An old boy of Martyrs – The National

By HELEN TARAWA
KING Charles III briefly attended Martyrs Memorial High School in Northern in a student exchange programme with the school he was attending in Australia.
Milne Bay Governor Gordon Wesley told of his experience at Martyrs Memorial School when Prince Charles, as he was known then, attended the school.
“This was way back in the 1960s when Prince Charles visited Martyrs School on an exchange programme with the Geelong Grammar School (he was attending) in Melbourne, Australia for a week,” hesaid.
“We had the famous one-moon kaukau that we would harvest, cook and eat in our garden houses.
“We had the privilege of having Prince Charles visit the Boianai garden house for the Milne Bay students.”
Another former student of the Anglican Church-run boys school, Arthur Jawodimbari, said he met Prince Charles twice – at Martyrs School and as Culture and Tourism secretary in 1985 when PNG celebrated its 10th independence anniversary.
“I was the senior prefect (school captain) in 1966 when we hosted the Geelong Grammar students from Melbourne and among them was Prince Charles,” he said.
“Prince Charles and the Geelong Grammar boys joined everyone and took a bath at the Endehi River.
“They also joined in the garden house activities.
“The Tufi (Sefoa) students hosted Prince Charles.”
Jawodimbari said one of the highlights was the Scottish dance which Prince Charles taught the local boys wearing banana leaves to improvise for the Scottish kilt (skirts).
Jawodimbari met Prince Charles again at the 10th Independence anniversary as chairman of the event which coincided with the opening of Parliament.
“I met Prince Charles upon arrival at Parliament House and led him to the Sergeant-at-Arms,” he said.
“Then I met him again during dinner at the Government House.
“My late wife Peggy and I were selected to meet Prince Charles for three minutes.
“He recognised me from our school days at Martyrs and wanted to chat more.
“But the guards reminded us that our time was up.
“Prince Charles asked them to give another three minutes.
“He broke the protocol just to talk about his old school.
“He was certainly an old boy of Martyrs Memorial School.”

PNG proclaims King Charles III as Head of State

Grateful … Bank South Pacific infrastructure engineer Gilbert Yowait signing the condolence book at Government House. “When I read The National’s front page (yesterday), I knew I had to come and write my condolence message too,” he said. Yowait said Queen Elizabeth II gave the approval for PNG to gain independence, something all Papua New Guineans should be proud of. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI

HIS Majesty King Charles III was yesterday proclaimed the Head of State of Papua New Guinea by the Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae at Parliament House.
In a ceremony, Sir Bob officially proclaimed the accession of Prince Charles as King Charles III, the head of state of PNG.
The ceremony involved both the police and military.
It was followed by a 21-gun salute for King Charles III, witnessed by Prime Minister James Marape, Members of Parliament and the Judiciary.
Marape said the Queen reigned from Feb 6, 1952, until her death on Sept 8, 2022, – a total of 70 years and 214 days, the longest by any British monarch.
Affectionately known as “Misis Kwin” in PNG, she had been part of the Commonwealth “for as long as all of us can remember”.
“She has been a symbol of grace, dignity, and loyalty to duty, longevity, and commitment to the cause for which she believed in,” Marape said.
“PNG learned to embrace royalty because of her outlook within the realm and her long life.
“She was a defining and steady influence over countries within the Commonwealth family for all her life.”
Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae and Prime Minister James Marape left for London on different flights yesterday for security reasons.
Marape on his way to board a flight to Singapore yesterday afternoon said that there will be a mourning period of 10 days from the day after the death of the queen.