My Dad's memories of Michael Somare

Picture caption: Mathias Nalu (second from right, standing), with fellow trainee teachers at Sogeri Education Centre in 1956 including Michael Somare, (third from left,  sitting),  Paulias Matane (sitting far right) and Alkan Tololo  (standing far right).

 

 

September 17^th is the 15^th anniversary of the death of my father , Mathias Nalu, who left us on this day in 1993. Below is a tribute to my father.

My father, the late Mathias Nalu, until the day he died in 1993, remained committed to the ideals of his former school mate and Pangu Pati founder Michael Somare.

Dad went to school with Somare, first at Dregerhaffen in Finschhafen, and then at Sogeri outside Port Moresby.

But unlike his mates like Somare, Paulias Matane and Alkan Tololo who would one day figure in the formation of this country, Dad remained a simple school teacher, and later a primary school inspector, until the day he died so prematurely of a stroke after 35 years of distinguished service to his country.

We, his children, were born and grew up all over the country in the pre-independence days as Dad excelled as a member of the highly-disciplined and efficient ‘shorts and socks brigade’ public service under the colonial administration.

We grew up listening in fascination as Dad told us one story after another of his mates like Somare, Matane and Tololo.

Many years later, after Dad died and I was working as a journalist, I often bumped into Somare, Matane and Tololo and they always extolled the virtues of my ‘Old Man’, which left me with a great deal of pride.

One thing that is forever etched in my memory was of growing up on Sohano, a small island off Buka, in the halcyonic days of the early 1970’s, when I would have been about five or six years of age.

Papua New Guinea’s Chief Minister visited Sohano, and while reminiscing with Dad about their old days, a Bouganville Copper employee named Bill, who lived next door to us, said something that offended Somare.

Somare ordered him out of the country immediately!

I can remember as Bill, with tears, handed all his worldly possessions to Mum and Dad and left.

Independence came and I remember Dad, as we listened to the radio at 12am on September 16, 1975, celebrating as his former school mate became the first Prime Minister of the newly-independent State of Papua New Guinea.

Later, in 1976, when my youngest sister Anna was born, the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister personally visited our house while in Goroka, gave Mum K100, and said that Anna’s second name was ‘Moaso’ after his mother.

As Somare celebrates 40 years in politics and Papua New Guinea celebrates 33 years of independence, I know that somewhere over the rainbow way up high, Dad will also celebrating.

 

 

Papua New Guinea Independence celebrations in full throttle

I just caught a bus to work which drove past the University of PNG, and I got off at the Sir John Guise Stadium, when I saw thousands of people there.

Papua New Guineans, not only in Port Moresby, but all over the country, are caught up in the excitement of the day, wearing PNG t-shirts and caps, as well as showing a strong spirit of patriotism reminiscent of 30^th Independence celebrations in 2005.

The country’s new television station (refer to story below) will be launched by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in Wewak later today.

 

Happy 33rd Independence Anniversary, Papua New Guinea

Happy 33rd Independence Anniversary, Papua New Guinea!

Yes, indeed, we have gone through some very trying times since September 16^th, 1975, and it is all too easy to be a Doubting Thomas, an eternal pessimist.

But hey, let’s all be happy, as this is all our day!

A Happy 33^rd Independence Day to all you Papua New Guineans living, studying and working overseas; all you wonderful people of this great land; as well as all our many friends from all over the world.

God Bless Papua New Guinea real good!

Plans underway to celebrate World Food Day in October

‘World Food Security; the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy’ is the theme for the 2008 World Food Day to be observed next month.

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock, in an official statement, advised all stakeholders, government and agricultural agencies, provinces, non-government organisations and the public to make preparations to celebrate the event on October 16.

The statement said that a collaborative effort was required by all stakeholders to join the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in organising various activities to promote and create awareness on WFD and the theme.

The activities can include agricultural field days, farmer displays, agricultural shows, cultural and sporting events, workshops, poster and art exhibitions and others.

The annual observance of WFD by PNG is part of the global commitment to increase public awareness and understanding of the problems of hunger and poverty and emerging global issues such as climate change and bioenergy that will impact on food security.

According to Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than 850 million people worldwide suffer from hunger and malnutrition and global initiatives have been launched to reduce this figure.

The WFD is an opportunity for everyone to come together and reaffirm their commitment to address food insecurity and other associated problems in a collaborative and participatory manner with national, international, local communities and NGOs.

 The 2008 theme highlights the importance of climate change and energy situation on agriculture and food security and the need for proper management of natural resource base and the environment to sustain agricultural productivity for food production and income generation to ensure food security for a growing world population.

DAL has urged government departments, agricultural agencies, NGOs, provinces, business houses and the public to join hands and celebrate WFD in their local communities on October 16 or thereafter.

Preparations are also underway for the official WFD celebrations to be held in conjunction with an agriculture road show at Bogia in the Madang Province on October 30-31.

The local community is all geared up and is working hard to organise the two-day event to celebrate World Food Day, Rural Women’s Day and promote agriculture potential and opportunities all at the same time.

 

Muruks win the SP Cup for third consecutive year

In case you haven’t heard as yet, Mendi Muruks yesterday took out the SP Cup rugby league grand final for the third consecutive year with a resounding 34-14 win over Mount Hagen Eagles.

Log on to The National, Papua New Guinea’s leading daily newspaper, for all the details.

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.