Form 3 dropout Wokmanok awarded Queen’s medal

The National People

By LULU MARK
HIS biggest regret in life is running away from school after Form Three.
After receiving the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal last Friday in Kiunga from Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae, Wokmanok Famosep, 51, recalled how he, at the tender age of 12, had to leave his family at the village to look for work.
It was 1981. The youngster from Imigabip village in the Olsobip Local Level Government of North Fly District in Western heard that the Ok Tedi project was about to start and was looking for labourers to clear the bushes.
Wokmanok said goodbye to his family and walked for 12 hours with his cousin Ulek Ivereng who was 14 to reach the project site.

Wokmanok Famosep Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals. – Pictures Courtesy of Wokmanok Famosep Family

In November this year, Wokmanok will be celebrating 39 years of service with Ok Tedi. That long service achievement had promoted managing director of Ok Tedi Development Foundation Ian Middleton to nominate Wokmanok for a medal for his contribution to the province and nation.
He was among the 110 men and women from the province who received their medals from Sir Bob.
Wokmanok is married to Magdela Iritam also from Imigabip village. They have two sons, three daughters and two grandchildren.
He was very emotional when he received the award which he dedicated to his family and fellow villagers. One of his biggest achievements is his contribution to the Dakelmurupkasal clan of Imigabip village in the Faiwolmin tribe through the Faiwolmin Tribe Association. Village councilor Lox Kiwol thanked God for blessing Wokmanok.
From 1981 to 1982 he was employed by Bechtel-MKI International, a joint venture with Ok Tedi during the constructions phase as a labourer preparing drilling pads, clearing bushes and setting up camps.
The young men were sent to the Ningrum Training Centre to undergo training. Wokmanok was trained as a welder.

“ Today I am a strong advocate of education. It is education that motivates me to continue working to pay the school fees of my children and my elder brother’s children.”

He had the opportunity to witness firsthand the construction phase of what was to become the biggest mining operation.
He worked for OTML’s mine maintenance department for 15 years from 1984 to 1999 as a boiler maker. He was then given a chance to operate heavy machinery in 2000.
He became a truck and bulldozer operator.
Wokmanok had attended Form One in 1975 at the Olsobip Community School. After completing Form Three in 1977, he decided that school was not for him. People in the village did not understand the value of education and the benefits to them. It seemed then a waste of time.
But today, Wokmanok is a strong advocate for education.

Wokmanok Famosep ID card when he started working as a field laborer with Bechtel-MKI International in the Ok Tedi Project in 1981.

“Today I am a strong advocate of education. It is education that motivates me to continue working to pay the school fees of my children and my elder brother’s children. I supported the sons of my elder brother. One has graduated with a Master in Business Leadership. The other is now a qualified lawyer in Port Moresby.
“My son also completed his Geology degree and joined the graduate development scheme with Ok Tedi. Now he is a full time employee of Ok Tedi as a geologist.”
It seems everything has worked out well for the man who had run away from school.