Hargreaves heads show

 By ZACHERY PER

BUSINESS WOMAN Kearyn Hargreaves has been appointed the new head of the Goroka Show Society.

Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso announced the appointment at the official launch of the 2013 Goroka Show at the Bird of Paradise Hotel last Friday.

Soso thanked outgoing chairman Gideon Samuel and his committee members for their hard work over the past few years to keep the show going.

“It is proper to have a female head the show when I, as a female, am head of the province as governor,” Soso said.

“I urge all the stakeholders to work with the committee and myself to keep our cultural and agricultural spirit alive and active.” 

Soso announced the provincial government would take over the management and running of the show spearheaded by Hargreaves.

She pledged K220,000 towards this year’s show of which K20,000 will be for administration and K100,000 for staging it. She committed K200,000 for next year’s show as well.

The Goroka Show, one of the oldest shows that had Soso’s father, the late Soso Subi as one of the founding committee members, now has  overwhelming support.

Soso said since the staging of the show coincided with the country’s independence celebrations, the people of Eastern Highlands had never had the chance to celebrate independence separately.

“I will allocate K50,000 towards school children who are the future generation to celebrate independence meaningfully,” she said. 

“This will go on for the next five years to observe the independence.” 

Hargreaves, who seemed surprised at the announcement of her appointment, thanked Soso for having trust and confidence in her.

She said she would give her utmost to maintain and run the show. 

A number of business and corporate organisations pledged financial support for this year’s show.

Locally financial institution Alekano Savings and Loan Society presented K5,000 to the show committee, the Coffee Industry Corporation pledged K15,000, with several displays and promotion of its products  at the show.