Dion, Ipatas made chiefs

By SHIRLYN BELDEN  
DEPUTY Prime Minister Leo Dion and Enga Governor Peter Ipatas were among a group recognised in the Logohu Awards yesterday at Government House in Port Moresby.
Dion and Ipatas received the title Grand Chief under the insignia of the “Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu”.
They were not there in person to receive the awards.
Dion was honoured for his long and distinguished service to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and being the regional member of parliament and member for East New Britain.
Ipatas was honoured for distinguished services to the community as the regional member of parliament and governor of Enga, plus wider community services, particularly in education.
The awards investiture was part of the independence honours list this year.
There were 110 recipients, with only about half of them present at
the investiture.
The awardees were recognised with officer of the Logohu awards, member of the order of Logohu, national Logohu medal, cross of medical service medal, distinguished services to PNG, meritorious public medal, meritorious community medal and commendation valuable service medal.
These people were leading development partners in education, medicine, rural health, community services, religion, business and law.   
Among them was Sogeri National High School principal Belavendiran Rayappan, who was recognised for his services as an educationist.
Rayappan was invested with the Insignia of an officer of the order of Logohu for his contribution to education in PNG.
Rayappan, who is of Indian origin, started his mission in 1994 as a volunteer teacher at the Tari Secondary School in Hela. 
His teaching career continued to Passam National High School in East Sepik, as deputy principal in 2001 and, then, as the deputy principal at the Port Moresby National High School.
He is head teacher of Sogeri National High School outside Port Moresby. 
Rayappan’s commitment had seen developments in the schools in academic, discipline and infrastructure standards.
“I am humbled and grateful for the award and there are plans to further develop the school,” Rayappan said.
“I owe this achievement to my teaching staff that was very committed and reliant.”