Lae prepares to give seafarers on long voyage a rousing welcome

Hilmar Wong Park at Voco Point in Lae will come alive on Sunday to welcome wairon (canoe) seafarers from West Papua.
They are sailing from Sorong, in West Papua, to Samarai, in Milne Bay.
The wairon arrived at Buingim village in Bukawa, Nawaeb, on Wednesday.
Buingim councilor Patchy Saku said the villagers welcomed the Wairon in traditional style before leaving them to sail to Lae for Sunday’s major event.
Maine Winnie, from Culture Link, said there would be art-and-craft exhibitions and singsings at Hilmar Wong Park to welcome the Wairon.
The programme is scheduled for the whole of Sunday, beginning at 6am.
Singsing groups from Wanchef in Markham Valley, Siassi and Waria would be among those performing.
Winnie said the arrival of wairon would see five people at the top of a tower blowing conch shells to welcome the canoe.
The canoe will then be welcomed by the three singsing groups.
Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu and Lae MP John Rosso will welcome the Wairon before farewelling it to continue its voyage south to Samarai.