Army families rewarded for clean yards

National, Normal
Source:

The National – Monday, December 20, 2010

By BOSORINA ROBBY
Twenty-three family blocks at the First Battalion Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1RPIR), Taurama, outside of Port Moresby were rewarded yesterday in their participation of a beautification programme.
The Taurama barracks married quarters beautification competition saw block 23 taking the first prize of K1,500 cash for a well maintained, clean and green block.
Second prize went to Block 14 (K1,300) and third prize was tied between Blocks 3 and 4 (K1,100).
Individual married quarters from each of the three blocks were also awarded cash prizes for the best kept home.
The competition was co-funded by NCDC and the 1RPIR and the cash prizes of K20,000 was sponsored by PNG Gardener.
PNG Defence Force commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi when congratulating the winners said that the project would get everyone to think about their environment, nurture and keep it well in order to get good results.
He thanked the Taurama barracks committee in getting the project started and promised that next year’s would be bigger and better and would also include Murray Barracks.
PNG Gardener Justin Tkatchenko on behalf of Governor Powes Parkop said the competition would continue and offered to assist anyone who needed help in better techniques for growing plants.
He said a clean environment makes one felt good and peaceful and creates a positive attitude unlike living in a dirty environment.
Tkatchenko said the prize money was an incentive to winning families and block to keep going and also a bonus to them for their hard work in keeping their homes clean.
He said as part of the governor’s beautification and sports programme, sporting facilities would soon be going up within the city where sporting competitions could also occur.
The married quarters were judged on a number of categories which included basic landscaping and cleanliness of drains, lawn, rubbish disposal, road ways, external building structures such as tanks and laundry areas and others.