Morobe town reopens public library

 THE small community of Wau township celebrated the reopening of the town’s public library earlier this month.

It was a moving occasion when locals, including the long-time expatriate community in Wau, expressed their heart felt gratitude at the occasion, describing it to be significant because of its rich history.

Wau library committee president Danielle Vincent was excited at the opportunity to rebuild the library prior to joining the committee and commended the hard work of the committee team members. 

An emotional Dona Harvey-Hall, a long-time resident of Wau town, stressed the importance of looking after the library.

“This is our library. Please look after it,” she appealed to the public.

It was renamed the “Chris Harvey-Hall Memorial Library” and its maintenance was funded by Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) and NKW Holdings.

Land was made available by the Bulolo district through the Wau Urban LLG.

MMJV’s CEO Greg Jackson and general manager sustainability and external relations David Wissink officially opened the library.

 Bulolo district administrator Tai Guembelek encouraged the students and general public to use the library adding that apart from school, each individual had to help themselves to learn.

He said the library was important and the books were useful tools because without them there would not be any lawyers, pilots and doctors.

The books were donated by the public, MMJV, Harmony Brisbane Office, NKW and Brisbane Boys ‘College.

The library is perhaps one of the oldest in the country. 

Librarians who have manned the library included the wife of WWII Australian army surveyor, Lt Jerry N Owers.