‘Preserve culture’
The National, Monday August 19th, 2013
By ELIAS LARI
PARENTS should teach their children to maintain and preserve Papua New Guinea’s cultures and traditions, a visiting Australian councillor says.
Chris Gryllis, from Orange City Council in New South Wales, Australia, led a group of tourists to the annual Mt Hagen cultural show last weekend.
He said PNG cultures and traditions were unique and could be used as a source of other benefits.
“This is unique, you can keep it for the thousands to adapt and maintain for future use,” Gryllis said.
“Preserving culture and using it on such occasions can be more than agriculture. That is because of the traditional dancing and the decoration that are put on.
“I have been in PNG a couple of times and I love to watch this cultural show.
“You have to maintain it; teach generation to come so it can pass on.”
He added that tourists came to PNG because they were interested in people’s lifestyles and wanted to experience it.
“I can say that PNG is rich in its unique culture and tradition and it is very important to reserve if for the future,” Gryllis said.