Celebrating the 30th
Anniversary
of the
Independence of Papua New Guinea
Christmas Luncheon , Sunday 4 December 2005
Foreword by President Harry West
Our
Association celebrated Papua New Guinea's 30th Anniversary of
Independence (1975-2005) with two major events. On Sunday 28th
August more than 250 members and friends gathered at the Roxy
Theatre, Lindfield, for a special screening of 'Walk Into
Paradise', refreshments and socialising. Members from South
Australia also organised a viewing and a donation of $2000 was
raised from both events for the children's Ward at ANGAU
Memorial Hospital, Lae. (See page 10, Una Voce No. 4 Dec 2005).
Our regular Christmas luncheon on December 4 was transformed
into a very special and joyous Independence anniversary
festivity. Twenty two large round tables filled the expansive
function room at the Mandarin Club in Sydney and on each of the
gleaming white tablecloths were ten large sparklingly colourful
laminated table mats depicting PNG's national and nineteen
provincial flags. On the reverse were the national anthems and
flags of both PNG and Australia - wonderful souvenirs of the
occasion for the 220 who attended the luncheon and sang both
national anthems. Suspended above all tables were vivid clusters
of hovering balloons in red, black and yellow. The stage was
surrounded and lined with palm fronds and had a focal point of a
large PNG flag. On each side of the stage was a set of the PNG
provincial flags. Walls were decorated with posters relating to
the national and provincial flags, the national anthem and the
national crest. Aviation memorabilia was supplied by Robin Mead
and postage stamp and coin displays by Nancy Johnston.
Our Chief Patron, His Excellency, Major General Michael Jeffery,
AC CVO MC (Rtd), Governor General of the Commonwealth of
Australia, who has had a long and close association with PNG,
including service with the Pacific Islands Regiment in the late
1960s, sent an inspiring address, which was read by me. Our
guest of honour, Paul Nerau LLB, PNG's Consul General in
Brisbane, accompanied by his wife Pauline, spoke stimulatingly
about the positive side of contemporary developments in his
country. There was much satisfaction and applause when he
presented the 30th Independence Anniversary Commemorative Medal
to legendary Fred Kaad OBE for outstanding service to the
development of PNG.
We were pleased to be joined by the President of the PNG Chinese
Catholic Association, Dr Dennis Chow and wife Susan, and from
the Sydney-PNG Wantok Club, Daniel and Caroline Luke, Tom and
Margaret Neeson and Helen and Ray Withy, who arranged the
presentation of five brilliantly attired and vigorously
accomplished Manus dancing girls who provided colourful and
lively entertainment to the rhythm of the garamut in their
dances of 'friendship, celebration and rejoicing'.
There was a large display of recently published books on PNG.
People dug deep with their pockets in their quest for the
wonderful raffle prizes, including a combo DVD video player
donated by regular benefactor Alan Johnston, and a set of 12
recent books on PNG donated by Pandanus Books, ANU, to mark the
30th Anniversary of Independence. Members attending were mainly
from the Sydney region, but all states were represented and
Jeanette Leahy was down from Zenag, near Lae. Apart from the war
years she has lived in the Morobe Province since 1939.
Everyone enjoyed the day and it brought back many wonderful
memories.
His Excellency
Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Retd)
Governor- General of the Commonwealth of Australia
A Message
from
His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, AC CVO MC (Retd)
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
for
The Annual Christmas Luncheon hosted by
The Papua New Guinea Association of Australia
4 December 2005
I am disappointed
that Marlena and I are unable to attend the Annual Christmas
Luncheon hosted by the Association because of a long standing
prior commitment.
In September this year we were privileged to make a State Visit
to Papua New Guinea to attend the 30th anniversary independence
celebrations and to mark the 60th anniversary of the World War
II surrender ceremony at Cape Wom near Wewak. The Japanese
invasion of PNG in July 1942 initiated one of the bloodiest
campaigns of the war. Japan's march south through the
Philippines, Malaya and Singapore, was halted - first at Milne
Bay and then along the Kokoda Track.
Soldiers of the Pacific and New Guinea Infantry Battalions,
carriers on the Kokoda track and loyal village people, made a
splendid contribution to our respective countries' defence.
Sixty years later, the trauma of those times still resonates
deeply with many.
We were both delighted to be back in Papua New Guinea, as we
were married in the 'Haus Lotu' at Taurama Barracks nearly forty
years ago, and after a very happy three years there, I was
further privileged to command 700 very fine soldiers of the
Second Battalion the Pacific Islands Regiment in Wewak at
Independence in 1975. Little did I realise that in commanding a
company of a 1PIR Guard of Honour to welcome the new
Administrator Sir David Hay, in 1967, that 38 years later I
would be inspecting guards from both 1 and 2 RPIR as
Governor-General of Australia.
In 2000 I returned to PNG as a member of an Eminent Person's
Group tasked to review the size, structure and role of the Papua
New Guinea Defence Force.
Australia's relationship with PNG is one of our deepest and most
important. At its core are our close geographic proximity and
shared history. There are many significant moments comprising
that history, but none more important than 16 September 1975 -
the day Papua New Guinea gained its independence.
On the 15th of September 1975, when the Australian flag was
lowered in Papua New Guinea, PNG's first Governor-General, Sir
John Guise, noted poignantly that 'the Australian flag was being
lowered, not torn down'.
Sir John's statement reflected the positive spirit in which the
Independent State of Papua New Guinea was established - to the
credit of both the leaders of Papua New Guinea and the
Australian Governments.
In 2005 Australia and Papua New Guinea have an exceptionally
close and broad-based relationship which is characterised by a
great deal of affection and trust. We must all continue to work
together to ensure that the positive links between our two
countries, tempered through war, independence, economics and
geographic proximity will continue to expand. Let us not be
deterred by occasional blips on the radar screen; they come and
they go, but the enduring features of our relationship are
unique and will never change.
I commend the members of the Papua New Guinea Association of
Australia for your contribution to the building of
people-to-people links between our two nations, for your
continuing interest in regional affairs, and for the goodwill
and opportunities you create that particularly influence our
bilateral relationship.
Marlena joins me in wishing you and your families a very happy
Christmas and prosperous New Year.
(Michael Jeffery)
The Guest Speaker, Mr Paul Nerau, LLB, thanked Mr West for
giving him the opportunity to address members and guests of the
Association on such an important occasion. The following is an
edited version of Mr Nerau's address -
"Our motto for the
30th Independence Anniversary is: 'PUT PNG FIRST, PNG ATOA GUNA,
PUTIM PNG IGO PAS'. It is with great anticipation and optimism
we stand here to celebrate the 30th Independence Anniversary of
Papua New Guinea. Our country has been described as the 'Jewel
in the Crown' of our South Pacific neighbours.
Papua New Guinea attained its Independence in 1975, from
Australia under Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. I was privileged
to be just completing my University studies with many others in
the likes of Mr Frank Kramer. Our pioneer politicians and public
servants include our current Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir
Michael Somare, former Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu and
current Foreign Minister and former Prime Ministers, the Hon.
Pius Wingti, Sir Julius Chan, and Sir Mekere Morauta.
Independence was achieved with mixed feelings. Some critics say
it was too early but be that as it may, it happened and it
happened without any bloodshed as our first Governor General,
Sir John Guise at the eve of Independence with the lowering of
the Australian flag, and in handing the Australian Flag to the
Australian Governor General Sir John Kerr, said 'We are lowering
the flag and not tearing it down'.
Our 30th Independence motto challenges us to be patriotic in our
outlook and calls for Renewal and Commitment and a beacon of
Hope; Solidarity in our Commitment for Unity, and Purpose for
our Nation, Papua New Guinea. We must now strive to excel in the
things that bring positive outcomes and ensure we work towards
protecting what we have already achieved and built over the last
30 years and continue to build on them. The vibrant
Parliamentary Democracy and the Government Institutions, our
diverse languages, Cultural Heritage, our unique environmental
fauna and the Virgin Forest which we must treasure for future
generations and not destroy for quick capital gains. We must not
take these for granted but continue to nurture, protect and
improve on them.
We have and will continue to have many challenges of nationhood
as we have learned from the Bougainville experience. We must
learn that 'Life is precious' and that we can resolve
differences between ourselves without resorting to violence.
Today we celebrate 'LIFE'; the life of Papua New Guineans and
friends of PNG for the 30 years we have been together. Life, as
you and I know, has many challenges, and PNG has had many such
challenges, for example, the natural disasters of the tsunami,
the frost and El-Nino; the Bougainville experience; the Sandline
Crisis; economic short comings; the AIDS-HIV epidemic and
others, but we will overcome such with equal determination and
continue to strive to find solutions for the common good of our
people.
What have we to look forward to in the next 20 to 30 years? By
far the most significant will be the PNG Gas Project with the
PNG to Queensland Gas Pipeline; the stability in our
Parliamentary Democracy; the challenge to tackle AIDS-HIV, and
improvement in both Education and Health, and the quality of
Life for our people.
We need to think and do things smartly and cultivate a hunger
and thirst for Excellence and Innovative thinking outside the
box. As a Nation we must be ready to take proactive measures to
embrace what is happening around us in regard to Globalisation
and to capitalise on opportunities presented to us for those of
us living and working in Australia and vice versa. We need to
establish a mutually sustainable partnership between Australia
and PNG at the community, corporate, political and bureaucratic
levels. We must grab with both hands the opportunities presented
by the Gas Pipeline Project and take a holistic approach on all
fronts. Queensland, the closest neighbour to PNG, provides great
opportunity which my office is promoting with the State
Development and Innovation Department, the QLD/PNG Chamber of
Commerce, the QLD/PNG Business Corporation Group (BCG). We look
forward to strengthening this relationship with further
opportunities for PNG and Australia through the accessing of
Labour Market Employment Opportunities in the horticultural
sector and youth training.
Today we celebrate these and say "thank you" to our Mentor,
friend and neighbour, Australia, for being a true friend during
the Second World War when we stood side by side at the Kokoda
Track Campaign and for the assistance over the last 30 years in
the provision of aid and other assistance. Also, we acknowledge
other donor countries who have and continue to assist us today
I make special mention of your recipient of the Commemorative
Independence Anniversary Medal, Mr Kaad. Let me thank Mr Kaad
for being such a wonderful friend and ambassador for PNG.
Finally let me thank your Association and its members for your
great contribution to our country during your days in PNG and no
doubt you will continue to maintain this link through your
Association. I have read from your magazine, UNA VOCE, the many
adventures and tasks that many of you accomplished whilst in
PNG.
What can you do as friends and brothers and sisters of our
people in PNG? Currently we are negotiating the seasonal labour
opportunity for fruit picking and other employment opportunities
in Australia. You have your networks, both through the
Association and individually, to your representatives in the
Parliament. Please, I urge you to support us in this, as this
will make a tremendous difference for families if we are allowed
to have these job opportunities. As you and I have learned from
the media, the aid to PNG does not reach the families, whilst
job opportunities will have immediate effect on family
disposable income. I look forward to your support and hope we
can once again stand side by side as we did at the 'Kokoda Track
Campaign' when we needed each other.
Thank you and God Bless You All."
INDEPENDENCE
Monday 15th September
1975 :
Symbolising the end of Australian Control, the Australian flag
is lowered
Tuesday 16 September
1975 :
The Proclamation and raising of the Papua New Guinea flag
