HONOURS

Central citizens awarded for service

Reports by ENAMYRA ANI and SYLVIA PERSATA
UPNG Journalism students
THE Government House and the Central government conducted a successful first-of-its-kind investiture ceremony of the Queens Diamond Jubilee medals by going out to each districts in Central last month.
The four-day event started in Kairuku-Hiri district at Bereina station on Dec 18 then moved to Rigo (at Kwikila station) on Dec 19 and finally ended in Abau (at Kupiano) on Friday, Dec 20.
Central provincial administrator Francis Koaba said the investiture ceremony for Goilala district was postponed due to logistics difficulties.
A total of 400 awards were given by the acting Governor-General, Job Pomat. The event in all three districts was witnessed by Governor Robert Agarobe and other dignitaries.
These medals were presented to individuals as a token of appreciation for their loyal and dedicated services to the community in various fields such as agriculture, education, politics, religion, and entertainment and in non-profitable organisations before and since independence.
The acting Governor-General acknowledged the recipients for their services to the communities and country. “It starts at home. Foster unity in your families and communities. Work together with your LLGs (local level governments) and cooperate with your leaders. To have a strong and united country, start at home. We will achieve more when we stand united as a nation,” the vice regal said.
Rigo MP Lekwa Gure said at the event in his district that it was a special day that marked the history of the people of Central who gave their lives in serving the community.
“I wish to sincerely thank you for recognising Central Province by awarding a massive 400 honours on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty. This is a living testimony of the good deeds and gestures of our people and province.
“At the same time it is a representation of a special historic connection, relation and friendship,” Gure said.

Kila took over dad’s business

KILA Rakava Iga from Irupara village, Rigo was one the 400 recipients who was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by acting General-Governor Job Pomat.
This award was presented to the 69-year-old and others as a token of appreciation and recognition to the people of Rigo for their valuable contribution towards the growth and development of the district in politics, public service, higher education and research, police, military, correctional services, judiciary, church, business, agriculture and non-profit organisation.
The medal was also a tangible way to honour the Queen and the commemorative medals serve to honour significant contributions and achievements by Papua New Guineans. It marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, since February 1952.

Kila was one of the pioneers who have contributed to the development of Central and Papua New Guinea as whole.
He was appreciated for his perseverance and tremendous contributions especially in terms of local business development.
Governor Agarobe thanked Kila for his tireless commitment and passion and desire to grow PNG.
Kila who is married with five children and six grandchildren said his parents had also voluntarily provided services to people of Rigo for 20 years.
He completed primary school at Maneamanea (Hood Point) in 1966 and was later sent to Kwikila High School where he spent three years only. He didn’t manage to complete his studies and left school when he was in grade nine due to personal reasons.
In 1969, he got married to Ritha Kila when his parents were working for a company.
He said his father later became a businessman and also served his community in Rigo during the 1960s something, Kila admired greatly.
In 1980, Kila was elected as the village chairman and he had been working for 18 years in that position.
He has helped grow his father’s business and also took part in some of the charity work his father had done.
In 2005, Kila was diagnosed with arthritis and has been on medication since. He thanks God for His mighty works in his life despite his illness.
Kila said he had faced many challenges and struggles in life but he thanked his family for supporting him through it all.
“I thank God for his abundant blessings and the Government for their recognition today and I am very happy.
“When my father died, I took over his business as the eldest son and I followed my father’s footsteps. Today I’m happy that I took the initiative to bring small services to my community.
“Therefore, I want my children to work for survival because today life is really challenging unlike the past where there was plenty of food in the gardens and fish in the sea for villagers.
“One of my achievements was seeing my children successfully starting off their own small business in the community just like their grandfather did.”
Kila also urged young people to follow the footsteps of the pioneers of the country in terms of providing services to their communities.

Alu believed in doing the right thing

DOING everything on time and working righteously has finally paid off for Rai Alu. He was amongst 50-plus recipients of the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal during the investiture ceremony in Abau, Central last month.
Alu, 67, who hails from the coastal village of Virolo in Abau was recognised for four things he did for the community; education, sports, church work and non-profitable business (fishing).
“I feel really proud that my service to the community has been recognised and I am really happy.
“I thank the Governor-General’s office for hosting such a successful event in recognising our services. There are also many out there who have worked their whole life in providing services to the communities,” he said.
Alu started his education at the London Missionary Society school and then made his way up to Konepoti Primary School to do grades four to six.

When he completed grade six in 1965 he was selected to do forms one to four (grades seven to 10) at Iarowari High School from 1966 to 1969. Then in 1970 he was selected to Sogeri National High School to do grades 11 and 12.
After completing grade 12, Alu made it to the next chapter of his life by being a freshman at the University of Papua New Guinea to study economics. He studied for four years and got his degree in 1975.
Straight after getting his degree, he flew to Canada to do a diploma course in fisheries in 1976.
In 1977, he joined a fisheries company and worked there until his retirement in 2000.
“After I retired I went back home and started fishing. I was a great fisherman before then.
“I was good in many things, one of them was sports. I was really good in sports. I represented Iarowari and Sogeri while I was a student back then. I also represented the country.
“I was also good at canoe racing.
“I was also a church secretary and chairman.”
Alu says that working hard and reporting to work on time were important for public servants.
“I see public servants everywhere. They don’t work on time. When it’s time for work, they are outside. You must be committed to be public servants. You must put your mind into it.
“My advice to public servants is, people who are lazy shouldn’t eat. It’s also written in the Bible.
“Therefore we have to work hard and aside from working hard, you have to come to work on time. You must work righteously. There are many who are bribed.”