Melanesian News Letter issue 13

Contact: +675 4222766 or Email: info@mtspng.com

Niugini Dive Adventures Welcomes New Instructor

Nathan and Tetsuya Nakamura at the Niugini Dive Adventures’ (NDA) dive centre after Tetsuya’s first dive as an instructor for NDA.

Issue #13, Issued September 2019

Australian Paralympians enjoy Melanesian Hospitality in Cairns

Members of the Australian Paralympics swimming team at the Cairns Sheridan Hotel. 55 members of the Australian team stayed at the Hotel where they trained in preperation for the World Championship in South Korea.

Online Tourist Visas for Russian Tourists

Nickolay MIklouho-Maclay and his team from the Maclay Foundation aboard the Kalibobo Spirit at Gorendu earlier this year.

Following the APEC and the anywhere on the Departvisits by the grand-nephment of Immigration webew of the famous Russian site at www.ica.gov.pg.

Explorer, Nickolay MIkThe Chief Migration louho-Maclay, who is also Officer, Solomon Kantha, has the CEO of the Maclay written to Sir Peter Barter, Foundation, the PNG Govwho represents the Maclay ernment has now created an Foundation in PNG, advising online eVisa for all tourists him that Russian Passport who can apply anytime and Holders can be uplifted by all

Airlines as long as they have applied for a Tourist eVisa online.

Mr Kantha said he would be writing to TMATIC this week, informing them of this new service, which is expected to be welcomed by intending visitors from Russia, the 20 countries of APEC and the Commonwealth countries.

The Citizens from these countries can now access visas without the need to visit a PNG Embassy or High Commission.

This new online eVisa becomes valid after the completion of the online application form and the necessary payment is made.

Sir Peter has welcomed this decision, as in recent years we have been receiving increased demands of Russians that are wanting to visit PNG, especially since

the Maclay Foundation had received wide spread publicity in Russia following the 3 visits by Maclay Jr. Maclay Jr had attended the APEC and had also organized a trip for several students from UPNG and DWU to visit Russia.

Further student exchanges are planned in the future along with visits by investors that have expressed their interest in PNG. Sir Peter also advised that Asel, the chief of Gorendu, whose ancestor met Maclay on his first visit in 1871 had begun writing stories in local Bongu Language, which will soon be published by Olga Temple from UPNG. This project has commenced and it is hoped that the translations and publication of the book will be available in the near future.

Copyright 2019, Melanesian Tourist Services’ Marketing Division

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Madang Crowns Its New Pageant Queen

A judge and a chaperone to the Miss Pacific has congratulated the Miss Madang for 2019.

Molly O’Rourke congratulated the Miss Madang Technical College, Lavianah Leong, on her win as the newly crowned Miss Madang for 2019. She was speaking in an interview at the Madang Resort, after the pageant on Saturday the 8th of June.

“This is a great accomplishment for the Madang Rotary Club, it is also a milestone in the lives of the contestants that took part in the pageant,” she said.

“Congratulations to the Miss Madang Tech for her achievement and to the contestants who participated,” said Molly.

More than 400 people throughout Madang’s educational institutions and business communities were at the event, they were all present to witness the crowning of the Miss Madang as well as the

won the Traditional Category.

The event on Saturday tested the contestants on questions that related to Madang’s Tourism.

One of the judges, Molly O’Rourke, described the questions as vital and challenging for the contestants.

“The questions were all based under tourism, how would you promote Madang Tourism to the country and the world?”

Each contestant provided their answers and were judged according to the answers that they gave.

Lavianah Leong, Miss Madang Tech, being crowned the Miss Madang for 2019 by Leoshina Kariha, (current Miss Pacific) the former Miss Madang. awards for the Runner Up, the Miss Charity and the People’s Choice.

Following the judge’s Traditional Category on Thursday the 6th of June, at

the Madang Resort’s Sugen Aben Park, the 6 contestants were judged on their traditional attire.

The Miss Nambis Inn & Heli Niugini, Johannah Taspe,

The Madang Resort & The Kalibobo Vilage have the most conducive conference facilites to cater for any family or corporate events.

Call: 4222766 or Email: info@mtspng.com

Madang Resort and Kalibobo Village: The New ‘Welcome’ Look

Above: The Madang Resort and the Kalibobo Village’s new feature. These new ‘welcome’ signs will be used to identify the resort from it’s adjoining Kalibobo Village’s villas, suites and long-term accomodation apartments.

MTS Welcomes New Highland’s Tour Bus, More Comfort MTS’ Managing Director, Sir Peter Barter, has welcomed the newly purchased 4x4 vehicle.

Sir Peter was speaking in an interview recently.

“The new 4x4 bus will operate from Madang to Goroka, it will add to tourist’s comfort, safety and security when they visit some of PNG’s most beautiful locations.”

He also added that there is a lot more places to see along the Highlands Highway.

“The entire trip will

include some of the most scenic locations, the Finnistere Mountains, the Ramu and Markham Valley,Kassam Pass and into the Eastern Highlands,” he said. “The trip will be along the highlands highway, through the Bismarck Ranges and into Goroka, and beyond,” said Sir Peter.

Throughout the years, MTS has forged its relationship with various communities in the Highlands, “security is not an issue, but we will monitor our vehicles closely,” said Sir Peter.

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Our Stories Told Just for You

Service Beyond Self

On the 7th of July, a normal Sunday afternoon in Madang, a number of people from the Red Cross, Creative Self-Help Centre, representatives from the business community in Madang, friends and families gathered at the Madang Resort & Kalibobo Village’s Sugen Aben Park to celebrate the anniversary of an extraordinary woman.

As she sat under the marquee at the Sugen Aben Park, the many people that were drawn to her character, one could easily identify her.

Exchanging laughter with everyone at her gathering, Maureen Hill celebrated an anniversary that could never be comprehended to the amount of change that she herself had done to individual Papua New Guineans, remote villages, Institutions, organizations throughout Madang and Papua New Guinea.

“There’s a piece of her in all of us,” said Sir Peter Barter, the Managing Director of the Melanesian Tourist Services (MTS). MTS and the Melanesian Foundation funded the “liklik hamamas,” as described by Sir Peter. The event was to thank Maureen for 50 years of service to the Madang Community.

Sir Peter said that her involvement in numerous activities included her presidential roles with the Madang Red Cross, Country Women’s Association, Lions Rotary Club, Madang Amateur Theatrical Society (MATS), City Mission, Kindergarten long ples, Provincial Council of Women, Child Welfare, most of the Women Association in Madang and her active membership at the Modilon Hospital Board, where she along with Rotary have undertaken major projects to improve the health facilities at the Hospital and extended services to the rural people.

Another worthwhile contribution was to establish the Madang Self Help Centre to assist the disabled, an organization that has operated by raising funds and donations.

Maureen has also been a key member of the Madang Festival Committee and had most recently assisted Leoshina Kariha in the Miss Madang Pageant, who later was crowned Miss PNG and Miss Pacific Islands. “Leoshina has been a shining light for empowerment of women not only in Madang and PNG but now world wide,” said Sir Peter.

Despite her age of 82,

Feature Story Maureen keeps fully active in the many organizations that have contributed towards child welfare, women, and the disabled, in fact anyone wanting help. “I know of no other person in PNG that has given so much in a selfless way,” said Sir Peter. “I am very proud to call Maureen one of my closest friends, but unlike many people telling her to take it easy, I encourage her to do even more as this is what keeps her going,” he said.

Apart from all this, Maureen successfully runs ‘Mrs. Hill’s Nursery’ and has a remarkable memory that stretches decades into the past, names of every child that has attended the nursery for nearly 50 years now- she remembers.

A New Zealander by origin, her story started in an island far from the main towns and cities, “quiet similar to the remote locations here in Papua New Guinea,” said Fr. Philip Gibbs, an SVD priest and a staff from the Divine Word University in Madang.

“We are the only two Kiwis here in Madang,” said Fr. Phil as he gave his acknowledgment to Maureen.

As a child, Maureen Hill’s home was at the Island of d’Urville, “coincidentally enough, my island was discovered by the same French explorer that discovered the Astrolabe Bay, Jules Dumont d’Urville,” said Maureen with a gleeful smile. “A 12 Hour boat ride to anywhere,” as described by Fr. Phil, Maureen Hill was home-schooled by her mother Her first knowledge of the ‘Island of New Guinea’ came from a large world map and a coconut scented soap that had its coconuts extracted from PNG. “I got to know the Island of New Guinea through a soap and a punishment that my mother used when I misbehaved,” said Maureen with

a tiny laughter in her voice.

Recalling her childhood memories, she said that she had to find a country on the map and to name it correctly, “that was the punishment,” she said, while showing another smile.

As a young woman, Maureen attended the Nelson’s College for girls in New Zealand and then later, becoming a teacher. “I didn’t come to PNG yet, I had the opportunity to travel the world,” said Maureen.

Through the scholarship from Westpac, the young Maureen Hill travelled and stayed at 122 different countries before arriving in PNG, “yes, like all women, I followed a man here,” said Maureen, her smile after her statement was followed by cheering, applause and laughter from the people that were gathered to celebrate her years in Papua New Guinea.

The Late Peter Hill, Maureen’s husband was also remembered in the celebration, both celebrated for their work in Madang and PNG. “I arrived in PNG, but I couldn’t get a job as a teacher so I started sowing,” said Maureen. “I used the sowing machine that was given to me as a gift from my parents, I still have that old sowing machine today,” said Maureen with a proud smile.

“One day, my neighbor asked me to look after their child, which I did with great happiness,” said Maureen.

During the late 1960’s, when she arrived in Madang, there were no day-care centers for children; this saw the establishment of the Maureen Hill Nursery School.

“I would like to thank Maureen Hill, for nurturing 2 generations of the Barter family that have gone through your care and education,” said Sir. Peter. “My son and my grandkids were all taught how to read and write at her

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school,” he said.

From Pilots, Bank managers to Doctors that are now in the Pacific, “I was surprised to know that most of my little ones are now either flying somewhere in the world or are now doctors in Vanuatu,”

said Maureen. “I had always wanted my students to stay in Madang,” said Maureen with a smile.

The Maureen Hill Nursery School in Madang will mark its 50th anniversary on the 20th of October this year

Curt Von Hagen’s Memorial at Bom Village, Astrolobe Bay. The eagle on the top of the monument was removed.

as well.

“I don’t know why I do what I do, I love to do what I do,” said Maureen. “If I was in another country I would have died, thank you Papua New Guinea for keeping me alive,” she said as she was

applauded again.

Maureen Hill is one of many expatriates that see the beauty in Papua New Guinea, “people like us choose to stay here, it is the work that keeps us alive,” added Sir Peter with a smile.

The people of Bogajim.

Bongu, Erima, Bom, Lalok were the first people in New Guinea to be colonized, various monuments, graves, railway lines, including the foundation of the first German Administrators and German New Guinea Company buildings still remain on the old copra plantation at Astrolobe Bay. Curt Von Hagen’s grave and memorial are found at Bom Village. Curt was the first missionary to lead an expedition up into New Guinea’s Highlands, now the city is named after him, Mt. Hagen. Many of the moun-

tains are named after his family members including Mt. Wilhelm, the highest mountain in PNG. In 1984 a group of Germans visited the site, they replaced the eagle that was perched on the top of the Von Hagen Memorial, which was removed by folks from Mt. Hagen. The eagle was erected on the Mt. Hagen Club.

Another Historical fact, the Rhenish Missionaries established the first Mission School in PNG at the Bom Village in 1984, many German missionaries were buried there.

Did you know?

Kalibobo Spirit’s Scheduled Cruise 2020

2021

Destination

Duration

Cost P/Person

Dates

Sepik River

7 Nights

*$4950

Jan 15, Feb 19, Mar 18, May 30, April 15, May 30, Jun 07, Jul 01.

Island Cruise

8 Nights

*$5657

Oct 14, Dec 18

Milne Bay Cruise

5 Nights

*$3836

Dec 07, 09, 14.

Sepik River

7 Nights

*$5250

Jan 13

Island Cruise

8 Nights

*$6000

Oct 13, Dec 21

Milne Bay Cruise

5 Nights

*$3750

Dec 01, 08, 15.

*Costs shown include twin/double, per person. all meals, excursions, cultural events, wine with meals and an experienced expedition leader. Costs do nt include airfares, charter flights or items of personal nature. Exclusive charters are also available to any destination in Papua New Guinea. OPTIONAL: Overland 4x4 tours available to the Higlands.

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