Lae school driver calls it quits

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 22nd May 2013

 By ELLEN TIAMU

BANU Kaiyak is calling it quits after being employed as driver for the Bumayong Secondary School in Lae for 41 years.

Kaiyak, in his 70s, is from Ogau village in the Nawaeb district of Morobe.

His long attachment and association with the school saw him receive a Medal of Community Service from the Queen in 2011.

When he announced his retirement last week, the whole school came together to bid him a final goodbye.

The school board and teachers hosted a special luncheon for him and his family in Lae on Sunday to say thank you for such dedication and loyalty. 

Kaiyak commenced his employment at Bumayong in 1972 on a fortnightly wage of A$1.

His daughter Ruth recalled how she found this out on one of his pay slips 14 years later in 1986 and urged him to find another job which paid better. His pay then was K25.

Kaiyak told his daughter that as a Christian, all he wanted was to serve the Lord and his Lutheran church to the fullest and was not finicky about money. 

During the 41 years as the school’s driver, Kaiyak maintained a clean driving record and had never been booked for traffic offences.

He was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And according to his family, he never once complained.

Kayak said he served under 15 headmasters at the school during his distinguished career.

He re-married after his first wife died and has three children, five grandchildren and a great-grandchild.