Australia visit affirms a strong defence relationship

Caption: Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, inspects a ceremonial guard of honour as part of a visit to PNGDF's Goldie River Training Depot.

 

Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon. David Feeney, travelled to Papua New Guinea (PNG) from July 21-24, on a visit reflecting PNG and Australia’s strong and enduring defence and security relationship.

Senator Feeney met with PNG Government and Defence leaders to discuss Australia’s defence cooperation with the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF).

The programme with PNG is Australia’s largest with any country and has a budget allocation of $10.5 million (around PNGK25 million) for the 2011 financial year.

“Australia and PNG have a longstanding close friendship which is reflected in the co-operation between our two countries on a range of defence matters, from strategic planning to joint exercises.

“We will continue to build on our defence activities together in the spirit of mateship which has been a hallmark of our relationship since the shared sacrifices during World War II,” Senator Feeney said.

Australia works with the PNGDF on a range of activities including infrastructure development, maritime and border security.

The PNGDF and the Australian Defence Force conduct training and exercises together, including Exercise WANTOK WARRIOR which includes infantry, engineering, rotary wing and logistic elements.

Senator Feeney discussed defence co-operation and PNG’s Medium Term Development Plan with the Minister for Defence, Bob Dadae and the Minister for National Planning and Rural Development, Paul Tiensten.  During discussions with Brigadier General Francis Agwi and Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Lucy Bogari, Senator Feeney expressed Australia’s continued commitment to support PNG’s efforts to commence international peacekeeping.

Senator Feeney also met with senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Department, Defence, Finance, Treasury and Police, including Treasury Secretary Tosali to discuss co-operation on potential innovative funding and development models. 

Senator Feeney laid a wreath during PNG’s Remembrance Day Memorial Service at Ela Beach on Saturday and presented commemorative medallions to 13 “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels” and their families during a ceremony at Bomana War Cemetery on Sunday.

“The strength and compassion of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels saved many Australian lives during World War II. The Angels represent the spirit of what we hold so dear in Australia – courage, tenacity and mateship,” he said.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels honored in Papua New Guinea

Caption: Medallion recipients (front row) with dignitaries (back row) including Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, who presented the medallions.

 

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels contribution to supporting Australians in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War, has been honoured today at a ceremony in Port Moresby.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, was represented at the ceremony, held at the Bomana War Cemetery, byParliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, who presented commemorative medallions to 13 recipients.

Senator Feeney said these medallions are just one way to show our gratitude to the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

“We are forever indebted to the kindness and the invaluable assistance they provided to Australians during the Second World War.

“Many Australians survived the Kokoda campaign due to the strength and compassion of these brave people. Greater casualties and loss of life among the troops would have occurred if not for the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels,” he said.

Senator Feeney paid tribute to all Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels saying they represent the spirit of what we hold so dear in Australia – courage, tenacity and mateship.

Affectionately known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, an estimated 50,000 Papuan and New Guinean civilians supported Australia in the Second World War by carrying supplies, building bases, airfields and other wartime infrastructure, and evacuating the sick and the wounded from fighting zones.

They also helped Australians soldiers trek through the jungles of the Owen Stanley Ranges, including the infamous Kokoda Track.

More than 600 Australians were killed and over 1, 000 wounded during the Kokoda campaign.

Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government is pleased that 34 Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels have been presented with the Commemorative Medallion since it was first announced in 2009.

“I would encourage other Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and their widows to consider applying for a medallion to recognise the individual contribution they, or their loved one has made to our country’s servicemen.

“It is important to ensure all surviving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, and the widows of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels are honoured with a commemorative medallion,” Mr Snowdon said.

For more information on medallion nominations contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 02 6289 6136 or visit www.dva.gov.au

Resting in peace at Bomana War Cemetery

Captions: Pictures show the grave of Philip Gunns and me at the grave of Philip Gunns on ANZAC Day this year

 

By MALUM NALU

 

Yesterday being Remembrance Day reminded me of an emotional experience I had at the Bomana War Cemetery outside Port Moresby on ANZAC Day this year.

Last November, I received an email from Australian Philip Gunns, wondering if I could put him in contact with someone who could take a picture of his uncle Leslie Charlie Gunns’ grave site at Bomana.

“I found your email when I was looking up some information about Bomana War Cemetery, where my uncle is buried,” he told me.

“My uncle was killed there in 1942.

“He was only 19 years old.

“My dad (81) and his sister (90) have never seen his grave site (grave C7.E.16) Bomana War Cemetery.

“I was wondering if you could put me in contact with someone you may be able to take a photo of the grave site for me.”

I offered to take a picture next time I was at Bomana, however, didn’t have a chance to travel up there until the ANZAC Day Dawn Service on April 25.

After the service, I enlisted the help of my elder brother David and my nieces and nephews to look for Leslie Gunns’ grave, which wasn’t that difficult.

NX89514 Private LC Gunns, of the 2/33 Infantry Battalion, was killed on October 12, 1942, aged 19, according to his epitaph.

Phil Gunns was a much-relieved man after I saw his uncle’s grave.

“Regarding Les, he was only 19 when he was killed, believed to be one shot from a sniper in a tree and killed instantly,” he said.

“He was a bit of an action man and stood up for himself, played junior rugby union for local club Eastwood in Sydney,  also had a few amateur boxing fights and was looking to turn pro when he returned from the war.

“He was so keen to join the war that he ran away from home at 16 and went to Queensland and put his age up to 18 and joined the army.

“His mum and dad asked the Salvation Army to help find him, which they did, and when the army found out he was discharged.

“When he was able to join his elder brother returned from the Middle East and claimed him to join the same outfit.

“His elder brother was the man behind him when he was killed.

“He was killed on the Kokoda Track near a place called Myola, where he was first buried before he was repatriated to Bomana

“That’s all I really know as he was killed 14 years before I was born.

“Hope this helps you.

“Once again thank you for the photos.

“They will greatly appreciated.”

World-famous Goroka Show on again

Caption: A colourful singsing group during the 2010 Goroka Show at the National Sports Institute.-Picture courtesy of GOROKA SHOW COMMITTEE

By MALUM NALU

The 54th Goroka Show – with the theme ‘Unity’ - will be staged over independence weekend on September 16, 17 and 18.

This was confirmed at the launch of PNG’s longest-running cultural festival, which was first staged back in 1957, at a function attended by sponsors and potential sponsors in Goroka last Wednesday night,

Traditional major sponsors such as SP Brewery and Coca-Cola Amatil (PNG) were represented while National Gaming Control Board, while not present, indicated its continued support this year.

 Bank South Pacific came good with K20, 000, presentation of which was made by Goroka branch manager, Reuben Elijah.

Also joining the bandwagon was Lae Biscuit Company with K5, 000;  PNG Japan Ltd with K5,000; while Ramu Agri-Industries Ltd committed 25,000 sachets of sugar (equivalent to 50 cartons) for the singsing groups.

Organising committee chairman, Gideon Samuel, acknowledged the presence and support of sponsors, and appealed to Eastern Highlands provincial government to give more support to the event.

“Other shows in the country receive adequate financial backing from their host provincial governments to the tune of more than K100, 000 to host their shows,” he said.

“Having said that, it is not my intention to discredit the provincial government but to point out that it is really impossible to host a show of the calibre of Goroka Show with K20, 000 or K10, 000 at this point in time, taking into consideration the higher cost of goods and services.

“Goroka Show, as we all know, is a historic event,” he said.

“Goroka Show first started as the Highlands Show and was first staged in 1957 under the colonial administration to unite the various warring tribes of the region, take stock of the progress of development and to introduce the concept of economic development to a people suddenly in confrontation with civilisation and the material world.

“In fact,  to this very day,  I remain convinced that Goroka Show played its part in the dissemination of information on coffee cultivation to the indigenous people because the very people who were instrumental in promoting coffee were also involved in the planning and staging of the Goroka Show in the early years.

“Goroka Show was also responsible for the exposure of the famous Asaro Mudman, which has gone on to become the cultural icon of Eastern Highlands. “

Samuel commended Goroka Chamber of Commerce and Industry for raising the profile of the show since 2005, through the website www.gorokashow.com , at its own costs

“Today I receive queries from all over the globe on information regarding show dates, accommodation and many more,” he said.

“Just a while ago, I receive an email from a former resident who told me that she was on the inaugural organising committee, and that she is intending to come again for this year’s event.

“Last year, we had a record of 800-plus tourists and that is attributed to the ongoing internet marketing through our website, courtesy of Goroka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”

First national mining safety week to be in 2012

The First National Mining Safety Week shall be celebrated in March-April 2012 all across the entire mining industry in Papua New Guinea.

As per decision taken by the National Apex Mining Safety Council last year, Barrick Porgera Joint Venture will be hosting this event which was announced at the second meeting of the National Mining Emergency Response Forum in Port Moresby on Wednesday July 20, 2011.

The mining industry in PNG,  under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Inspector of Mines,  organised the First National Mining Emergency Response Challenge at Lae in March 2011,  which received an excellent response and support from all stake holders and was hailed as a resounding success.  

Transforming the event into a bigger and wider game, next year would witness staging of the First National Mining Safety Week in which all mines would conduct various safety promotional activities at their respective sites during the Safety Week period,  which would lead up to staging of the Mining Emergency Response Challenge in Port Moresby as a concluding ceremony.    

The concept,  initiated to develop closer partnerships and interaction amongst the different industry players and to provide avenue for participants to learn and exchange skills and ideas,  is believed to generate more interest and bigger participation next year.

The main purpose of these celebrations is to educate and remind people of the importance of safety at their work places.

Speaking at the Forum meeting, PNG’s Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr Mohan Singh,  thanked Barrick PJV for taking up the challenge and said he had confidence in them to make the 2012 event a grand success.

Nautilus: We are abiding by laws

By BOSORINA ROBBY

 

THE proposed Solwara1 ocean floor mining by Nautilus Minerals Ltd in the Bismarck Sea has complied with environment and mining laws of Papua New Guinea, the company’s PNG country manager Mel Togolo says, The National reports.

He also told the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum Environment Seminar on Wednesday that an important aspect of the project was its smaller physical footprint compared with land-based mining.

Solwara1 will commercially explore for seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposits, which are high grades of copper, gold, zinc and silver, in deep sea mining off the coasts of New Ireland and East New Britain provinces.

Togolo said some advantages of deep sea mining, a world first in PNG, was the use of reusable infrastructure and technology like offshore diamond drilling, dredging, onshore mining and pumps systems of oil and gas fields.

“The advantage of being out at sea is that there will be limited social disturbance, and there are no human presence at the depth of 1,600m, which is how far down the mine is located,” he said.

Togolo said worker safety would be protected because most of the work would be done by robots and machines programmed to work at such depths, which are too cold and deep for humans, which are all controlled on board a command ship.

“We will have minimal waste as what comes out goes back into the sea, and we will have minimal overburden because there is no land for us to get rid off before getting to the ore deposits,” he said.

Togolo said during his presentation that Nautilus Minerals had been given government approval in the form of a permit to explore and a permit to operate a mine after satisfying procedures outlined in the Environment Act 2000 and Mining Act 1992.

He said these permits were presented in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

Togolo said the project has also applied for and received approval from the relevant communities or those who are closer to the project.

He said preliminary awareness programmes included transparent and inclusive stakeholder engagement and workshops involving communities, world-renowned experts, government and non-governmental organisation.

Given that production was set to start in 2013, Nautilus Minerals was seeking acceptance or social licence to disaggregate seafloor material, transport the material to a ship and transport to a market.

Togolo mentioned that the coastal communities were most concerned about environmental issues such as the protection of the marine environment with emphasis on tuna, reefs, whales, sharks and turtles.

In response, Nautilus Minerals said that with the extraction taking place below the level the tuna population, their feeding and breeding grounds would not be affected.

However, Togolo said the only impact on surface waters would be the presence of the vessels and supporting vessels and riser pipes which will transport the ore from the seafloor up to the vessel.

NA party members on collision course

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

 

EXECUTIVES of the ruling National Alliance party and its parliamentarians are on a collision course over the suspension of acting prime minister from the party, The National reports..

But Abal has reassured the people and party supporters that the National Alliance “is solid”.

He will also put up his hand up for the post of prime minister when it becomes available.

The party’s national executive committee had decided on Monday to suspend Wabag MP Abal for two weeks for “wilfully acting in a manner prejudicial to the interest of the party”.

In that regard, the parliamentarians said the national executives had more powers than them, the elected members of parliament.

The NA highlands MPs yesterday closed ranks around Abal who they elected as the region’s new deputy leader claiming their decision was within the confines of the party constitution.

Abal said the national executive should, like other political parties, handle issues internally before going to the media.

“They have done a disservice by going to the press. At the moment they have served documents which I said is not legal,” he said.

“Legal advice is that it is debatable whether an unelected representative can presumably suspend an elected member of parliament and purportedly take down the acting prime minister.”

Abal promised to unite the party and “cut out stuff like this that try to weaken and break up the party”.

Abal said Wednesday night’s decision was reached after much deli­beration.

He commended the leaders from the region for supporting Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare’s appointment of him as deputy and acting prime minister.

“The time for elections is next year and the National Alliance, being the biggest party, needs to take steps to consolidate and move forward,” Abal said.

“It is not an easy decision and I thank the former leader, Don Polye, for his leadership thus far.

“It is about time we renewed the face of the party and propose to the people that we have re-strategised and prepare ourselves to lead the country.”

Abal said the country had been unstable with governments lasting 18 months, but the National Alliance-led government had brought stability and restored investor confidence.

Abal was flanked by Education Minister James Marape (Tari-Pori); Labour Minister Sani Rambi (Mul-Baiyer); Tom Olga (Western Highlands Governor); Yawa Silupa (Lufa); Benjamin Mul (North Waghi); Miki Kaeok (Wapenamanda) and Lands Minister Lucas Dekena.

The media conference was attended by Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet (Momase) and Charles Abel (southern).

They were the first to congratulate Abal on his election.