Ex-court reporters among 81 law graduates

TWO former court reporters with the two daily newspapers were among 81 students who graduated with law degrees and dedicated their achievements to their late mothers.
Former journalists Daphne Wani, formerly with The National, and Daisy Pakawa, previously with the Post Courier, lost their mothers while taking up law at the University of Papua New Guinea.
“Court reporting inspired me to study for a bachelor in law,” Pakawa told The National yesterday at the 66th graduation for the UPNG School of Law in Port Moresby.
“I didn’t have a degree when I was doing court reporting from 2015 to 2017, so the job involved everyday going to the court house,” she said of the inspiration to pursue law studies.
Pakawa’s only regret was that her mother, who was a staunch supporter of her studies, passed away while she was in her second year.
“I wish my mum was here, she would have been proud, she was my staunchest supporter.
“I wanted to make her proud.”
Pakawa dedicated her degree to her mother.
While studying law, Pakawa minored in journalism which she expects to complete this year and graduate next year.
Wani enrolled as a law student in 2008, but had to withdraw after the birth of her first daughter Lelani in 2011, and then in 2016, she had her second daughter.
She got work as a reporter at The National writing court stories from 2016 to 2018.
In 2019, she finally returned to school and this time, managed to complete her degree.
Wani lost her mother last year when she was doing her final year of studies.
“I was broken as she was the only family member that saw me beyond my flaws and was encouraging me to complete my studies,” she said.