Beyond the Coral Sea

East of Java and west of Tahiti a bird of dazzling plumage stalks the Pacific over the Cape York Peninsula of Australia.

In her wake, she spills clusters of emeralds on the surface of the deep.

These are the unknown paradise islands of the Coral, Solomon and Bismarck Seas lying off the east coast of Papua New Guinea.

The islands were the last inhabited place on earth to be explored by Europeans and even today many remain largely unspoilt, despite the former presence of German, British and even Australian colonial rulers.

Beyond the Coral Sea – a book which portrays Papua New Guinea in a new light – is now being sold in bookshelves around the world.

Written by Australian Michael Moran, the book is arguably the most- comprehensive travel book to be written about PNG in many years, and introduces a new area to travel literature.

Beyond the Coral Sea introduces the adventurers, mercenaries, explorers and missionaries – past and present – who have inhabited the islands and brings them vividly to life.

“My PNG book has sold well in paperback but is not really a bestseller as normally understood, but for a book on PNG it has done brilliantly, particularly in international reviews and prizes,” Moran says.

“I have received many private letters from all sorts of people, also Papua New Guineans, who love the book.

“I notice on the internet the book is also in many university libraries around the world – Oxford, Cambridge, Australia and many in the US.

“This is excellent news for me and I am proud of it.

“In March 2005 I was invited to deliver the prestigious Monday lecture to the Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society in London – a great honour – and I used many slides of PNG and some rare recordings Malinowski made of cannibal laments in the Trobriand Islands. It was very successful.

“The book was short-listed for the world’s premier travel book prize in 2004 – The Thomas Cook Travel Book Award.

“This also was a great achievement – a first for an Australian travel writer and a first for PNG.

“Unfortunately I did not win but was runner-up.

“It gave excellent publicity for tourism to PNG.”

Moran begins his journey on the island of Samarai, historic gateway to the old British Protectorate, as the guest of the benign grandson of a cannibal.

But rather than a tale of cannibals and blood, this is a journey in the romantic and adventurous spirit of Robert Louis Stevenson and an exploration of encroaching change in remarkably diverse cultures.

Along the way Moran explores the role of superstition, magic rites and the occult in the lives of the islanders, including the trading route of the Kula Ring which unites many tribal island groups in a mystical exchange of symbolically valuable objects, one set travelling clockwise around the ring, the other anti-clockwise.

Moran describes the historic anthropological work of Malinowski in the Trobriand Islands and also catches up with some of the adventurers, mercenaries, explorers, missionaries and prospectors he has encountered on previous journeys.

He explores the former capitals of German New Guinea and headquarters of the disastrous Neu Guinea Compagnie, its administrators decimated by malaria and murder.

He travels along the inaccessible Rai Coast through the Archipelago of Contented Men, following in the footsteps of the great Russian explorer “Baron” Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay.

His narrative is interwoven with the fabulous and humorous stories of eccentric residents such as the glamorous “Queen” Emma on New Britain, the deranged Marquis de Rays who attempted to found a utopian colony on a malaria-infested shore of New Ireland and the impetuous sexual exploits of a young Errol Flynn.

“Queen Emma” of New Britain, who was born of an American father and a Samoan mother, built up a large empire of copra plantations, as well as traded in the fabled obsidian (black volcanic glass) and entertained on a lavish scale with imported food and French champagne.

Moran journeys by light plane, jeep and banana boat to reach former colonial capitals and occult heartlands.

He uses the historic anthropological work of Bronislaw Malinowski to guide him through the seductive labyrinth of the Trobriand “Islands of Love” and the sensual erotic dances of the yam festival.

“People are impressed with the appearance and general ‘seriousness’ but relaxed writing style of the book and my colour photographs of the lovely blonde children (of New Ireland) and landscapes,” Moran said.

“Those amazing New Ireland men in tatanua masks on the jacket have hardly ever been seen in the UK.

“The island provinces of PNG are regarded as incredibly exotic here.”

The book has been well reviewed in the Times Literary Supplement, a very prestigious journal, and the Daily Mail newspaper, which has a circulation about 2.5 million as well as others.

Moran said PNG High Commissioner to Great Britain Ms Jean Kekedo liked the book very much.

“She knows everybody I mentioned by name, particularly the Milne Bay area,” he said.

“We have come to similar conclusions about the problems of PNG, as she has a serious social conscience.

“The book is not 100 per cent positive, of course, as I tried to present a balanced picture of the more sensational and incredible events of its original ‘Western survey’ as well as a generally-glowing picture of the peaceful and beautiful people island people I met.

“The Highlands and the problems of that region could be on another planet compared to the island provinces.”

Moran concluded: “I truly hope that this happy, charming and informative book will assist tourism to your beautiful country – it really needs some positive press.”

Beyond the Coral Sea: Travels in the Old Empires of the South-West Pacific
by Michael Moran
Format: Hardback
Price: £18.99
Imprint: HarperCollins

The story of Nadzab airport

Nadzab airport before just before its opening in 1977

The story of Nadzab airport


Longtime Lae resident, the late Horace Niall, once predicted that Nadazab would one day become the main international airport for Papua New Guinea.

It hasn’t, as yet, however, is capable of receiving international flights and remains one of the busiest airports in the country.
Niall was one of those who helped to build Nadzab back in 1943 into one of the busiest airstrips of World War 11.
And he fondly recalls that Nadzab was almost in every respect an “international airport” in those days, with loudspeakers calling for passengers to Honolulu, Los Angeles, Australia and many other faraway places.
Nadzab fell into disuse after WW11, however, rose from the ashes of the war to be reopened in 1977 and eventually took over from Lae as the main airport.
“Having had so much to do with Nadzab, I was happy to hear in 1973 that it was to be made operational again,” Niall wrote in 1978.
“I doubt that it will ever be as busy as it was from late 1943 to 1945, but I have a feeling in my bones that one day it will become the main international airport for Papua New Guinea.”
The first airfield in the Nadzab area of the Morobe Province’s Markham Valley was established by the Lutheran Mission for use by small planes serving the mission station at Gabmatzung.
It was not used very often and, after the outbreak of the Pacific War, it soon became overgrown with dense kunai grass.
It was with the capture of Japanese-occupied Lae in mind that the Allied forces decided to use the Nadzab area as a landing craft for Dakota and other aircraft.
On September 5, 1943, about 1600 men of the 503rd American Parachute Infantry Regiment, with an Australian battery of 25-pounders, were dropped at Nadzab.
The Americans were in 82 Dakota transports, the Australian gunners in five.
Before the attack, part of the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, with a Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) company and an Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) detachment with almost 1000 Papua New Guineans as carriers and labourers, had been assembled at Tsili Tsili airstrip in the Lower Watut area, to the southwest of Nadzab.
“The ANGAU detachment was under my command,” Niall takes up the story.
“All of us made a three-day march from Tsili Tsili to a point overlooking the Markham River and almost opposite the area where the paratroopers were to land.
“Before the drop, the site was heavily strafed by Mitchell bombers and fighter planes.
“At the same time the Lae airstrip was also coming under heavy bombardment.
“During the strafing, large areas of kunai grass were set alight.
“The paratroopers landed with no opposition.
“The overland troops and carriers crossed the Markham River just west of the junction with the Erap River but their progress to the drop area was held up because a track had to be cut through the tall pitpit (a wild sugarcane)
“By dark, Lieutenant Colonel J.T. Lang, CO of the Pioneers, and myself had reached the site of the proposed new airstrip.
“Word was sent back along the track for all to sleep where they could and to be at the old airstrip site by first light.
“This happened and by 7.30am I was able to report that, by a superhuman effort on the part of the Papua New Guinea labourers, the old strip was cleared and ready for planes to land on it.
“On hearing this, the 5th Air Force headquarters began moving troops of the Australian 7th Division, the first arrivals landing about 11.30am.
“Cover for the incoming aircraft was provided by the US paratroopers.
“The next day I was told to report to Colonel Price of the US Army engineers, who instructed me to accompany him to a site, marked on aerial photograph of the area, which appeared suitable for a large airstrip.
“We travelled at breakneck speed across country to the site of the present Nadzab airstrip.
“After driving up and down the proposed site a few times the colonel said he was satisfied it would be suitable.
“We then arranged for 50 labourers to be put to work clearing the kunai and other rubbish.
“A camp site, which is still recognisable, was selected for ANGAU personnel near the present turn-off from the Highlands Highway to the airport.”
Grass knives and machetes were dropped and some large tractor drawn mowers were sent from Port Moresby.
However, they could not be used until large stones and bush covering the area had been cleared.
Then six bulldozers were flown in.
They cleared a track as they drove to the site of the planned strip.
That track was almost in the same position as the track which today leads from the airport to the racecourse.
“The ‘dozers quickly leveled the area but in doing so they raised a pall of black dust, caused by the kunai being set alight, which made working conditions unpleasant, especially since drinking water had to be carried several miles,” Niall recalls.
“Another danger was the death adders which turned up by the score.
“Most were large and angry at being disturbed and each had to be caught and killed before work could proceed.
“Luckily no one was bitten and I think the adders helped augment the meat rations of some workers!”
Next came the Marsden steel matting which was laid on the new strip by the US engineers.
Two days after work had begun, the first flight of Mitchell bombers landed. The strip had already been tested by a few Dakota landings and a makeshift control tower, made from poles cut from the nearby bushes and tied with wire and kunai vines, had been erected.
In the days that followed Lae was recaptured and the US 5th Air Force headquarters was moved from Port Moresby to Nadzab.
Two more strips were prepared plus an emergency landing ground.
Dispersal bays were made and connecting roads, most of which were sealed with bitumen flown from Port Moresby, were laid.
An Australian Construction Squadron also built two strips near the entrance to the present-day Nadzab airport for use by RAAF aircraft.
The main airstrip was, at first, used mostly by medium and heavy bombers such as Liberators and Flying Fortresses which were attacking Madang, Wewak, Rabaul and Hollandia (now Jayapura in West Irian).
They came and went from dawn till dark.
This went on until Hollandia was captured by US troops.
The heavy aircraft were then moved to Hollandia, and to Morotai in the northern Moluccas.
Nadazab then became home to the Combat Replacement Training Centre (CRTC).
Planes were flown in from Australia and the United States and the crews were given their final training before combat.
“Nadzab was almost in every respect an international airport,” Niall remembers.
“All day long, one could hear loudspeakers calling for passengers to Honolulu, Los Angeles, Australia and many other faraway places.
“Most air operations for the transport aircraft were controlled by civilians in uniform.
“One told me they were getting ready for the period after the war when they would be traffic controllers for US civil airlines.
“It must have been excellent training for them!
“We were hoping to have the use of a lot of the army-built huts at Nadzab after the 5th Air Force moved on but to our disappointment nearly all were dismantled and flown to Hollandia.
“Only the concrete floors were left, many of which can be seen at Nadzab today.”
The war over, Nadzab fell into disuse, nearly all air movements being made from Lae.
“Two years later, the only sign of activity was the ‘graveyard’ of dozens of wrecked Liberators and Fortress bombers plus a few Dakotas and fighter planes,” Niall continues.
“These were bought by an enterprising group who set up a furnace, smelted down the pieces into ingots and shipped them from Lae at what was said to have been a very handsome profit.
“It was sad to see the old bombers being chopped up.
“On their sides were a great selection of humourous paintwork – fancy names, markings signifying the number of missions, numbers of ships hit or sunk and other aircraft shot down in combat.
“Practically nothing is left today of the ‘graveyard’ which was at the western end of the present airstrip.”
In 1962, the main strip at Nadzab was resealed by the Australian Commonwealth Department of Works and lengthened to make it suitable for Mirage fighters, even though they never materialised.
However, it was always maintained by the Australian Department of Civil Aviation as an alternative to Lae in poor weather conditions.
Likes its predecessor in Lae, Nadzab has made an indelible impact on the history of Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea and the world.

Goroka and Eastern Highlands Province

What is it about Goroka and the Eastern Highlands in general that makes outsiders fall in love with the place?

Having lived in Goroka from 1998 to 2002, where I worked for the Coffee Industry Corporation, I can understand why people go there and never leave.

That’s where my wife and I settled together, where our first two sons were born.

Five years after leaving Goroka, I can honestly say that it’s a place that we’ve never quite left and our hearts will always be there.

Before that, from 1975 to 1977, I did my early years of primary school in Goroka.

And in the 1960s, my mum and dad lived there, and that’s where my elder sister and brother were born.

So I guess you can say that Goroka has always been a second home to us.

The first and foremost attraction of Goroka and Eastern Highlands has been the friendly, peace–loving people.

Secondly, there’s the famed “perennial spring” weather of the province.

Eastern Highlands Province is made up of eight districts.

They are Goroka, Kainantu, Henganofi, Unggai/Bena, Obura/Wonenara, Asaroka, Lufa and Okapa.

Eastern Highlands has a total land area land of 11, 347 square km.

The Province shares a common administrative boundary with Madang, Morobe and Gulf Provinces and Simbu Provinces.

Eastern Highlanders like to think of themselves as the friendliest people in the Highlands and have less tribal fights compared to other Highlands provinces.

Eastern Highlands has a total population of 432, 792 people.

The Eastern Highlands makes up 8.3 per cent of the total PNG population, which is the fourth highest population in the country after Southern Highlands, Morobe and Western Highlands Provinces.

They are hardworking people who attend to their food gardens, coffee and livestock while the educated ones work in the towns or cities.

Many from all over the country and expatriates have made this province their home either because of work or marriage.

The Province is home to a number of national institutions such as: Coffee Industry Corporation, PNG Institute of Medical Research, University of Goroka, National Sports Institute, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Aiyura National High School, National Agriculture Research Institute, Coffee Research Institute, and Yonki Hydro Power Station.

Non-government organisations such as Research & Conservation Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Save the Children and Eastern Highlands Family Voice have a strong presence in Goroka.

The PNG Coffee Festival & Trade Fair every May and the Goroka Show every September are two major events on Goroka’s calendar.

The province is the regional trucking centre, having one of the Highlands region's major trucking company's operating in Goroka.

The East-West Trucking Company freights cargo and provides service to the entire Highlands region. Apart from that, there are other private trucking firms that freight cargo.

The province's economy lies in the production and export of coffee, which provides the economic backbone and livelihood for all Eastern Highlanders.

Leading exporters of coffee based in the Province are PNG Coffee Exports and New Guinea Highlands Coffee Exports as well as PNG's ground coffee manufacturers Goroka Coffee Roasters, Kongo Coffee and Arabicas Ltd.

The Coffee Industry Corporation headquarters is also located in Goroka.

Eastern Highlands is the leading producer of coffee in the Highlands region.

It produces large quantities of coffee annually for export.

Almost all rural households within the province own a small plot of coffee as a small family project.

A lot of families have now taken to supplementing their family's income by engaging in small agricultural and livestock businesses.

The introduction of vanilla, wheat and rice has had a huge impact on agricultural enthusiasts throughout the Province.

Rice and wheat is being grown for own consumption and/or selling while the vanilla is sold to the international market.

Pigs, rabbits and especially chickens are readily farmed while fresh vegetables are still grown for the local and national markets.

Traditional houses, built circular or horizontal and walls weaved from pitpit canes or bamboo, are common in villages.

Traditional housing is built in a circular or rectangular shape and the walls weaved from pitpit canes or bamboo.

Cooking is done either by using bamboos, roasting sweet potatoes in the open fire or using earth ovens known as mumu.

Monthly rainfall follows a seasonal pattern with a wet season from December to early April having mean monthly rainfalls of about 203mm to 305mm.

Eastern Highlands Province is made up of rugged mountain terrain and broad valleys.

It has low coastal areas in the Markham and Ramu valleys.

The Province's two highest peaks, Mt Tabletop and Mt Michael, are located on Kratke and Bismarck Range respectively.

They rise at a height of more than 3000 metres above sea level.

Specifically, Mt Michael is situated 3750 metres above sea level while Mt Tabletop is at 3686 metres.

Asaro and Lamari rivers both flow into the Purari, which is one of PNG's five major river systems.

The Ramu River feeds the Yonki Hydro-Power Station.

The Province is entered through the Kassam Pass and exited to other Highlands provinces at Daulo Pass.

Kassam Pass offers a picturesque view of the Markham and Ramu valleys while Daulo Pass reveals a breath taking view of Goroka's lush, green valleys.

Grasslands dominate a broad area of land especially in the valleys, which is predominantly inhabited by people.

To surmise, there’s no other place like Goroka or Eastern Highlands!

Tiri Kuimbakul’s vision for Papua New Guinea

Tiri Kuimbakul’s book Success after Graduation has become a runaway bestseller since its launch in November 2006.

Since the launch of the book – aimed at young people in general – over 400 copies have been sold in the first three months, with orders coming in from all over the country.

And his star has continued to rise since the launch, with interviews with both local and overseas media; a weekly newspaper column for young people; and meeting many people personally and through an avalanche of emails, faxes, letters, and telephone calls.

This is all something new for the quietly-spoken layman pastor.

“When I first came upon the idea of writing books sometime in July 2005, I did not know what lay ahead of me,” he reflects.

“It has been like launching out into deep waters not knowing what will happen.

“It has really been a journey of faith.

“And I have met so many people I would never have known had I not written this book, many through correspondence.

“I hope to meet them in person some day.

“I am very happy with the response so far.

“I have sold many copies already to individuals - young people and parents, three bookshops and several schools.

“The first printing was 1000 copies.

“I gave away about 50 for promotional purposes.

“Of the balance, I have sold over 400 copies since November last year.

“So it is selling very well.

“I hope to go for a second print sooner than I thought.

“One provincial government has already ordered 1600 copies for all the high schools in the province.

“I hope to get other provincial governments to do the same.

“Several of them are emphasising human resource development and providing free education for students in their provinces, but they cannot guarantee them jobs.

“This book will really complement their efforts.”

Success after Graduation covers 13 subjects which Kuimbakul believes students, school-leavers and young people in general need to know about what life is like after school.

He discusses these issues, like finding a job, succeeding in work, planning for early retirement, creating your own job, and many others.

“I wrote the book because I realised that most students and young people do not get much if any advice on the matters I cover in the book,” Kuimbakul explains.

“Many parents in PNG are illiterate and do not have any working experience, or are unemployed, so they do not provide advice and guidance to their children on the matters addressed in the book.

“Other parents are too busy with work and business that they neglect their kids.

“This is evidenced by so many children of successful people being on the streets.

“So I wrote the book to provide sound advice on real-life issues affecting young people, especially as they leave school and enter the job market.

“My target group is young people in general, which covers students, especially those in secondary school, college and university; school-leavers, the unemployed as well as those who are working.”

Kuimbakul, 41, is from Mount Hagen in the Western Highlands, however, graduated with an honours degree in economics from University of Papua New Guinea in 1988.

Kuimbakul has worked as an economist with the Department of Agriculture & Livestock (1989-1990); assistant Export Manager with Coffee International Limited (1991-1992); economist and general manager of Industry Affairs Division, Coffee Industry Corporation (1993-1999); export Manager with Kongo Coffee Limited (2000); and freelance consultant (2001-2007)

He currently manages a coffee marketing project, advises two community development associations in Western Highlands Province, does church work, writes and publishes books, conducts seminars, and speaks to students and young people when he gets the opportunity.

“I have just completed my second book, which is titled ‘Young Money: What Every Working Person Needs To Know And Do To Achieve Financial Independence And Freedom’,” Kuimbakul continues.

“It talks about how people can succeed financially.

“The premise of the book is that academic and professional success does not equate to financial success.

“It should be on the market in late March/early April 2007.

“I am also nearly finished with my third book titled ‘Be Your Own Boss!’.

“It discusses more than 30 reasons why people should seriously consider becoming self-employed/going into business.

“I think it will blow the minds of thousands of working people in the country.

“I am aiming for it to be published in May 2007.”

Kuimbakul plans to write several more books over the next four years.

“By the time I am through, I will have covered the following areas: school, professional success, financial management, business and investing,” he says.

“In case you and others wonder why I want to write so many books, I would like to let you know that I have a vision for the future, which concerns empowering young people to become entrepreneurs.

“The vision is to develop and run an entrepreneurship school in the country for school drop-outs.

“I will use the books as resource material to develop a training manual and programme, and conduct training in conjunction with churches in the country.

“The motto of the programme will be ‘Turning Failure Into Success’.

“The programme will teach drop-outs and those who are labelled as failures, how to start their own businesses, as opposed to so-called business schools which teach people how to run other peoples’ businesses.

“The instructors will be successful business people who share a similar vision and are willing to give their time and knowledge for free, not textbook teachers.

“At the end of the training students will be required to develop business plans based on their own business ideas, which they have to defend before a committee.

“Whoever comes up with a bankable/viable plan and convinces the committee, will be funded from the proceeds of the books.

“The committee will provide on-going counselling, coaching and mentoring until the businesses are well-established.

“I hope that the program will produce many successful self-made business people in many parts of the country.

“This is the vision.

“This means that people who buy any of my books will buy into the vision and become partners with me in giving hope to as many of the hopeless young people we have on the streets of PNG today.

“ I do not know yet when the program will start.

“But that is the vision.”

Success after Graduation. By Tiri Kuimbakul. Self-published. Goroka, 2006. 151 pages. K60.

Dr Greg Murphy honoured for his services to PNG arts and education

The award of Officer of the Order of Logohu was presented to Raun Raun Theatre founder Dr Greg Murphy by Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane on Thursday on March 1, 2007.

Dr Murphy, a naturalised citizen who first came to Papua New Guinea in 1968, is known to many people – particularly those of Goroka – as being the founder of the famous Raun Raun Theatre and his role in the construction of the landmark Raun Raun Theatre building.

His is also known for his production of many plays, including the internationally-acclaimed Sail The Midnight Sun trilogy, which was written by famous PNG writer and poet John Kasaipwalova.

He is now employed by the University of Papua New Guinea as the Director of the Madang Open Campus.

“I would rate my biggest achievements in Papua New Guinea as the direction of the Sail the Midnight Sun Trilogy with the Raun Raun Theatre actors and dancers and the poet, John Kasaipwalova, and my role in the construction of the wonderful Raun Raun Theatre building in Goroka,” Dr Murphy says.

“But it also gave me great pleasure to witness the first group of graduates from the Madang Open Campus in April last year.

“It was a small group of seven people who graduated with a Bachelor of Management.

“I was very proud of them.”

He stood proud at Government House to receive his award.

“I was very proud to receive this award along with many other people who have contributed in their own ways to our country of Papua New Guinea.

“To be honoured in this way by my country - I became a citizen of Papua New Guinea in 1985 - means a great deal to me.”

Dr Murphy was educated at Melbourne and Monash Universities and then sent to Papua New Guinea as an Australian conscript in the Pacific Islands Regiment.

“Instead of being sent to Vietnam,” he recalls, “I was sent to Papua New Guinea to teach at the Military Cadet School in Lae.

“After that, I spent 10 years with Raun Raun Theatre and 25 years teaching and managing in tertiary educational institutions in Papua New Guinea.

“I have a formally adopted family of two children and now two grandchildren as well.

“In many ways, I regard my family as my major achievement.

“It has been a lifelong commitment.”

Dr Murphy’s contribution to the arts and culture in Papua New Guinea really began when he arrived in 1968.

“I was teaching English to officer cadets at Igam Barracks.

“During that time, we did a lot of creative writing, made a film based on Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart and produced a play called Everyman (the African version).

“I then returned to Australia and came back to live permanently in Papua New Guinea in 1973.

“For two years, I was a lecturer in Expressive Arts at Goroka Teachers College.

“Two collections of student poetry, Hey Now and O Mama, were published and 14 stage productions were mounted during that time.

“One of these productions was a folk opera called Betlail based on a story from Siassi and another was called Poket Buruk, a village play about alcoholism.

“These two productions formed a model for Raun Raun Theatre which I started in 1975 under the National Cultural Council.

“I directed and developed this theatre company for 10 years until 1984.”


The following are the productions completed at that time:

Village plays: 1975 Poket Buruk [TP: Broke!]a play about alcoholism; 1975 TupelaTingting [TP: Double Bind] a play about gambling; 1976 O Mama na Papa
a play about urban youth; 1977 Kago [TP: Cargo]a play about cargoism; 1978 Ol Kain Sik Nogut [TP: Health Problems]a play about malnutrition, diarrhoea, sexually transmitted disease; 1979 Taim Bilong Kopi [TP: The Coffee Season]a play about coffee growing; 1980 Femili Plenin [TP: Family Planning]; 1981 Wara Suplai [TP: Water Supply]; 1982 Politiks [TP: Politics].

Folk operas: 1975 Betlail [The Twins]an origin story from the Siassi Islands; 1975 Ai Bilong Bilak Bokis [TP: The Eye of the Flying Fox]an origin story from the Finschhafen area; 1976 Tewel Bilong Kokatu [TP: The Cockatoo Spirit]an origin story from the Finschhafen area; 1977 Diwaz [The Trickster]an origin story from the Kiwai area of the Gulf; 1978 The Legend of Jari an origin story from the East Sepik; 1980 Sail the Midnight Sunbased on poetry by John Kasaipwalova; 1982 My Tide Let Me Ride
based on poetry by John Kasaipwalova; 1984 The Dance of the Snail
based on stories told by John Kasaipwalova.

These three performances by John Kasaipwalova formed the Sail the Midnight Sun trilogy.

Over the 10 years, the Company performed in many of the villages in the five Highlands provinces, throughout all of the 19 provinces of Papua New Guinea and featured at several international arts festivals.

It was a remarkable experience and demonstrated the potential in Papua New Guinea for institutions of excellence.

Two of the highlights of this performance history were the premiere of Sail the Midnight Sun at the South Pacific Arts Festival in Port Moresby in 1980 and the performances of the first two parts of the trilogy at the Adelaide Festival in 1984.

“I served as a member of the National Cultural Council of Papua New Guinea from 1978 to 1984,” Dr Murphy says.

“In 1986, I began my current job at the University of Papua New Guinea as the Director of the Madang Open Campus, previously called the Madang University Centre.

“This involves mostly administering and teaching at a distance education facility but, during this period of more than 20 years, I have also conducted theatre workshops, organised creative writing workshops, published four issues of the journal Mazoz: New Writing and Arts from Papua New Guinea and written teachers resource books for Expressive Arts.

“I have also been involved in extensive research projects which led to the writing of my PhD thesis: Raun Raun Theatre and its role in the construction of a national culture in Papua New Guinea.

“I completed this PhD through our own university, the University of Papua New Guinea, which was always my aim.

“In fact, my work in education and culture in Papua New Guinea was not really in two separate fields because they are in many ways the same thing.

“The 10-year experience at Raun Raun Theatre was a real education for the actors and dancers, and myself.

“Even though they generally had very little formal education, I regard them now as highly-educated people, educated through travel and experience.

“Similarly, to work in the area of education in Papua New Guinea requires a sensitivity to culture and language and a commitment to them.

“Distance Education is an exciting area to work in because students need to become more independent and self-reliant and more readily take ownership of their own studies and their own learning.

“Learning at a distance has in fact become the most popular way globally to study and to acquire knowledge.

“My current interest is in literacy, in other words, the business of reading and writing, at all levels, in tok ples, tok pisin and tok inglis.

“In fact we are now working on the establishment of a Provincial Language and Literacy Resource Centre in Madang.”

Dr Murphy feels strongly about the arts and crafts in Papua New Guinea.

“I think the arts and crafts in Papua New Guinea need support in the form of national and provincial institutions where artists can work and exchange ideas.

“This is in fact the only way arts and crafts can grow and develop into a strong and vibrant contemporary culture.

“In other words, I think the former National Arts School or Creative Arts Centre needs re-establishing and devolving into provincial and regional areas.

“Cultures and the arts need to change and adapt.

“If they don’t, they will not survive.

“Preservation is not the right way, except of course in museums which are very valuable institutions in themselves, because you can only preserve something which is already dead.

“What we need is transformation, to use an expression of John Kasaipwalova’s.

“We need cultures and arts and education which are alive and exuberant and vibrant.”

A profile of Bishop Reverend Doctor Wesley Kigasung

Wesley Waekesa Kigasung comes from Aluki village in the Bukawa area of Morobe Province.

He was born on July 16, 1950, and is married to Susie Manempen Kigasung of Mindere village in the Rai Coast area of Madang Province.

The Kigasungs are blessed with two daughters and two grand daughters.

The young Wesley Kigasung received primary education in remote Menyamya and later on Siassi Island where he did secondary schooling at Gelem High School (now Siassi High School) from1966 to 1968.

He completed High school at Asaroka Lutheran High School in Goroka, Eastern Highlands in 1969.

Kigasung attended Martin Luther Seminary from 1970-1975 and graduated in 1975 with Diploma of Theology and Bachelor of Theology.

He received further studies at the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby from 1976 – 1978 and graduated from the University in 1979 with the degree of Master of Arts majoring in history of PNG).

From 1979 to 1980 he served as Circuit Pastor in remote Kaintiba, Gulf Province.

In 1981 Kigasung was called to teach at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae until the end of 1982.

In March 1983 he left with his family for Germany for language studies.

Towards the end of 1984 he again left for further studies in Chicago, USA, where he graduated in 1986 with the degree of Master of Theology at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

Kigasung continued studies for his doctoral degree and completed all doctoral work in 1989, when he received the degree Doctor of Theology from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

He resumed work as Lecturer at Martin Luther Seminary towards the end of 1989.

In 1991 he was appointed Principal of Martin Luther Seminary and served as Principal until 1997.

In January 1998 Kigasung was elected Head Bishop of the church at the Kimbe Synod.

Kigasung is widely respected as an intellectual and a leading preacher of the word of God in this country.

“I believe it is a special gift from God,” he says of his skills as an orator.

“From my early years in school I already developed the skill of speaking in front of my peers.

“Through the years I have challenged myself to develop my abilities in order to serve well.

“I like to read a lot and I have read lots of books on leadership and other books that help to develop my skills in working and communicating with people.

“My philosophy in life is to do well in a given task; to face life and responsibility without fear and doubt; to take criticisms and face difficult situations with humility and respond with positive attitude and be more proactive rather than being reactionary.”

Kigasung concludes with how he finds the job as leader of all Lutherans in PNG as well as his future.

“It is not easy,” he says frankly of his job.

“Very challenging and very demanding.

“But there is much joy and satisfaction in serving God's people.

“I find much joy in meeting people of different cultures and different works of life and back ground and of different nationalities.

“You see and experience God's wonders and life in the faces of these different people in the church.

“I leave my future in God's hand.

“This is my last term as Head Bishop.

“I hope and pray that the Lord will grant me good health and strength to serve him in another role after this final term as bishop.”

A tribute to Rudy Kahata

In life, Rudy Rudolf Kahata touched the lives of many hundreds of people as a pastor and radio evangelist.

His death on Wednesday, February 8,2006, perhaps, touched even more people and inspired many more young people from the Ahi villages of Lae to follow in his footsteps.

This was evident by the hundreds of people who attended his funeral service at the St Andrew’s Lutheran Church at Ampo in Lae on Saturday, February 11, 2006, and then burial at his nearby Hengali village.

Tears fell freely for most, a moment they shall never forget, as they joined together as one to sing their former pastor’s favorite hymns.

It was – suffice to say – a funeral befitting that of royalty.

Pastor Rudy’s vibrant and powerful preaching brought new life to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG in his short life of 35 years.

He was respected by the church hierarchy, the Martin Luther Seminary where he was groomed, and most of all – the church followers – as someone with great potential as a preacher and leader.

Even the ELCPNG’s charismatic leader Dr Wesley Kigasung, who helped to groom up Pastor Rudy at seminary, often remarked that he could see a successor in this dynamic young man.

From 2002 up to 2005, while serving at the St Andrew’s Lutheran Church at Ampo in Lae, Pastor Rudy brought new life and animation into services.

The results were phenomenal, with more young people living on the fringes suddenly attending church services.

Pastor Rudy fearlessly ministered the Word of God – through walking and even by bicycle – to the Ahi villages of Butibam, Hengali, Kamkumung, Wagang, Yanga and the many surrounding settlements.

Young people living in these urban villages and settlements, often notorious for crime, found someone they could turn to in Pastor Rudy.

But while Pastor Rudy found a following amongst the young people, that was not the case with the entrenched and conservative church hierarchy at St Andrew’s, who opposed him on many things, culminating in his leaving.

At the rededication of the new look St Andrew’s church last November, his contributions
as former pastor were not even acknowledged.

But Pastor Rudy, being what he is, quietly took it all in his stride.

Last July, he took up his new ministry with In-Touch Media in Lae as radio evangelist for local radio station, FM Morobe.

Over the last few months, until his untimely death, Pastor Rudy developed a huge following wherever in Morobe Province the radio station reached.

His Sunday ministry crossed the boundaries of all denominations as he invited them on air to preach the Word of God in the city of Lae and the province of Morobe.

In the words of Lady Nohoranie Bogan, general manager of In-Touch Media, “we were grooming him up to become the most-powerful radio evangelist in Papua New Guinea”.

Pastor Rudy’s leadership so impressed the management of In-Touch Media that just two weeks before his death, he was promoted to become manager of its other arm, Powerhouse Records.

Pastor Rudy, who was married to wife Joyce and had four young children – Albert, Alex, Shane and Salome - was eagerly looking forward to asserting himself in his new job as manager of Powerhouse Records.

All these hopes and dreams, however, were not to be when he suffered a suspected heart attack while dropping off staff in Lae on the night of Wednesday, February 9.

Rudy Rudolph Kahata was born on May 3, 1970, at Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae to mother Salome of Butibam village and father Jason of neighbouring Hengali.

He was baptised at St Andrew’s Lutheran Church on May 14, 1970.

He attended Minj Primary School in the Western Highlands from 1978 to 1979, and then Amba Demonstration School in Lae from 1980 to 1983.

This was followed by four years at Busu Provincial High School in Lae from 1984 to 1987.

It was in 1984 that he received his Confirmation blessing at St Andrew’s Lutheran Church.

From 1994 to 1995, he worked at Lae Technical College as an accounts officer, however, he had a calling from God and took up studies at the Martin Luther Seminary from 1996 to 2001 and graduated with a Diploma in Theology.

Pastor Rudy touched the lives of so many people in so many years.

I remember that time in November 2000 when my wife gave birth to our first son at the Goroka Base Hospital.

The then Vicar Rudy was working at the St John’s Lutheran Church in Goroka.

He visited us at the hospital, held the head of the baby, and prayed.

Vicar Rudy would have baptised my son had he not had to prematurely leave Goroka before the end of his tenure at St John’s.

To make up for this, I later asked the now Pastor Rudy in Lae if he would baptise my second son and daughter, and he was more than willing to oblige.

Sadly, that will not be now.

I last met Pastor Rudy at the rededication of the St Andrew’s Lutheran Church at Ampo last October where we discussed a few things regarding the church and his career, and then a week later at the 2005 Morobe Show.

His life, while short, was a blessing to all those who came to know him and will be an inspiration to many young people to take up the ministry in these challenging times.

Last Sunday, FM Morobe hosted a special tribute to Pastor Rudy on air, in which his co-worker Loujaya Toni mentioned the appropriateness of the poem Footprints during this sad time.

This poem is dedicated to the family, friends and many people whose lives have been touched by the late Rudy Kahata, as we mourn his death.

Footprints (by Margaret Fishback Powers)

One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets
of footprints in the sand
one belonging to me
and one to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life shot before me
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
There was only one set of footprints.
I realised this was at the lowest
and saddest times of my life.
This always bothered me
and I questioned the Lord
about my dilemma.
“Lord, you told me when I decided to follow You,
You would walk and talk with me all the way.
But I’m aware that during the most troublesome
times of my life there is only one set of footprints.
I just don’t understand why, when I needed You Most,
You leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child,
I love you and will never leave you
never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints
it was then that I carried you.”