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.

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.

 

A day in Goroka with the New Zealand Governor General

The haunting lyrics of that unforgettable Goroka anthem “Welcome to Goroka” reverberates through the air as New Zealand Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand steps off the Air Niugini Dash 8 plane in Goroka on Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

“Welcome to Goroka, the land of Nokondi, from Daulo Pass across to Kassam Pass…we assure you, the best place is Goroka,” sing school children at Goroka Airport.

 On the tarmac, Sir Anand is welcomed by Asaro mud men, famous for their intimidating headwear.

Some dance with spears, others beat kundus, to welcome him into their exotic and beautiful mountainous land.

Sir Anand and wife Lady Susan Satyanand mingle around with the iconic mudmen and dancers.

It wasn’t as high profile as Australian Prime Minister Kevid Rudd’s Mar 2008 visit, where he received a welcome more befitting a modern messiah than a visiting foreign politician, but Sir Anand’s visit nonetheless shows the importance New Zealand places on Goroka.

Sir Anand’s convoy drive to Kabiufa Adventist High School outside Goroka, which is   thick with students chanting and waving their national flag and New Zealand’s.

At Kabiufa, he assures vegetable growers of Papua New Guinea that his country will assist in whatever way it can to assist the development of PNG’s fresh vegetable industry.

The once-famous vegetable-growing hub at the school is being revived with the assistance and expertise of the Fresh Produce Development Agency.

Kabiufa Farm Fresh Vegetables – during its heyday until closure in 1995 – was renowned for its trademark vegetables.

Sir Anand is impressed to see the fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers of Goroka, which is known for its perennial springtime climate.

“I can see what a wonderful, fertile place this is,” he tells an appreciative, cheering audience of flag-waving students.

“I have been told about the wonderful potential for food (in PNG).

“I think that the initiative to grow food is something that is so vital for the future of Papua New Guinea.

“It is something that New Zealand can assist with.

“It seems a vital project for the future, which will benefit everyone.”

Kabiufa principal Terry Haru says it is an honour to have Sir Anand visit as New Zealand was once an agriculture development partner with the school.

“Some 20 years ago, the New Zealand government became a partner with us in agriculture, where your government funded some agriculture projects here at the school,” he says.

“With the revival of the farm, we are planning to look at developing an agri-business curriculum, where we could train and equip young people with knowledge and skills that they would be able to use to earn their living.

“Our project will aim at addressing issues like school dropouts, employment creation, participation of women in agriculture and agriculture extension service delivery.”

Mr Haru acknowledges the fact that the New Zealand government regularly supports projects initiated by FPDA and the school.

“Through the assistance and partnership of FPDA and your government and through our partnership with FPDA, we will extend our agriculture training programmes to women, youth and the local community farmers, who could benefit in acquiring knowledge and skills to produce vegetables and other farm products and to sell or know how to run their own businesses in other areas as well.”

Sir Anand and Lady Satyanand are draped with gifts including bilums and Highlands woven caps.

The unfazed New Zealand vice regal then walks through the busy Goroka market to see growers and their produce.

After his market walk, there is a visit to Family Voice, a family rights/counseling NGO which has received NZAID assistance, and Coffee Connections, a fair-trade registered, organic certified trader which has exported to New Zealand, as well as other New Zealand-funded projects.

Sir Anand has lunch hosted by Eastern Highlands Governor Malcolm Smith Kela at the Bird of Paradise Hotel before a direct Air Niugini Dash 8 flight to Kopopo in the East New Britain province.