Links
Warning: PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that
it costs money to host a web site (try -- http://pngwebhost.com
-- for a good and cheap deal) and there is not much return on the outlay
to most businesses in PNG. If you do click on a link and use the services
or even have some comments to make then please contact the people at
the relevant web site and let them know so they at least know that someone
has gained some value from their efforts. If you are so inclined then
mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip
Newsletter.
If links in the newsletter do not work properly, copy and paste the
URL into your browser and press Enter. Be sure to copy the entire link,
as it may wrap to the next line. If this still does not work please
send an email to the newsletter advising of the broken link.
PNG History
If you are looking for the history of PNG then a good place to start
is the Wikipedia free encyclopaedia as well as the other links below.
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Papua_New_Guinea
-- http://sg.travel.yahoo.com/guide/australasia_and_pacific/papua_new_guinea/history.html
-- http://www.world66.com/asia/southeastasia/papuanewguinea/history
-- http://www.michie.net/balus/px-history.html
(Air Niugini - not complete)
-- http://www.michie.net/balus/cg-history.html
(Airlines of PNG - very incomplete!)
If anyone can add to the Air Niugini or the Airlines of PNG (Milne
Bay Air) history please send an email to this newsletter and I will
pass it on. Does anyone have a picture of the MBA Gruman Goose?
PNG Diving Sites
The following is a sample of some of the web sites dealing with diving
in PNG. It is not a complete list and if you would like your organisation
mentioned in this newsletter please let me know.
Dive Discovery -- http://www.divediscovery.com//png/
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions - Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef, diving
-- http://www.mikeball.com/
Diving Liveaboards and Diving Resort Packages in Papua New Guinea --
http://www.divingtravel.com/png.htm
Scuba diving Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. Liveaboard dive charters,
PNG. -- http://www.png-diveboat.com/
Diversion Dive Travel -- http://www.diversionoz.com/en/png.htm
Peter Hughes Diving, Star Dancer -- http://www.peterhughes.com/phstar/starmain.htm
Merchant Vessel FeBrina -- http://ww.febrina.com
Taklam Guest House
Taklam Lodge and Tours, was originally located in Rabaul but was relocated
to Kokopo after the twin volcanic eruptions destroyed Rabaul in 1994.
They commenced operations in 1990 offering a home away from home service.
A web site is located at -- http://www.taklam.com.pg/
Miscellaneous Links
PNG Society of Eminent Scholars and Professionals -- http://www.vortexpng.co.nr
Expat Expert -- http://www.expatexpert.com/
-- An interesting site for "expats"
Official Air Niugini -- http://www.airniugini.com.pg
-- http://www.air-niugini.co.jp
Unofficial Air Niugini -- http://www.airniugini.co.uk
Airways Hotel -- http://www.airways.com.pg
Avis Rent a Car -- http://www.avis.com.pg
Bank South Pacific -- http://www.bsp.com.pg
Budget Rent a Car -- http://www.budget.com.pg
ConXions -- http://www.conxions.com.pg
Coral Sea Hotels -- http://www.coralseahotels.com.pg
Daltron Electronics -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
Hastings Deering -- http://www.hastingsdeering.cat.com
Kina Securities Limited -- http://www.kina.com.pg
KK Kingston -- http://www.kingston.com.pg
Kokoda Trekking -- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au
Lihir Gold Mine -- http://www.lihir.com.pg/
NCS -- http://www.ncs.com.pg
Oil Search -- http://www.oilsearch.com
Ok Tedi Mining -- http://www.oktedi.com
PNG Department of Mining -- http://www.mineral.gov.pg/
PNG Institute of Banking and Business -- http://www.ibbm.com.pg
PNG Surfing -- http://www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg
PNG Trekking Adventures -- http://www.pngtrekking.com.pg
Cheap PNG Web Hosting -- http://www.pngwebhost.com
Rimbunan Hijau Group of Companies -- http://www.rhpng.com.pg/
TE PNG -- http://www.tepng.com
UMW Niugini -- http://www.umw.com.pg
Walindi Resort -- http://www.walindi.com
Don't forget to look at Jane's Oceania Home Page Newsletter. The objective
of this Newsletter is to promote worldwide the Pacific Islands and,
in particular, the island people. In addition, the intention of the
Newsletter is to aid in the preservation of our island culture, history,
genealogy, mythology, ethnology, customs, rituals and lifestyles.
For further information about Papua New Guinea, please visit -- http://www.janeresture.com/png_home/index.htm
Also remember to visit the Photos and Scenery section of the PNGBD
web site -- http://www.pngbd.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=2b50796e7559b377645cb20821c512c3&forumid=57
Beraso
BERASO -- The company has been established to explore and implement
the opportunity for environmentally sustainable tourism in the gulf
province between Kikori and Baimuru. The aim of the company is to establish
and develop tourism, tourism related businesses and infrastructure in
the area. -- http://beraso.com/gpage.html
News Items
What Price a Life?
A man trying to evade a 50 toea Public Motor Vehicle bus fare in Lae has been beaten to death by bystanders at the Eriku bus stop. The relatives of the man, believed to be from Wabag, have retaliated and attacked bus operators from the Western Highlands province.
50 toea is less than 20 US cents.
Air Niugini
Air Niugini has had to contend with more than the normal flight delay
problems over recent weeks. It has had a major failure of its data
lines leased from Telikom causing delays to passenger check in. What
makes this matter worse is that the telephone data lines are unstable
so the check in staff do not know whether to start off with manual
slower check in or persevere with the electronic check in only to have
it fail half way through a flight. On top of that bad weather around
the country and sometimes the failure of navigational aids has meant
that flights have had to overfly an airstrip and when they can not
find a hole in the clouds they have had to return to Moresby. Some
flights have not even left Moresby due to the bad weather conditions
being known in advance. In addition to that planes have gone faulty
and in the interests of safety the flights have been cancelled.
I thought world knowledge was a problem only in the back blocks
of PNG but checking in last night at Singapore's Changi airport I overhead
the check in staff member asking a PNG passport holder whether she
had a visa for Port Moresby! I know I have been away for a few days
but I still think Port Moresby is a part of PNG or have I missed out
on something?
PNG Rugby League
A report in the Gold Coast Bulletin by referee Bill Harrigan about
the recent Rugby League grand final held in Port Moresby between the
Mendi Muruks and the Goroka Lahanis can be found at --
http://www.gcbulletin.com.au/article/2006/09/30/1044_sports.html
The Mendi Muruks won the game. The Lahanis went down 22-14.
Bank Robbery
The recent robbery of the Westpac Bank in downtown Port Moresby has only reinforced how many people in PNG do not think about their lives. The robbers were leaving the bank at about 5:30pm and rather than run away from the scene the crowd swarmed around to get a good look at the action. Don't worry that there were gun shots being exchanged this only adds to the excitement and makes the crowd want to run closer to see everything. A few clever ones were seen heading the other direction and hiding behind the few remaining trees in the area.
Ice / Fish Deal
The Chinese government has approved a K10 million funding for an ice-making
cold storage facility for local fishermen in Morobe province. -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/092906/nation1.htm
Kokoda Track
Reports that a mining company wants to dig for gold close to the Kokoda Track has the Australian Government backed by the Australian Federal Opposition and the Returned Services League working together to find a way to halt the development in PNG. It is estimated that the gold reserves are worth about $1.7 billion so it may prove hard to have the PNG government ban mining in the area close to the track. At the end of the day the mining company will exert pressure on the PNG Government if it believes a mine will pay off, and there's little if anything the Australian Government can do about it.
.
PNG's Aids Epidemic
PNG and its population of just under six million is in the grip of
an HIV/Aids epidemic.
The Health Minister Peter Barter shocked a recent meeting of world
health officials by saying that infection rates had reached double digits
in some remote parts of the country.
Full story can be found at -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5385436.stm
This photo essay is by Peter Cronau, a producer on the Australian
Broadcasting Commission's 4 Corners program. -- http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=1746
Rain Forest Timber
It has been reported by Greenpeace that Tony Blair's government has
been exposed again for using wood ripped from the rainforests of PNG.
Tropical hardwood sourced almost exclusively from PNG, is being used
to protect the hallowed floors, stairs and walls during building work.
See -- http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/forests/forests.cfm?ucidparam=20060928153937
-- and -- http://politics.guardian.co.uk/commons/story/0,,1883728,00.html
-- for more of the story.
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels
Here is a poem written about the efforts of the PNG "Fuzzy
Wuzzy Angels" during the Second World War by Bert Beros. The
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels played a key part in the defeat of the Japanese Imperial
Force especially along the Kokoda track.
Many a mother in Australia when the busy day is done
Sends a prayer to the Almighty for the keeping of her son
Asking that an angel guide him and bring him safely back
Now we see those prayers are answered on the Owen Stanley Track.
For they haven't any halos only holes slashed in their ears
And their faces worked by tattoos with scratch pins in their hair
Bringing back the badly wounded just as steady as a horse
Using leaves to keep the rain off and as gentle as a nurse
Slow and careful in the bad places on the awful mountain track
They look upon their faces would make you think Christ was black
Not a move to hurt the wounded as they treat him like a saint
It's a picture worth recording that an artist's yet to paint
Many a lad will see his mother and husbands see their wives
Just because the fuzzy wuzzy carried them to save their lives
From mortar bombs and machine gun fire or chance surprise attacks
To the safety and the care of doctors at the bottom of the track
May the mothers of Australia when they offer up a prayer
Mention those impromptu angels with their fuzzy wuzzy hair.
- Bert Beros
Miss PNG Red Cross
The tradition of 'Miss Red Cross' goes back more than 30 years. However
the first time that the title of "Miss Papua New Guinea Red Cross"
was used was in 1974, just prior to independence. At this time, the
PNG Red Cross Society was offered the franchise for the winner of its
annual Quest to represent Papua New Guinea and the Red Cross both overseas
and at numerous functions at home.
Miss Charity Queen is automatically the contestant who, with her sponsor,
raises the most funds for the Red Cross. The judges do not know who
Miss Charity Queen will be, so it is possible for the same contestant
to win both titles.
Miss PNG quest not only provides an opportunity for contestants and
sponsors to help Red Cross, but also help many contestants to further
their personal development and enhance their careers. This is particularly
true of former Miss PNG Winners.
1974 - Miss Eva Arni became the first holder of the Miss Papua
New Guinea title. She went on to win the "Miss Asia" title
in 1975.
1975 - The second Miss Papua New Guinea was Miss Eau Suve and
she won the "Best Traditional Dress" Award at the "Miss
Asia" in 1975.
1976 - Miss Sayah Karukuru won the title. Sayah has had a busy
career as a travel consultant.
1978 - Miss Angeline Tukana - a talented model.
1979 - Miss Milly Misbut was crowned Miss Papua New Guinea in
1979. She has a career in the travel industry working with Air Niugini.
1980 - Miss Papua New Guinea for the year was Mispah Alwyn .
She also embarked on a career in the travel industry, and was a senior
consultant with British Airways before flying away overseas to live.
1981 - Miss Jennifer Abaijah, Miss Papua New Guinea and was
with Air Niugini.
1982 - Miss Moi Eli, sponsored by OK Tedi, became Miss Papua
New Guinea.
1983 - Miss Shannel Bray was crowned Miss Papua New Guinea.
1984 - Miss Patricia Mirisa was crowned as the tenth Miss PNG.
1985 - Miss Carmel Vagi (sponsored by Post and Telecom and NBC)
takes the crown thus becoming the eleventh Miss PNG Queen.
1986 - Miss Anna Wild from Goroka, was crowned as the twelfth
Miss PNG Queen. She was the first from the Highlands region to win the
title since it's inception.
1987 - Miss Harriette Warren was crowned as the 13th Miss PNG
Queen. She later relinquished the title to Miss Mabel Daure who was
the 1st runner-up and Miss Charity Queen.
1988 - Miss Erue Taunao was the 14th Miss PNG title holder.
1989 - Miss Joycelyn Leahy was crowned as the 15th Miss PNG.
Miss Leahy is now running a successful business of her own.
1990 - Miss Nellie Ben (Miss Ok Tedi Mine)
1991 - Miss Marcia Muir sponsored by PNG Motors became the 17th
Miss PNG.
1992 - Miss Jennifer Lemeki sponsored by Big Rooster was crowned
Miss PNG.
1993 - Miss Sharon Onsa sponsored by City Pharmacy
1994 - Miss Tania Doyle
1995 - Imanakone Sioa, sponsored by National Capital District
Commission. Miss Caroline Suckling sponsored by the Cathay Club raised
a record amount of money and was crowned Miss Charity Queen 1995.
1996 - Saw a first for a Media organisation to participate in the quest
by sponsoring a contestant. She was EMTV's Miss Rita Stegman,
the second lady from the Highlands region to win the title.
Miss Anita Mooney from the Morobe Province was sponsored by
the Cathay Club, and was crowned Miss Charity Queen. Both being the
22nd lot of girls to win their respective titles.
1997 - Miss Lisa Linibi was crowned Miss PNG She was sponsored
by Coopers and Lybrand, it was the first time an accounting firm had
sponsored a Quest winner. Miss Irene Jameson who was sponsored by Rabaul
Travelodge won the title of Miss Charity Queen.
1998 - Miss Helai Oala was crowned as Miss PNG 1998 she was
sponsored by NCDC and Cheryl Fernandez raised more than K120,000 to
be crowned Miss Charity Queen 1998.
1999 - Miss Roberta Ali, an Air Niugini Flight Attendant, who
was sponsored by NCDC, won both the major titles of Miss PNG and Miss
Charity Queen.
2000 - Miss Ephreddie Jubilee, sponsored by Courts Superstore
also won both the title of Miss PNG and Miss Charity Queen for the year.
2001 - Miss Olivia Wilson sponsored by Courts won the title
of Miss PNG Red Cross 2001. Cecilia John sponsored by PNG Red Cross,
Milne Bay branch won the title of Miss PNG Red Cross Charity Queen.
2002 - Miss Yaku Ninich sponsored by the Galley Restaurant in
Port Moresby won the title. Katherine Tabuchi, raised more than K77,000
and became the Charity Queen.
2003 - Miss MRDC Cynthia Vaka Asi sponsored by MRDC became the
Miss PNG for 2003 and also took out the Miss Charity Queen title by
raising more than K158,000
2004 - Miss Warehouse - Ashwin Samson also won the Miss Charity
Queen title.
2005 - Miss Porebada School -- Michelle Pala. Shirley O'Connor
(Miss Boroko Motors) took out the Miss Charity Queen title.
2006 - ????? Yet to be held for 2006
Old Maps
Cols Vintage Mowers is seeking any old - original or copies of maps
showing the Salamaua, Wau, Edie Ck, Bitio, Watut, Waria and/or Black
Cat areas. Also he is desparately seeking a decent enlargable photo
of the Edie Ck Waterfall and ridge. Can anyone please help him or give
him a clue where to start?
Col F. - C/- of this newlsetter
Coming Events
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 -- 4th and 5th of November
Ex KIAP Reunion in Victoria, Australia will be held on the 5th of November
at Sandown Greyhounds Tabaret -- http://www.exkiap.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=18&sid=08742471a618eb419d5af702a6bf87bb
Milne Bay Kundu and Canoe Festival, Alotau -- 6th to the 12th of November
2006
PNG Media
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