A wedding made in Lae

Husband and wife...Dobbin and Evelyn Laka emerge from the Cassowary United Church last Saturday after their wedding

Bride Evelyn Faunt and her flower girls

An emotional David Faunt leads his daughter Evelyn to her wedding to Dobbin Laka

Man of the moment Dobbin Laka (right) with his escorts

Guests emerging from Cassowary United Church after the wedding

Two longtime Lae families – the Lakas and the Faunts – came closer together last Saturday when Dobbin Laka tied the knot with sweetheart Evelyn Faunt at the Cassowary Road United Church.
Rainy Lae gave its blessing by not pouring down on this special day for the young couple.
Family, friends and relatives from all over PNG, including Lae MP Bart Philemon, gathered at the church for the wedding and exchange of vows, which was conducted by Rev Raka Aiga.
This was followed by traditional Manus exchange of gifts and a wedding reception at the Lae International Hotel.
Dobbin Laka is the son of well-known former cricketer and Lae businessman Harry Laka and netball personality Jill Laka, while Evelyn Faunt is the daughter of respected teacher David Faunt and whose mother, from Manus, and another highly-regarded teacher, has passed away.
The Faunt family includes Papua New Guinea singing sensation, John Faunt, of the Lae-based Hauboi band.
The couple met while at the University of Technology in Lae

Pictures of Bootless Bay, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Pacific Adventist University goes more hi-tech with new computers

Jackson Kumye and Donalyne Kuamin, both third-year education students at PAU, working on two of the new computers installed this week

Pacific Adventist University has maintained its status as one of the most hi-tech institutions in Papua New Guinea with a significant upgrade to its computer laboratories this week.
While students at the long-established University of PNG and University of Technology are struggling for computers, their counterparts at PAU and Divine Word University in Madang are miles ahead.
PAU currently provides some of the best computer and technology facilities in PNG and these facilities are available to all students studying at PAU.
While studying at PAU, students as part of their fees are all provided access to computer labs (ratio of 4:1 students per computer, one of the best for any university in PNG), a school email address, wireless internet, ladies dorm computer and wireless access and access to the latest teaching and learning software and equipment.
The PAU this week installed 24 brand-new computers in the schools of business and science and technology.
The classroom computer upgrade program, costing approximately K70, 000, is running all of the most-current teaching and learning software including Windows Vista SP2 and Office 2007.
Additionally, because PAU is a member of the Microsoft IT Academy programme,
students there will also have access to and be taught in the use of Microsoft’s latest development software such as Visual Studio 2008, Expression 2, Visio 2007 and Project 2007.
The installation of 22-inch LCD screens will facilitate the teaching and learning of many of these programmes.
Ben Thomas, dean of the school of business, is excited about the installation of the new
computers.
“Computers play a critical role in all aspects of business,” he says.
“It is imperative that students learn to use the latest computer technology, as this will enable them to be successful in their future employment.
“I believe that PAU produces the best graduates because of our holistic emphasis on education.
“Good infrastructure and facilities, such as computers and the internet, as well as our focus on quality lectures, student work ethic, church participation and sports allow PAU to produce graduates who can be successful in any organisation.”
While installing the new computers, IT staff could overhear comments from students who are excited about the new facilities and equipment.
“These computer upgrades are part of our ongoing commitment to live up to our vision
statement to be the BEST (Biblically Sound, Educationally Valid, Spiritually Challenging, Technologically Relevant) provider of quality tertiary Christian
education in the Pacific islands,” says Wayne Hawken, communications director at PAU.
“These upgrades continue to ensure that PAU students have leading access to technology
while studying at PAU.”
PAU will continue to significantly upgrade its technology and computing facilities throughout the remainder of this year.
PAU is a tertiary institution owned and operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, offering diploma, bachelor and post-graduate awards in a range of disciplines.
PAU is located at Koiari Park, at 14-Mile outside Port Moresby, with affiliate campuses
At Fulton (Suva, Fiji) and Sonoma College in East New Britain province.

A holiday with a difference

Students taking sewing lessons at PAU’s ‘Holiday School’

Sixteen-year-olds Maria Raka (right) from Laloki High School and Grace Apana from Badihagwa Technical Secondary School busy sewing away at PAU’s ‘Holiday School’

Friday, July 10, draws to a close the groundbreaking ‘Holiday School’ programme run by the School of Education at Pacific Adventist University’s Koiari Park Campus at 14-Mile outside Port Moresby.
The holiday School has transformed normal university classrooms into a school for approximately 200 grade 10 students from various schools in the Port Moresby area.
“The timing of the holiday school has been an excellent opportunity both for the pupils and the practice teachers,” says Dr Jillian Thiele, dean of the school of education and holiday school ‘principal’.
“The holiday school has meant that our students have been able to experience a wide range of situations in a controlled environment, and the Grade 10 pupils have had the opportunity to get additional professional tutoring in preparation for the national
Year 10 exams.”
Enthusiastic students told me that they had enjoyed every moment at PAU’s picturesque campus and it was a welcome change from their normal classrooms.
“We’ve been learning science, social science, English and maths,” said Ishmael Nigints from De La Salle High School, Bomana.
“There are also optional subjects like IT, sewing and cooking.
“I’ve enjoyed it very much, I have learnt a lot, and it’s very interesting.
“At De La Salle, there are only boys, but here, there are girls, so it’s a new experience for some of us.
“And also, the environment here is very beautiful.”
Dr Thiele said the topic focus areas for the holiday school had been identified and managed in conjunction with a number of high school teachers and principals in the NCD region.
“As a result,” she said, “the holiday school is targeting areas that teachers have identified as common weak areas.
“Additionally, because the holiday school is being held on the PAU campus – school
pupils and teacher trainees have direct access to the university’s specialist lecturers in the
various content areas.
“The programme would not have been the success that it is without the assistance and support of the NCD governor, Powes Parkop, who has assisted the holiday school with bus transport to all NCD students from the NCD region to Pacific Adventist University for the holiday school.
“The programme this year is considered a great success and PAU wishes all of the participants the best for the upcoming national exams.”
PAU is a tertiary institution owned and operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, offering diploma, bachelor and post-graduate awards in a range of disciplines.
PAU is located at Koiari Park, at 14-Mile outside Port Moresby, with affiliate campuses
Fulton (Suva, Fiji) and Sonoma College in East New Britain province.

Bulolo thanks outgoing US envoy

Bulolo MP Sam Basil ties a traditional headdress on outgoing US Ambassador Lesley Rowe

People of Bulolo, Morobe province, on Thursday, July 09, 2009 presented gifts to outgoing US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Lesley Rowe.
The gifts – bilums, a headdress and a spear – were presented to Ms Rowe by Bulolo MP, Sam Basil, who earlier this year witnessed the swearing in of Barrack Obama as 44th US president at the invitation of the US government.
Ms Rowe told Mr Basil that she was so glad that he had been able to travel to the US and witness the historical transition of power.
“It was a historical time,” she said.
“I’m glad we got you (to travel to the US) when you were young.”
Mr Basil thanked Ms Rowe on behalf of his fellow Buang villagers, people of Bulolo and Papua New Guinea for the last three years she had spent in the country.

Return of the 39th Battalion 'chocolate soldiers'

Peter Holloway (left) and Harry Barkla at McDonald's Corner

Harry Barkla makes a point of history to Aaron Hayes of Ectourism Melanesia

Harry Barkla and Peter Holloway meet Australian trekkers at Owers' CornerEnthusiastic trekkers meet 39th Battalion veterans Harry Barkla and Peter Holloway

Australian trekkers surround 39th Battalion veterans Harry Barkla and Peter Holloway at Owers' Corner

Australian trekkers line up to meet Harry Barkla and Peter Holloway at Owers' Corner last Sunday

Peter Holloway autographs a book for an Australian trekker as Harry Barkla looks on

Harry Barkla signs an autograph for an adoring Australian trekker

Harry Barkla spent his 21st birthday sitting in a foxhole on the Kokoda Trail before all hell broke loose at the Battle of Isurava in August 1942.
The 87-year-old from Bendigo, Victoria, has returned to Papua New Guinea for the second time since 2007 with another Australian World War 11 veteran Peter Holloway to mark 67 years since the battle and to remember lost mates.
Both are members of the legendary 39th Battalion – so wrongly disparaged as “chocolate soldiers” - who fought the Japanese in the now-famous Battle of Isurava in August 1942.
I was privileged to be asked by tourism operator Ecotourism Melanesia to be their tour guide last Sunday as well interview them, given my interest in WW11 history.
It was an emotional moment for both men as we visited the site of the old Schwimmer Drome at Laloki, Owers’ Corner, MacDonald’s Corner, the wreck of the mv MacDhui, the site of the Jackson Airfield (now International Airport), and Bootless Bay, among others.
One of the most-touching moments was when a group of young Australian trekkers arrived at Owers’ Corner after the grueling 96km trek from Kokoda, and when they learned that Mr Barkla and Mr Holloway were original members of the 39th Battalion, they were treated like royalty and swamped for autographs.
“We did it for you,” the two veterans humbly told the admiring trekkers.
An increasing number of Australians and Papua New Guineans are just now beginning to learn the tremendous story of courage and tenacity at Isurava, but it is hoped that more will take the time to learn about it
During the period from 27-30 August 1942, under almost constant attack, soldiers of the 39th Australian Militia Battalion and the 2/14th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, with the help of the 2/16th Battalion and the 53rd Battalions, held back the advancing Japanese at Isurava.
What followed was the famous fighting withdrawal down the Kokoda Track during September 1942, which ended with the Australian dig-in on Imita Ridge on September 17, 1942.
From Imita, there was no further retreat.
On September 28, the Japanese began their withdrawal back across the Owen Stanleys along the Kokoda Track, having come within sight of the sea and the lights of Port Moresby on Ioribaiwa Ridge opposite Imita.
Ironically, the militia men of the 39th Battalion were initially disparaged by more-experienced soldiers as “chocolate soldiers” who would melt in the heat of battle, but proved this tag so wrong at Isurava.
“I celebrated my 21st birthday at Isurava on August 22, 1942,” Mr Barkla told me
“The Japs didn’t attack until August 28, which was when the 2/14th (Battalion) arrived.
“I’m very proud of the 39th Battalion for the job they did against terrific odds.
“Ask any member of the 39th Battalion and he’ll tell you he’s a very proud man.”
The other 39th Battalion veteran, Peter Holloway from Melbourne, did not fight on Kokoda, initially being involved in supplying food to troops, but did see action on the Northern Beaches of Buna, Gona and Sanananda (which he visited this week).
More Australians – about 1,400 in all – were killed in Buna, Gona and Sanananda than Kokoda, where about 500 were killed.
“I was part of that campaign,” Mr Holloway recalled.
“The significant part was when we could walk on the beach at Sanananda.
“I celebrated my 21st birthday in Port Moresby on February 19, 1942, the day the Port Moresby Hotel was bombed by the Japanese.”
Mr Holloway said Australians owed Papua New Guineans a great deal for their help during WW11.
“We had great assistance from the indigenous people,” he said.
“A lot of our people would have been dead if it hadn’t been for them.
“I think they’ve had a rough deal from the Australian government since the end of the war.”
Among the fascinating yarns Mr Barkla and Mr Holloway shared was that Mr Barkla was working on the mv Macdhui on June 17, 1942, the day before it was bombed and sunk by Japanese planes, while Mr Holloway was supposed to have been working on it on the actual day of the bombing but was sick
Five of their 39th Battalion mates were killed together with 10 crew members of the ship.
They also served at Jacksons Airfield and remember the numerous Japanese air raids.
Jackson Airfield 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.
“The very first day he (Jackson) was here, he shot a Japanese Kawasaki aircraft,” Mr Holloway said.
“He shot down quite a number of Japanese aircraft.
“He had quite a number of Japanese aircraft painted on the side of his aircraft, for every one of them that he shot down.
“On April 25, 1942, which was Anzac Day, we were at the back of the hill and New Guinea Anglican Bishop, Philip Strong, was conducting a service when the Japanese attacked.
“We all ducked for cover but he remained and continued to conduct the service
Mr Barkla and Mr Holloway were based on the hill overlooking the airfield, at what is now the PNG Defence Force’s Air Transport Wing staff quarters.
They also spent time at Bootless Bay keeping an eye for Japanese aircraft.
Both men could reminisce on and on about their WW11 days, however, time caught up and they had to leave for Popondetta.
I asked them why they were called “chocolate soldiers”.
“They said we weren’t fulltime soldiers, that we were part-time soldiers,” Mr Holloway replied.
“They said when the heat of battle was on, we would melt, but we didn’t.
“Australia had two armies, the Australian Imperial Forces, and the Australian Military Forces.
“The ‘chocos (Chocolate Soldiers)’ were part of that.
“Every member of the 39th Battalion was a volunteer.
“Most of the 39th Battalion eventually joined the AIF.
“They never called us ‘chocolate soldiers’ after the New Guinea Campaign.
“When we fought together, side-by-side, they changed that opinion.
“The 2/14th will tell you that if it hadn’t been for the 39th Battalion, they would have been annihilated.”

Interesting photo

 John Dege Waure trekking the South Simbu road a couple of days before his 14th birthday during his school term break. 

 In the background is the Whagi River separating Mt Wikauma to his right and Gunangi Basis to his left.

Gumine High School can be seen at the foot of Mt Wikauma.

Picture by Martin Mintai Waure