Meeting 10 years apart

By HELEN TARAWA
REGGIE Guise, the son of first governor-general of Papua New Guinea Sir John Guise, is glad that Sir Michael was laid to rest at Kreer Heights.
Reggie was in Wewak for the funeral.
“I interacted with Sir Michael in 1972, 1982 and 1992,” he said.
“It was coincidence.
“In 1972, I met Sir Michael, three years later, we gained independence.
“In 1982, I was serving the people of Wewak as manager of Douglas Airways and met him here.
“I met Sir Michael after 10 years in 1992 during the death of Jack Genia at Lalaura village.
“He went to say hello to his friend Sir John on the hill.”
Reggie first met Sir Michael in 1972 while attending Kwikila High School.
“I was picked up from school and driven to a place called Senunu before Gaire village along Magi Highway,” he said.
“To my surprise, there were Sir Michael, my father, Ebia Olewale, Albert Maori Kiki, Sir Reuben Taureka and others.
“I heard that we had attained self-government.
“Two years later, we gained Independence.
“I wonder now what they were talking about then.
“Surely it wasn’t a fishing trip to Lalaura, my mother’s village.”
Reggie worked in Wewak for 18 months in 1982 and stayed at Wewak Valley.
When he arrived in Wewak last week, he walked down to take pictures of the unit that he and his family lived in and posted it to his son in Port Moresby.
Reggie had the opportunity to meet and talk to Arthur and Sana Somare in Wewak.