Colleagues farewell Ivaharia

 PHOTO-journalsit Joe Ivahari was farewelled last Thursday by the Port Moresby media fraternity at the Hohola United Chruch.

The 49-year-old’s funeral came a week after his sudden death while attending a Media Pool function in the city’s west.

Colleagues and representatives from all major media outlets turned out to pay their respects to the man described as an easy going professional.

Ivaharia’s long time friends Patrick Levo and Udu Vai, as well as Fijian musician Elina Onno described the late “Jivah” as a humble person who always had time for people.

Levo flew in from Lae, Morobe,  while Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator Joe Kaiyo travelled from Mendi to attend the service, which took place after midday before the burial on Friday morning. They all made tributes and shared memories of Ivaharia, who was a self-taught photographer and someone, who had served the profession at all the major newspapers.

Ivaharia learned his trade at Word Publishing’s Wantok in the mid 1980s before having stints at The Times of PNG and the Independent newspaper, Post Courier, Sunday Chronicle and The National.

At the time of his death, he was attached with the National Capital District Commission’s media unit.

Other notable personas who attended the funeral included National Capital District Police Metropolitan Superintendant Andy Bawa and prominent  media personalities Susuve Laumaea and Numa Alu.