Links
Aussie Travel Note
The Australian Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller have issued the following advisory since their last
update on the 23 of June 2006 -- http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Papua_New_Guinea
Rabaul Creole German
Linguistic students in Germany have launched a new website to provide information about Rabaul Creole German, a now nearly extinct language once spoken by members of the mixed-race community once centred around the Vunapope Mission and the Ralum Club near Kokopo. The students would be especially interested in making contact with anyone connected with this community, most of whom now live in Queensland. The Unserdeutsch (Rabaul Creole German) site is at -- http://unserdeutsch.frimafro.de/ -- this site was working earlier but a check before publication shows that the site is not responding.
Education Related Links
Ela Murray International School -- http://www.elamurray.ac.pg
Institute of Banking and Business Management -- http://www.ibbm.com.pg/main.html
Institute of Business Studies -- http://www.ibs.ac.pg/
International Business Institute -- http://www.ibs.com.pg
International Education Agency -- http://www.iea.ac.pg
Korobosea and Boroko East School -- http://www.koroboro.ac.pg
Pacific Training Academy -- http://www.pta.com.pg
PNG Basic Education Development Program (BEDP) -- http://www.bedp.sagric.com/
PNG Curriculum Reform Implementation Project -- http://www.pngcurriculumreform.ac.pg
PNG International Training Institute -- http://www.iti.ac.pg
PNG Maritime College -- http://www.pngmc.ac.pg
PNG University of Technology (Lae) -- http://www.unitech.ac.pg
POM Institute of Matriculation Studies -- http://www.pims.ac.pg/
Tabubil International Education Agency School -- http://www.tis.ac.pg
The International School of Lae -- http://www.tisol.ac.pg/
University of Goroka, Eastern Highlands -- http://www.uog.ac.pg
University of PNG -- http://www.upng.ac.pg
Divine Word University -- http://www.dwu.ac.pg
Sports Sites
PNG Rugby League -- http://www.rleague.com/nations/png
PNG Aussie Rules -- http://www.afl-png.com
South Pacific Motor Sports Club -- http://www.spmsc.org.pg
The Motor Sports Club also has sub-pages dealing with -- go karting,
snooker, game fishing and speedway. Visit the -- http://www.spmsc.org.pg
-- web site and navigate from there.
Game Fishing -- http://www.gfa.com.pg
Royal Papua Yacht Club -- http://www.rpyc.com.pg
CIA PNG Facts
CIA PNG Facts -- https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pp.html
Internet Service Providers
- Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
- Data Nets -- http://www.online.net.pg
- Datec -- http://www.datec.com.pg
- Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
PNG Stories
Stories from PNG -- for a sample from the twin book set of 1001 PNG
Nights please visit -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/1001.html
-- and for a couple more stories visit the homepage for the two books
at -- http://thslone.tripod.com/1001PNGnights.html
For stories about "Compensation Twentieth Century Style"
and others please visit -- http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cove/9183/
Pull The Other One
For a little bit of travel humour pay a visit to The Sunday Telegraph
web site and yes somewhere in the article it does mention a couple of
towns in PNG so it is a PNG related story (right?!)
http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,23483,19551672-36335,00.html
News Items
Southern Highlands
The National Government has declared a state of emergency in the Southern
Highlands province.
For some time now there has been a fight between the Southern Highlands
provincial government and the National government over who is actually
running the province. The National Government has appointed an administrator
and the Governor of the province has claimed that the government did
not follow the correct procedures to appoint the administrator. A court
challenge by the previous administrator was overruled by the Supreme
Court but ignored by the Governor.
Lost Vehicles
The Southern Highlands provincial government has lost 17 vehicles purchased
recently for millions of Kina. The vehicles went missing soon after
new administrator William Powi moved into the province a few weeks ago.
Three other vehicles, that were thought to have been "borrowed"
by supporters of Mr Powi, have been returned in good condition and are
now being used by Mr Powi's administration.
Sunday Paper
A new Sunday paper called the Sunday Chronicle has been launched at
the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby. PNG Magazine that also publishes Sportscope
PNG will produce the weekly publication.
The National
The National Newspaper -- http://www.thenational.com.pg
-- is now being printed simultaneously in Lae and Port Moresby. The
first dual edition was printed on the 10th of July 2006. The National
has installed a K1.5 million plant at Voco point in Lae. The edition
being printed in Lae will be distributed to Morobe, Madang and the Highlands
regions. Both daily newspapers have always experienced distribution
problems getting their newspapers to cities outside Port Moresby. Sometimes
newspapers have been offloaded from regular passenger flights to allow
more passengers to fly.
PNGAAV
The PNGAAV represents PNG expatriates living in Melbourne. The Melbourne
PNG community is estimated at around 450 people, plus a few hundred
students studying at tertiary institutions.
http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/png_newsletters.html
Kokoda Track Hijacked
The rights to the Kokoda Track have been hijacked by an Australian
mining company that has recently acquired the rights to gold and copper
deposits that incorporate parts of the Track. The Australian Prime Minister,
John Howard, said he was seeking information on the situation at Kokoda.
Thanks to Wendy Seymour for this article.
Government Jet
I received the following information about the government aircraft
after a rumour last week that it may be replaced by a Fokker F100.
QUOTE
Hi There,
There is only one corporate jet on the PNG Register operated by Trans
Air Ltd, that is a Citation C550 10 seat aircraft used primarily for
Medical evacuation flights for Niugini Air Rescue, a division of International
SOS. The Airlines of PNG (APNG) jet is now in Australia under Australian
registration and supporting APNG's Australian operations.
As appears to be fairly usual in the PNG Media (i.e. the newspapers)
facts are never really detailed - just words - the old pictures say
1000 words is very valuable. However I have attached a photo and some
history behind the Kumul since independence - it is interesting. I haven't
bothered with an F100 - we all know what they look like. Anyway I hope
this is of interest.
For those receiving the text only version of the newsletter the images
mentioned above can be found at --
.jpg)
http://pnggossip.com/images/planes/p2-png(jet).jpg
and
.jpg)
http://pnggossip.com/images/planes/p2-png(kingair).jpg
The 'jet' so commonly referred to as the Kumul Jet is a Beechcraft
Super King Air, that is a turbo prop type aircraft (i.e. it has propellers
and is the same used by Regional Air, SIL aviation, and the Civil Aviation
Authority). So in theory it is not really a jet.
The Government Flying Unit (GFU) used to operate a Gulfstream 3 corporate
jet until sold off by the Wingti government - because it was very expensive
and limited in places it could travel in PNG. It could only do the sealed
main ports similar to the Fokker F28.
The King Air is a better aircraft for Government use as its airstrip
capability is acceptable to reach regional ports in the country. Whilst
it may not be the "prestigious" option for international travel
- it is rarely used for this purpose. In fact most international government
travel is made through the use of the government owned airline - Air
Niugini.
There are several alternatives for the GFU to make wisely - firstly
the present Kumul has a market value of around US900 000. Whilst it
is very under utilised the running costs are much, much smaller than
a F100 - there are also numerous pilots and engineers rated on this
type of aircraft.
A change of craft - regardless of type is always a very expensive exercise
sure PGK10M for a F100 sounds cheap - but the additional costs in that
maintenance providers have to be trained, flight crew trained as well
as other expensive technical issues. But these items are forgotten about
as well as the fact that if the aircraft is to be 'borrowed' from an
airline operator (Say PX) - then that operator has to have it available
for them - or are they expected to put the travelling public off when
the GFU needs the plane.
The days of the GFU are numbered - as is the ridiculous situation of
the CAA King air - both cost about the same. The CAA aircraft does even
less in fact most of the work it 'used' to do is now contracted to a
NZ based company! Both should be sold off - then government travel and
or the CAA business chartered out to the companies which have the commercial
ability to sustain the costs of aircraft operations in PNG.
END QUOTE
Thanks for the history and photographs. Your contribution is appreciated.
Lihir Mine
PNG-based miner Lihir Gold Limited has declared a record net profit
of US$23.1 million for the fiscal half ended 30 June 2006. The result
compares with a loss of US$20.8 million for the six months to June 2005.
Lihir said it is now on track to report record annual gold production
and a strong improvement in full-year earnings.
Airport Security
Much is said about airport security around the country especially at
smaller airstrips where dogs, pigs and humans can be seen crossing the
strip before the arrival of an aircraft. With some strips it is recommended
that the pilot makes sure that the people on the ground are aware of
the plane well before it comes into land. At the biggest airport in
the country security is continually on the agenda and rightly so. The
Civil Aviation Authority has established an internationally recognised
security card system to help the security people decide who is and who
is not allowed at an airport. It doesn't always work but it has improved
considerably over recent years. The new national identity card system
that meets international aviation security requirements replaces a previous
one used only in Port Moresby. Of course the identity card system will
not stop vandalism of airport infrastructure unless the airport perimeter
is patrolled 24 hours a day and everyone seen walking around the airport
is challenged to produce the card.
UniTech Award
The University of Technology's (Unitech) Engineering Division has won
a top engineering award sponsored by the World Bank. The competition
attracted over 2,500 entries from around the world. The award was for
a water filtration project developed by Unitech. A full size filtration
plant will be built in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Sri Lankan
Water Board.
Cancer Fight
The Health Minister, Sir Peter Barter, has said that he has plans to
set up the cancer unit at the Angau Hospital in Lae and have dialysis
machines available at all major hospitals around the country. He said
theses machines were available in smaller South Pacific countries such
as Fiji and Nauru so if they can do it so can PNG. He continued by saying
that so long as he was the Health Minister he would whatever he could
to improve health services around the country.
Medium Term Development Strategy
ADB will work with PNG on implementing its Medium Term Development
Strategy (MTDS) under a new Country Strategy and Program endorsed today
by ADB's Board of Directors. ADB will focus on supporting improvements
in public financial management, private sector development, the transport
sector, and health, including efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.
see -- http://www.harolddoan.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1661
-- for full story
Previous Miss Red Cross Winners
The following people have won the title of "Miss PNG"
+ 1974 Miss Eva Arni was the first holder of the title "Miss PNG"
- Eva went on to win the Miss Asia Title.
+ 1975 Miss Eau Suve. Eau went on to win the "Best Traditional
Dress" award at the Miss Asia Quest.
+ 1976 Miss Sayah Karukaru
+ 1978 Miss Angeline Tukana
+ 1979 Miss Milly Misbut
+ 1980 Miss Mispah Alwyn
+ 1981 Miss Jennifer Abaijah
+ 1982 Miss Moi Eli
+ 1983 Miss Shannel Bray
+ 1984 Miss Patricia Mirisa
+ 1985 Miss Carmel Vagi - Miss Communications
+ 1986 Miss Anna Wild
+ 1987 Miss Harriet Warren
+ 1988 Miss Erue Taunao
+ 1989 Miss Joycelyn Leahy
+ 1991 Miss Marcia Muir
+ 1992 Miss Jennifer Lemeki
+ 1993 Miss Sharon Onsa
+ 1994 Miss Tania Doyle
+ 1995 Miss Imanakone Sioa
+ 1996 Miss Rita Stegman
+ 1997 Miss Lisa Linibi
+ 1998 Miss Helai Oala
+ 1999 Miss Roberta Ali
+ 2000 Miss Ephreddie Jubilee
+ 2001 Miss Olivia Wilson
+ 2002 Miss Yaku Ninich
+ 2003 Miss Cynthia Asi - Central (Miss MRDC)
+ 2004 Miss Ashwin Samson - Miss Warehouse
+ 2005 Miss Porebada Primary School - Michelle Pala
+ 2006 Miss PNG Red Cross 2006 Coming Soon
Port Moresby Hospital
The Port Moresby Hospital is having to limit the supply of drugs to
patients due to a shortage and non-supply from the Port Moresby medical
stores. The hospital is now asking the urban clinics to supply medicine
for the hospital patients. The limited remaining supply of drugs is
being given to the really sick and other patients are being told to
purchase their own medicine.
Coming Events
Air Niugini - Port Moresby / Manila / Hong Kong and return -- 8th August
2006
Enga 2006 Cultural Show will be held at the Mommers Oval in Wabag town
on the 11th, 12th and 13th of August.
The Institute of PNG Studies Exploratory Workshop - sometime in September
Price Waterhouse Coopers Walk for Life Challenge -- 3rd September 2006
42nd PNG Medical Symposium will be held in Madang from the 4th to the
8th of September 2006 -- http://www.medsymp.org.pg
PNG 31st Independence Anniversary - 16th September 2006
Hiri Hanenamo Quest and Hiri Moale Festival - 16th September 2006
Goroka Show, Eastern Highlands -- 16th and 17th of September 2007
Kiwi Ball - The fabulous ball held by the Kiwi's will be held on the
28th October this year. This year the New Zealanders hope to have a
five-piece band to entertain the crowd
Morobe Show, Lae -- November 4th and 5th
Milne Bay Kundu and Canoe Festival, Alotau -- 6th to the 12th of November
2006
PNG Media
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