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Sports |
GOOD morning one and all! It’s Chooseday, when readers get to do their
own thing, regardless of the pursed lips and narrowed glances of
assorted partners, spouses, parents and bubus.
***
SPY was huffing away on the blower yesterday. The topic was the
magnificent line of casuarina trees that graces the sea front in
beautiful Madang. Apparently, the local idiot brigade sets fire to
rubbish around the base of the trees, causing them to become hollow.
***
THEN of course, they crash in the next strong wind. Worse, the Madang
urban council – undoubtedly well-meaning – replaces the toppled giants
with palm trees. Nothing wrong with the palms, but they will never re-
create the same stunning scene as the casuarinas. The old scribbler
urges the local authorities to replant young casuarinas.
***
Unfortunately, the fate of trees in PNG towns and cities is often left
to chance. Lae is a case in point – uncaring local authorities have
stood by and allowed so many of the city’s magnificent trees to be
slaughtered. And does the NCDC still have that register of protected
trees in the capital? If so will they publish it? Or has it gone the way
of so many other good civic initiatives?
***
AND now its back to our Gemo Quizzers – and something special ... a
great contribution from Tom Sinari of Vabukori village here in the
capital. We’ll let Tom take over ...
***
“AT Gemo, Samoan nurses used to teach the leprosy patients how to play
guitar, ukulele and sing songs. A patient from Lealea, Dibura Biru and
others formed the Gemo Island string band. They later became known as
the Gemo island Joye Boys after they appeared with Australia’s Col Joye.”
***
“MOST of their songs were love songs or sila composed by Dibura Biru
derived from sheila, the Australian term for women. The last surviving
member of the band, Joe Karave passed away in the late 1990s.” Finally,
Tom says: “The group was recorded by my mentor and trainer, the late
Jack Aila of Delena at the DIES studios at Konedobu.”
***
THANKS for a real insight into a very different aspect of Gemo, Tom.
Cheers!
– Dee Nesenolis
 
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