Young Papua New Guineans meet New Zealand All Blacks in Brisbane

I received an email today from my old buddy and ex-Aiyura school mate, Chris Taukuro, who is based in Brisbane with wife Katherine and family.

Chris sent me pictures of New Zealand All Blacks Mils Muliana and Kevin Mealamu with his daughter Sarah Taukuro and her cousin Alu Amini.

New Zealand, as you may already know, staged a second half comeback from 10 points down for a thrilling 28-24 win against Australia and denied the Wallabies their first Tri-Nations title since 2001 and also kept the Bledisloe Cup across the Tasman for the six straight year.

“Hi Malum,

 “If you can use these photos, here is a photo of Mils Muliaina and Kevin Mealamu with Sarah Taukuro, my daughter, and her cousin, Alu Amini.

 “I was very sad to hear of Chris Kaines passing last month!! He was a dear brother!!

 “Have a good day brother.

 “Best regards.”

 

• A Happy 33^rd Anniversary to Chris, Katherine and all the expatriate Papua New Guineans all over the world and I hope you can return home before you get too old!

 

New TV station for Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guineans will receive a special gift when the country celebrates its independence anniversary on September 16.

They will be able to switch on to a new free to air television service with more local content and programmes—thanks to government.

NTS (National Television Service) will telecast live giving a choice to Papua New Guineans to watch a new TV service, hence provide competition to PNG’s only commercial TV station, EMTV.

EMTV is owned by Fiji-based Yasana Holdings, also owners of Fiji TV.

NTS will be operated and managed by PNG’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of which PINA (Pacific Islands News Association) president, Joseph Ealedona, is managing director.

Since independence in 1975, successive PNG governments have recognised the need to have a national television service in PNG.

In 1981, PNG NEC (National Executive Council) approved in principle the introduction of a television service of which NBC was to undertake a feasibility study on the technical, engineering, financial, management and programming aspects of the project. The process was not concluded due to the 1982 national elections.

The 1981 NEC decision was resurrected in 1989 and NBC was directed to initiate the processes to realise the service.

Prime Minister Somare in March 2007 directed NBC again to initiate the processes on NTS.

On September last year during the opening of PNG’s 8th parliament, Somare reiterated his call for the introduction of the TV service for PNG. A taskforce was established and progress so far has been successful, according to Ealedona.

The first phase will make it possible for Port Moresby viewers to watch NTS, second phase will be the provinces (19), the third phase will be for rural people and the fourth phase will be the region.

 

SP Cup grand final today

Papua New Guinea's premier rugby league competition, the SP Cup, has its grand final in Port Moresby this afternoon between 2006 and 2007 champions Mabey & Johnson Mabey Muruks against Bintangor Mount Hagen Eagles.

I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Whale shark beached up on Iokea

Villagers from Iokea in the Gulf province were surprised to find a whale shark beached up on their shores last Sunday morning.

Thomas Auhava, curator of the Schwimmer War Museum outside Port Moresby, was at his Iokea village at the weekend and took pictures of the beached whale shark.

Pictures taken by Mr Auhava show a whale shark with white spots on its back.

“It’s about 6.5m long and 2m wide,” he said.

“It couldn’t get out because of shallow water.

“It’s still alive.

“It was just waiting for the tide to push it out.”

Iokea villagers took a ride on the back of the beached whale last Sunday.

 

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Malum

First pictures of my yet unnamed nephew, born to my youngest sister Anna at Angau Memorial Hospital, Lae, on Friday, August 29th, 2008

Where are these pictures from?

I received these old pictures of Papua New Guinea from Jason Nitz in Australia, who received them from his uncle, John Nitz, however, the problem is that neither Jason, John nor me can identify the places?

Do these places look familiar to anyone out there?

You can comment at the bottom of this posy or drop me a line at malumnalu@gmail.com or mobile (675) 6849763.

Malum