Longtime residents recognised

TWO longtime Madang residents who have been actively helping communities have been included in the New Year Logohu Honours List.
Mr Peter Hill and wife Maureen who had lived in PNG for 49 years and 40 years respectively have been nominated to be recipients of the award for community service to the people of Madang and PNG.
Mr Hill, who was born on Feb 22, 1938, in Denniston, New Zealand came to PNG in 1961 while Maureen followed him nine years later after their marriage.
Hill worked in PNG and was the man behind the construction of several educational and health institutions and facilities in Sandaun, East Sepik and Madang province.
He had been an active member of several institutions like the Board of Madang Technical College, Chairman Madang Interim Commission, Chairman Madang Building Board, Lion International service club and Madang Chamber of Commerce.
He was also awarded MBE for community service to Red Cross, Women and Children in PNG and was also the recipient of the 25th PNG Anniversary Independence medal no 951.
Maureen arrived in PNG in 1969 and in 1970 she started an early childhood education centre known as Maureen Hill Nursery school Childcare centre in Madang which still operates today.
She said many of her students were now prominent individuals and professionals in different fields nationwide.
She had been an active member of several charity and community service organisations in Madang and abroad.
Maureen had been recipients to many international and national awards for community service.
Among them were 1979 Paul Harris Fellowship award from Rotary International for community work with children, a first women international award winner.
She had also been awarded PNG 10th anniversary medal for work with women in PNG in 1985, 2002 awarded MBE for
service to children and Red Cross and in 2005 she was awarded 30th Independence award for service to the community.
She has been active with several community-oriented groups like the establishment of the Provincial Women’s Council, founding member of Creative Self Help Centre for Disability, founding member Kindergarten Long Ples in 1981, a programme that takes kindergarten classes to children in Madang villages.
The Hills said they were honoured by the recognition for their work together.