Monday, October 05, 2009

More pictures of Goroka from the 1970s

Bicycle tin rims and dress in Goroka. Pictures by former Goroka resident BRIAN WILSON at www.ski-epic.com/.../goroka/index.html
Cooking scones at Goroka market
Display of tomatoes, corn, onions and pineapples
Dok kaikai man (do eats everybody) is written on the sign at the corner of the house
Flour at Goroka market
Goroka airport from lookout
Goroka from Minogere, a suburb of Goroka. Notice the airport runway to the left
Goroka highland meris with Christmas decor in 1971
Goroka market from entrance with two men circa 1971
Goroka market in 1971. Kaukau, corn, peanuts for sale
Goroka market kaukau and bananas
Goroka market loaded meris
Gumi race along the Asaro River when people would dress up in silly costumes and float down the river
Honda motorbikes in Steamships Hardware
Jumbo, the elephant from sydney zoo, performing tricks in Goroka in 1972
Local pikininis near Goroka High School
Local residences near Goroka High School. Note the outhouse in the centre of the picture
Locals at drinking fountain
More from the Goroka Saturday market
Pineapples, lemons, peanuts for sale
Saturday afternoon at West Goroka
Saturday at West Goroka
The road up and to the right led straight into the hospital
The under roof portion of the Saturday Goroka market
Unloading people from trucks at Goroka market
Walking to Goroka market on a Saturday

University of Goroka launches new innovative system

By KATE GUNN of University of Goroka

The University of Goroka last Thursday formally launched its new programme for the Steven Eka Library: Liberty (version) 4.
After a year of hard work leading up to its implementation, UOG has finally updated its library management system to utilise one of the best software systems in the world.
The Liberty 4 software, owned by Softlink Pacific (a New Zealand-based company), is a technologically-advanced library management software system.
Approximately 10,000 other libraries around the world also use the Liberty 4 management system.
The UOG is the second institution in PNG to possess the software, and the first to implement its use for the whole university.
Major features of the software include: a user-friendly system; a web-based system; 24 hour global access; records for all types of library sources; and links to other academic libraries.
The system was officially launched by the Vice Chancellor Dr Gairo Onagi, who stated that the introduction of Liberty 4 was a landmark for UOG.
He was very pleased that UOG had decided to “move on from the old to the new technological system”.
Mr Russell McGrath, consultant trainer from Softlink’s Australian office, was on hand at the launching to demonstrate to staff how they could use the system to search, borrow, or reserve a book.
Mr McGrath had been on campus for the week prior to the launching, training UOG library staff in the establishment and utilisation of the Liberty 4 system.
He stated that Liberty 4 was an “intuitive and innovative system” for the UOG’s library.
University of Goroka librarian Ms Leah Kalamoroh stated she was proud to take the lead to introduce the Liberty 4 system to UOG, and it was surely a way forward for the Library.
Staff and students were encouraged by the acting Pro Vice Chancellor Academic Dr Jeyaranthan, to embrace the new system and to use it to secure more resources for UOG students as they had the right to access the latest technology.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

My kids in the park

Keith takes a leap of faith!
Moasing on the slide

Moasing and Gedi on the slide
Gedi on the slide
My little tyro Keith again!
Moasing
My princess!
I love this little fella!

I work long hours, seven days a week (I wish I were a Papua New Guinea public servant!), frequently travel around the country, so yesterday was a Godsend as I took my kids to the park at Gerehu Stage Two in Port Moresby.
Thoroughly enjoyable, and just what the doctor ordered, nothing better than some good old-fashioned father-chidren R & R.

Postcards from Goroka from the 1970s

Goroka airport TAA and Ansett Fokker F27s in 1971.All pictures by former Goroka resident BRIAN WILSON at www.ski-epic.com/.../goroka/index.html

Turner and Davey Electrical (TDE) store in West Goroka
Goroka Pharmacy and shopping centre in downtown in 1971
Another picture of the downtown of Goroka in 1971Goroka post office
Boroko Motors Goroka with Nissan, Datsun and Ford vehicles in 1971
A truck full of people in West Goroka on Saturday.These trucks would come into town carrying many people that wanted to buy or sell at the Goroka Saturday market
Expatriate residence. Government officials and expatriates lived in nice houses with cars, gates, flowers, green lawns and plumbing while the natives lived in grass huts and outhouses
Goroka Base Hospital, 1971
Goroka Hotel public bar
Goroka Zokozoi Hotel
Swimming pool at Minogere Hotel
Goroka market price board, with vegetables depicted selling at 10 cents (this was 1972)
Highlands meris at Goroka market in 1971 contrasted by Westernised locals

Scott Waide's new blog

Well-known Papua New Guinea television journalist Scott Waide has created his own blog Papua New Guinea – My Land, My Country on this URL http://www.tingtingblokantri.blogspot.com/.

“Welcome to my most recent attempt at a blog,” Scott writes.

“I live in Port Moresby.

“I am a television producer for an international news media organisation.

“As much as possible, I try to update this blog daily.

“It contains a collection of my very own poems and stories some written nearly 10 years ago.

“This is an attempt to show my country, Papua New Guinea as a nation in transition with its challenges brought on by half a century of rapid urbanisation.

“Through the poems and stories I hope you will see beauty through this rich kaleidoscope of different cultures.

“My perspective is that of a Papua New Guinean raised in an urban setting.

“We are a people so beautiful and resilient yet very much misunderstood by our global neighbors.

“We are creative.

“We are expressive.

“We are Papua New Guinea.

“Please enjoy!”

 

Nasfund savings and loans grows

The Nasfund Contributors Savings & Loan Society has the potential to become one of the largest savings and loans societies in the country in the not-too-distant future, according to chairman and Nasfund joint CEO Ian Tarutia.

 This was revealed to members and employer representatives at a NCSL seminar held in Lae by Mr Tarutia.

He said results for NCSL as of July 31 were:

  • Total assets of K 52.118 million;
  • Member savings of K 42.6m;
  • Net assets of K 4.89m;
  • Cash profit of K 377,756;
  • Total loan book of K 19.483m;
  • General reserves of K 3.663m;
  • Total membership of 36,000; and
  • Total payout of K 1.898m including loans to 7,556 members.

“When this is compared to industry statistics, NCSL membership constitutes 13.6 % of total industry membership, its total assets constitute 7.2 % of total industry asset size and its member savings constitute 12.9% of industry savings aggregate,” Mr Tarutia said,

“When you consider NCSL started six years ago, with K 6m and 9,000 members, this is a remarkable achievement.

“Recently the society upgraded its management information system to improve reporting functionality and was in the process of updating all member balances and personal account details.

 “This is a priority area for NCSL as the demand for loans and withdrawals has increased significantly.

“When a member sees a deduction this fortnight he is enquiring the following week for a loan or a withdrawal.

“That is the type of turn around members expect these days and therefore our processes and systems must be able to meet this.

“That is the core of this business, service delivery in the shortest possible time.”

In other highlights, NCSL has extended alliances with other business houses to provide a discount for services rendered to its members.

They are Eagle Hardware in Buka providing 5%, Loloata Island Resort 10%, Hardware House 10%, Pro Link 10%, Vision Center 15%, Shady Resort Hotel 15%, Hamamas Trading in Kimbe 15% and Tuboin Ltd in Buka 15%.

In November a winner for the third quarter draw for an airline ticket to any Airlines PNG domestic destination will be chosen.

Members who applied for a loan to purchase an APNG airline ticket are eligible for the draw.

Mr Tarutia also announced that the NCSL Board had appointed a new general manager and he was expected to take up office on Oct 19 once Bank of PNG had cleared his fit and proper status.

“A separate statement will be issued once the general manager assumes office,” Mr Tarutia said.