is to seek assistance from you on tips of just where and how to start writing Blogs.
“I would also like to read your authored Blog but I can't, unfortunately, because I do not know where to find it.
“Would you mind informing me on how to access it?
“Your article has inspired me a great deal.”
And how about this from Eric Ungil, an overseas-based PNG doctor: “I was just reading the Weekender and came across your article about Blogging.
“I am a medical doctor overseas and I like your Blog.
“Keep up the good work and continue to write such fantastic articles about PNG.”
Mr Schilt left me with this thought from Michael Faraday, inventor of the electric motor, and a man who never went to university: “My education was of the most ordinary description, consisting of little more than the rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic at a common day school.
“My hours out of school were passed at home and in the streets.”
Happy Blogging!
It became very obvious to me that in this rapidly-globalising Information Age that we are living in, so many Internet users in PNG just use it to send and receive e-mails, as well as browse it to download music and pictures.
How about uploading stories and pictures to promote our beloved Papua New Guinea?
Two of the many people who responded to my article were from Goroka.
Japanese, Russell Deka Harada, ICT manager at the University of Goroka, was so impressed with the article and my Blog that he will use it as an example of how PNG can promote itself on the Internet at the UOG open day today.
Robert Schilt, IT Manager at Goroka General Hospital and a regular Blogger since early 2005 (http://www.trupela.com/) was also impressed with the article and is promoting my Blog on his Blog.
“I was reading your story about the Blog in the Weekender,” Mr Harada wrote.
“I am Japanese but I am in Goroka near 11 years.
“I have very big interest in PNG local culture so I will still live in Goroka and to develop latest Internet / e-mail technology through our University.
“Most important thing you said was that we have very unique culture in here and we should upload so many stories using Blogs.
“At this moment, so many Internet users in PNG are just using e-mail functions and browsing Internet to download music and pictures only
“But in the future we should upload our unique culture through the Internet to the world.
“I visited your Blog site and I have a lot of impressions.
“I am very surprised that I have never seen some Papua New Guineans write several stories on Blogs.
“This week Friday, our University has its open day.
“At that time can I introduce your Blog site to the public?”
Mr Schilt wrote: “I have added your RSS Feed to my news reader so will keep in touch with your stories.
“And just to let you know I also made reference to your article on Blogging on my Blog post.”
Nancy Waim from the Media Council of PNG commented: “Of all the things I read on The National, I reckon this article on Blogging is really an eye-opener for many.
“There are many others out there who do not know the availability of these avenues for information dissemination and also in creating your own space on the net as you mentioned.
“Good on you.”
Eliud Uwasenko from Pacific Adventist University: “I am interested in setting up my own Blog after reading your article.
“Please provide further information on how to go about in setting up my own Blog.”
Dr Philip Raif from Lae: “…thanks again for very good information on IT.
“I have been trying to find more about Blogs etc and now you may assist me with how to access and download templates on Blogs.
“If you can assist with some information I will be grateful.”
Robert Koela from Port Moresby: “I read with interest your article published in The National issue, Weekender of Friday 4th July titled ‘How PNG can benefit from Blogging’.
“I must say that I am very interested in creating my own Blog on the Internet.
“Though, I have not taken any computer training in this, I am nonetheless, acquainted with the Internet and most associated programs and computer language.
“I would very much appreciate some pointers/tips and references on where I could get more information in going about achieving this.”
Jacinta Yadamatti wrote from Divine Word University: “I am a third-year Business Studies student at the Divine Word University and I write in response to your article titled ‘How Papua New Guinea can benefit from Blogging’ published in the Weekender, The National, on Friday the 4th July.
“I found this article very informative and interesting!
“Immediately after reading the article, I went online to do some research on Internet Blogging and I found some very interesting theories, most of which you have outlined in the article.
“I even signed up with a cricket Blog site.
“I am a follower of the game, but I haven't written a thing in it yet.
“My purpose of writing is to seek assistance from you on tips of just where and how to start writing Blogs.
“I would also like to read your authored Blog but I can't, unfortunately, because I do not know where to find it.
“Would you mind informing me on how to access it?
“Your article has inspired me a great deal.”
And how about this from Eric Ungil, an overseas-based PNG doctor: “I was just reading the Weekender and came across your article about Blogging.
“I am a medical doctor overseas and I like your Blog.
“Keep up the good work and continue to write such fantastic articles about PNG.”
Mr Schilt left me with this thought from Michael Faraday, inventor of the electric motor, and a man who never went to university: “My education was of the most ordinary description, consisting of little more than the rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic at a common day school.
“My hours out of school were passed at home and in the streets.”
Happy Blogging!
Russian blogger sentenced for "extremist" post
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian man who described local police as "scum" in an Internet posting was given a suspended jail sentence on Monday for extremism, prompting bloggers to warn of a crackdown on free speech online.
Savva Terentiev, a 28-year-old musician from Syktyvkar, 1,515 kilometres (940 miles) north of Moscow, wrote in a blog last year that the police force should be cleaned up by ceremonially burning officers twice a day in a town square.
Convicted on charges of "inciting hatred or enmity", Terentiev was given a one-year suspended term on Monday, Russian news agencies reported.
Free speech campaigners said the ruling could create a dangerous precedent for free speech on the Internet, a vibrant forum for political debate in a country where the mainstream traditional media is deferential to authority.
"This was an absolutely unjustified verdict," Alexander Verkhovsky, director of the SOVA centre in Moscow, a non-governmental group that monitors extremism, told Reuters. "Savva for sure wrote a rude comment ... but this verdict means it will be impossible to make rude comments about anybody."
The verdict was discussed in Russian blogs on Monday. "I don't know now if I should be writing here or not," blogger Likershassi posted on one website.
"The fact that Terentiev got a conditional sentence is unimportant. What's important is the precedent," a blogger named Puffinus wrote.
BONFIRE
Contacted by Reuters on Monday, Terentiev confirmed the sentence but said he was unable to make further comment.
The blog entry for which he was prosecuted has been removed from the Internet. Russia's Kommersant newspaper quoted him as saying in the post: "Those who become cops are scum," and calling for officers to be put on a bonfire.
After the prosecution was launched, Terentiev wrote an open letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev protesting his innocence.
"It is our duty to take responsibility for words on the Internet but ... I did not call for the inflaming of social hatred towards the employees of the police department," he wrote in the letter, posted at one of his sites, www.zasavva.ru.
Most Russians receive their news and information from television stations and newspapers controlled by the state or by businessmen with links to the Kremlin, with opposition voices confined largely to the Internet, talk radio and low-circulation publications.
Medvedev has said he views freedom of speech and a flourishing civil society as essential and that Russia should use a light touch when policing the Internet.
"Thank God we live in a free society," Medvedev said last month in an interview with Reuters.
"It's possible to go on to the Internet and get basically anything you want. In that regard, there are no problems of closed access to information in Russia today, there weren't any yesterday and there won't be any tomorrow," he said.
(Additional reporting by Aydar Buribaev; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Savva Terentiev, a 28-year-old musician from Syktyvkar, 1,515 kilometres (940 miles) north of Moscow, wrote in a blog last year that the police force should be cleaned up by ceremonially burning officers twice a day in a town square.
Convicted on charges of "inciting hatred or enmity", Terentiev was given a one-year suspended term on Monday, Russian news agencies reported.
Free speech campaigners said the ruling could create a dangerous precedent for free speech on the Internet, a vibrant forum for political debate in a country where the mainstream traditional media is deferential to authority.
"This was an absolutely unjustified verdict," Alexander Verkhovsky, director of the SOVA centre in Moscow, a non-governmental group that monitors extremism, told Reuters. "Savva for sure wrote a rude comment ... but this verdict means it will be impossible to make rude comments about anybody."
The verdict was discussed in Russian blogs on Monday. "I don't know now if I should be writing here or not," blogger Likershassi posted on one website.
"The fact that Terentiev got a conditional sentence is unimportant. What's important is the precedent," a blogger named Puffinus wrote.
BONFIRE
Contacted by Reuters on Monday, Terentiev confirmed the sentence but said he was unable to make further comment.
The blog entry for which he was prosecuted has been removed from the Internet. Russia's Kommersant newspaper quoted him as saying in the post: "Those who become cops are scum," and calling for officers to be put on a bonfire.
After the prosecution was launched, Terentiev wrote an open letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev protesting his innocence.
"It is our duty to take responsibility for words on the Internet but ... I did not call for the inflaming of social hatred towards the employees of the police department," he wrote in the letter, posted at one of his sites, www.zasavva.ru.
Most Russians receive their news and information from television stations and newspapers controlled by the state or by businessmen with links to the Kremlin, with opposition voices confined largely to the Internet, talk radio and low-circulation publications.
Medvedev has said he views freedom of speech and a flourishing civil society as essential and that Russia should use a light touch when policing the Internet.
"Thank God we live in a free society," Medvedev said last month in an interview with Reuters.
"It's possible to go on to the Internet and get basically anything you want. In that regard, there are no problems of closed access to information in Russia today, there weren't any yesterday and there won't be any tomorrow," he said.
(Additional reporting by Aydar Buribaev; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Forging relationships between Australia and PNG the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy' way
+and+three+of+his+senior+staff.+Nationalpic+by+WILLIAM+WILLIANDO..jpg)
Relationships between Australia and Papua New Guinea took a turn for the better at the Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby on Tuesday last week.
And no, it didn’t take politicians or bureaucrats to do that, but simple Australians and even simpler Papua New Guineans.
The nine Australians, all members of the Noosa Rugby Union Club in Queensland, tackled the difficult Kokoda Trail over nine days.
They were accompanied by a dedicated group of guides and porters from Kokoda, villagers along the famous WW11 trail, Koiari, as well as Port Moresby.
Many of these young men were once misfits of society, now under the wings of up-and-coming 100% nationally-owned trekking company, Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions.
The Australians and Papua New Guineans enjoyed a beer and barbeque in typical Aussie fashion, sang songs and exchanged gifts at the Hideaway Hotel.
The occasion was witnessed by Southern Region police task force commander, Reuben Giusu, who extolled the virtues of Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions in the fight against crime
“We are all from Queensland in Australia, from Noosa Rugby Union Club,” explains group leader Robin Yates.
“We wanted to come because our forefathers and your forefathers fought very hard in this country in 1942.
“And for us, we want to maintain the friendship that started in those days, even though we’ve got good times now.
“So there’s been special relationship between Australia and New Guinea for 60 years now.
“And one way for us to experience that special friendship is for us to come here, walk with the guides and porters, have a lot of fun, it’s a very hard trek.
“For me, I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro (Africa), Everest Base Camp (Himalayas) and Lima Trail in Peru.
“And this trek was very tough.
“But this trek is different because for this time, in our hearts, we are remembering our forefathers and all the brave people who died here and all the help that was given to Australian soldiers from the people of New Guinea.
“Eve though we are at peace now, it’s important for the younger people to remember the very special relationship that existed between your guys and us all those years ago.
“It’s important for the people in Australia not to forget that Papua New Guinea and Australia have been very good friends for many years and will stay that way.
“And for all these brave people that died here, whether from Papua New Guinea or Australia, even though they are dead, they will live forever because they are in our thoughts and hearts.
“And by doing this trek, we can really understand just how difficult it would have been for them all those years ago.
“And for us to get to know some of the porters and guides, even when we were lying because our knees were hurting, we can still all laugh together, what I’m sure our forefathers did all those years ago when they established these bonds of friendship.
“That’s only because we’re here.”
Mr Yates, 57, a successful import/export businessman, proved that age was no hindrance when you set your mind on something.
He also cast his vote-of-confidence in Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions, especially at a time when it is common knowledge that many Australian companies use Papua New Guineans as mere fronts, with most of the money heading back south.
“We want the money to come to New Guinea, not Australia,” Mr Yates explains.
“We want the money to come to New Guinea, that’s why we used a local company.
“And I’m very pleased that we did because we did a great trek and enjoyed all the people from Fuzzy Wuzzy.
“I’m sure that many more people will want to come and do the same.”
While every day along the WW11 icon was a highlight, he singled out Isurava and Brigade Hill as two that stood out.
“I think, for the boys, the two nights that were really enjoyable were at Isurava and Brigade Hill where we camped, because both of these places were very special back in 1942,” Mr Yates says,
“I guess the other highlight was the finish after all the hard work.
“Life is easy today in 2008.
“Everybody sits down and watches TV.
“It’s good to come out, get wet in the rain, sleep in the open, and see the stars at night.
“It was such a good feeling for nine days.”
Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions is the new kid on the block that’s taking the Kokoda Trail by storm through the Internet.
It’s a far cry from early 2004 when I first met an enterprising young man named Defol Jabbar.
He had just set up his new trekking company and the next three years would be a steep learning curve.
Mr Jabbar has slowly, but steadily, been building up his client base since 2004, albeit, without a professionally-designed website.
His website http://www.fuzzywuzzy.com.pg/ was properly designed and uploaded last November and the sky is now the limit.
Mr Jabbar, as far as I know, is the first Papua New Guinean owner of a trekking company to have a proper website.
Many overseas trekkers and tourists prefer to use 100% locally-owned companies; however, the catch is that few of these companies are Internet-savvy.
The lucrative Kokoda Trail market is dominated by foreign-owned companies, many of whom use Papua New Guineans as fronts, and Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions is indeed a breath of fresh air.
It has already secured major corporate clients such as SP Brewery and Telikom, while the number of site visits and hits increases by the day.
The situation for many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) all over the world, including Papua New Guinea, is that an entrepreneur (such as Mr Jabbar) owns a small or medium enterprise.
The company produces an interesting product such as organic coffee or arts and crafts, or provides a novel service such as taking tourists across the Kokoda Trail.
The problem: How do we use the Internet to sell the product or service?
The general methodology is to plan, analyse and enact E-marketing activities.
This methodology can be used by anyone who wants to use the Internet to access customers.
And it’s been through such methodology that Mr Jabbar has been able to pull in an extra buck or two into the country, provide employment, as well as promote tourism in this beautiful country of ours.
Mr Jabbar can be contacted on email defol@fuzzywuzzy.com.pg or info@fuzzywuzzy.com.pg and mobile 6883231.
And no, it didn’t take politicians or bureaucrats to do that, but simple Australians and even simpler Papua New Guineans.
The nine Australians, all members of the Noosa Rugby Union Club in Queensland, tackled the difficult Kokoda Trail over nine days.
They were accompanied by a dedicated group of guides and porters from Kokoda, villagers along the famous WW11 trail, Koiari, as well as Port Moresby.
Many of these young men were once misfits of society, now under the wings of up-and-coming 100% nationally-owned trekking company, Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions.
The Australians and Papua New Guineans enjoyed a beer and barbeque in typical Aussie fashion, sang songs and exchanged gifts at the Hideaway Hotel.
The occasion was witnessed by Southern Region police task force commander, Reuben Giusu, who extolled the virtues of Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions in the fight against crime
“We are all from Queensland in Australia, from Noosa Rugby Union Club,” explains group leader Robin Yates.
“We wanted to come because our forefathers and your forefathers fought very hard in this country in 1942.
“And for us, we want to maintain the friendship that started in those days, even though we’ve got good times now.
“So there’s been special relationship between Australia and New Guinea for 60 years now.
“And one way for us to experience that special friendship is for us to come here, walk with the guides and porters, have a lot of fun, it’s a very hard trek.
“For me, I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro (Africa), Everest Base Camp (Himalayas) and Lima Trail in Peru.
“And this trek was very tough.
“But this trek is different because for this time, in our hearts, we are remembering our forefathers and all the brave people who died here and all the help that was given to Australian soldiers from the people of New Guinea.
“Eve though we are at peace now, it’s important for the younger people to remember the very special relationship that existed between your guys and us all those years ago.
“It’s important for the people in Australia not to forget that Papua New Guinea and Australia have been very good friends for many years and will stay that way.
“And for all these brave people that died here, whether from Papua New Guinea or Australia, even though they are dead, they will live forever because they are in our thoughts and hearts.
“And by doing this trek, we can really understand just how difficult it would have been for them all those years ago.
“And for us to get to know some of the porters and guides, even when we were lying because our knees were hurting, we can still all laugh together, what I’m sure our forefathers did all those years ago when they established these bonds of friendship.
“That’s only because we’re here.”
Mr Yates, 57, a successful import/export businessman, proved that age was no hindrance when you set your mind on something.
He also cast his vote-of-confidence in Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions, especially at a time when it is common knowledge that many Australian companies use Papua New Guineans as mere fronts, with most of the money heading back south.
“We want the money to come to New Guinea, not Australia,” Mr Yates explains.
“We want the money to come to New Guinea, that’s why we used a local company.
“And I’m very pleased that we did because we did a great trek and enjoyed all the people from Fuzzy Wuzzy.
“I’m sure that many more people will want to come and do the same.”
While every day along the WW11 icon was a highlight, he singled out Isurava and Brigade Hill as two that stood out.
“I think, for the boys, the two nights that were really enjoyable were at Isurava and Brigade Hill where we camped, because both of these places were very special back in 1942,” Mr Yates says,
“I guess the other highlight was the finish after all the hard work.
“Life is easy today in 2008.
“Everybody sits down and watches TV.
“It’s good to come out, get wet in the rain, sleep in the open, and see the stars at night.
“It was such a good feeling for nine days.”
Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions is the new kid on the block that’s taking the Kokoda Trail by storm through the Internet.
It’s a far cry from early 2004 when I first met an enterprising young man named Defol Jabbar.
He had just set up his new trekking company and the next three years would be a steep learning curve.
Mr Jabbar has slowly, but steadily, been building up his client base since 2004, albeit, without a professionally-designed website.
His website http://www.fuzzywuzzy.com.pg/ was properly designed and uploaded last November and the sky is now the limit.
Mr Jabbar, as far as I know, is the first Papua New Guinean owner of a trekking company to have a proper website.
Many overseas trekkers and tourists prefer to use 100% locally-owned companies; however, the catch is that few of these companies are Internet-savvy.
The lucrative Kokoda Trail market is dominated by foreign-owned companies, many of whom use Papua New Guineans as fronts, and Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions is indeed a breath of fresh air.
It has already secured major corporate clients such as SP Brewery and Telikom, while the number of site visits and hits increases by the day.
The situation for many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) all over the world, including Papua New Guinea, is that an entrepreneur (such as Mr Jabbar) owns a small or medium enterprise.
The company produces an interesting product such as organic coffee or arts and crafts, or provides a novel service such as taking tourists across the Kokoda Trail.
The problem: How do we use the Internet to sell the product or service?
The general methodology is to plan, analyse and enact E-marketing activities.
This methodology can be used by anyone who wants to use the Internet to access customers.
And it’s been through such methodology that Mr Jabbar has been able to pull in an extra buck or two into the country, provide employment, as well as promote tourism in this beautiful country of ours.
Mr Jabbar can be contacted on email defol@fuzzywuzzy.com.pg or info@fuzzywuzzy.com.pg and mobile 6883231.
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