Mum-of-seven Regina building career in male-dominated field

By JESSICA TANDA
REGINA Nellie Murang, a senior lecturer at the Mt Hagen Technical College, is happy and comfortable building her career in a male-dominated field.
“Most times, women look at me with admiration, and that feeling of support gives me the strength to overcome challenges at my workplace.”
Mother-of-seven Regina, 41, is a senior lecturer in automotive technician at the college.
She is the second eldest, and the only girl, in a family of three born to Nimamp Tombil and Kini Kenzak. She was born in 1981 in a mountain village called Pukamil-Wasne on the outskirts of Minj town, Jiwaka.
Her older brother, Joe Tombil, is an Information Technology technician at the Jiwaka provincial headquarters. Her other brother, Peter Tombil, is a shop assistant in Minj town.
She met husband Moses Murang, an electrician from Tolu village in Jiwaka, and got married in 2003.
Of their seven children, eldest son John Ala Murang, born in 2004, is now in Grade 12 at Mt Hagen Secondary. Rosellah is in Grade Nine at the Mt Hagen Park Day Secondary School. Joseph is in Grade Eight at the Mt. Hagen Primary. Burt is in Grade Seven. Chris is in Grade Two at Saint Paul Elementary. Esther and Zillah are in prep school.
Regina is also the president of a registered group called the Meri Tradies PNG, which assists women taking up trade careers in male-dominated fields.
She got her certificate in automotive electrical technician after completing a year’s apprenticeship with a company in Lae.
Being the only girl in her family pushed and encouraged her to prove to male colleagues that not all women are physically weak.
She began her school life at the Muruka Primary School, completing grades one to six from 1989 to 1994. She then attended the Minj High School completing grades seven to 10 from 1995 to 1998.
She did not continue her schooling into Grade 11 in 1999 but took the first step into her career, getting a certificate as an automotive technician from the Mt. Hagen Technical College.
Then in 2000 and 2001, she completed her secondary education through the Department of Distance Learning.
She moved to work with another company in Lae as the leading automotive electrician from 2005 to 2008.
And in 2009, she joined the Malahang Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a lecturer for four years. She left Lae to join the Mt Hagen Technical College in 2013.
In 2017 and 2018, she attended the Australia-Pacific Technical College in Port Moresby and completed the automotive technician paper three.
She attended the University of Goroka in 2018 and 2019 and graduated with a Bachelor of Education in School Management degree.
Her biggest concern during all those years was leaving her family behind to pursue studies.
“My major challenge was how I had to leave my infants with their dad and go to different institutions outside the province. I knew I had to sacrifice for my kids and my family. If not now, then later, they will understand why I had to leave them and go away.”
Her advice to girls taking up a career in a male-dominated field that it can be tough.
“But if you follow your passion and drive, nothing is impossible. Challenges are here to stay. You create a way to (achieve your goal).”