Govt House gardener gets new home

A GOVERNMENT House gardener who has been living in a shed in the compound for 21 years has moved into his new fully-furnished home – thanks to Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae.
Heni Amuke and his family moved into the K400,000 home and thanked Sir Bob Dadae for having the house built for him.
“I lived in a shed at the Government House grounds that I built (using) rusty corrugated iron roof and off-cut timber. I have lived in it with my family of six children and my wife for 21 years,” he said.
Amuke recalled that Sir Bob had noticed the shed and said that it was an eyesore.
“He (Sir Bob) said to have a house built for me,” he said.
Bill Toraso, the acting secretary to the governor-general, said they built homes for Amuke and private secretary Basil Anton to reward them for their commitments to work.
They used funds saved from last year’s national budget.
“We have 65 staff and most of them live outside and come to work. So we will build some more houses for them,” Toraso said.
“We are also renovating staff houses.
“I want to thank the Government for allocating K10 million in the 2021 budget for the governor-general’s office.”
Toraso said they also planned to rebuild the graves of former governor-generals.
They include Sir Tore Lokoloko’s grave at Iokea village and late Sir Serei Eri’s grave at Moveave village in Gulf.
They have already worked on the grave of Sir John Guise at his wife’s village in Lalauara, Abau, Central.