Aussie senator praises efforts by Catholics

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
THE Catholic church has been praised for its efforts in the country advocating gender equi­ty through its girls’ schools and training institutions.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr told students and staff of Notre Dame Secondary School in Western Highlands on Tuesday that supporting gender equity and teaching strong Christian principles was the glory of the Catholic church that every believer should be proud of. 
He told the students and staff, in the presence of the Mt Hagen Catholic archbishop Douglas Young, that such a partnership by the churches was very important to the government.
“Churches deserve to be praised for their efforts in the development of people and societies,” Carr said.
“Churches contributed hugely to the communities in PNG as well as Australia, which I can say is an achievement in the state-church partnership.”
He visited the school’s infrastructure projects that were funded for K12 million by the Australian government. 
The projects included the library, school water supply system, dining hall, three housing duplex for teachers, four classrooms and the administration building that comprised a staff office, printing room, computer office and a teachers’ workroom. 
Teacher Damien Serok said the new infrastructure was a boost to the school’s resources and would improve the standard of academic performance and reputation.
Young thanked the Australian government and said Catholic institutions were not just service providers but a means of presenting and living the gospel.