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THE Australian High Commission
has donated hundreds of bookmarks to a school in Port Moresby as gift to
mark the National Book Week.
Australian Deputy High Commissioner Ann Harrap and High Commission
officers Steven Brancatisano and Tim Paterson handed the
specially-designed colour-ed bookmarks to hundreds of pupils at Wards
Strip Demonstration Elementary school.
They were assisted by the school’s deputy head teacher Yana Semo.
“The Australian High Commission and Wards Strip Demonstration Elementary
school share the same street and we are neighbours,” Ms Harrap said.
“This simple donation to the school was a gesture of goodwill from one
neighbour to another in keeping with the close neighbourly relationship
between Australians and Papua New Guineans.
“But most importantly, it is our way of spreading the message that
reading can open up a world of wonder and learning to the children of
Papua New Guinea,” she said.
“Learning to love books at a young age can lead to a lifelong passion
for reading.”
The High Commission had in fact donated more than 22,000 bookmarks to
schools throughout country as part of the National Book Week which runs
from Aug 6 to10.
The bookmarks, which featured attractive images and phrases about the
bilateral relationship between PNG and Australia, were produced by the
Australian High Commission to celebrate the many close and diverse links
between the two countries.
The bookmarks also symbolised the Australian government’s support for
reading, literacy and libraries.
During the 30th independence celebrations two years ago, Australia
donated a K7 million to renovate the National Library.
As a close partner and friend of PNG, Australia was proud to play a role
in preserving the National Library and encouraging the use of libraries
and reading in general, the Australian High Commission said in a
statement.
 
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