Surprise visit for Lae City Mission youths

 YOUTHS living in the Lae City Mission yesterday had a surprise visitor – Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan.

Keenan was accompanied by High Commissioner Deborah Stokes to the mission’s Suambu Farm at 11-Mile.

Managing director Bruce Hart told them that the aim of the Lae City Mission was to train boys to become useful citizens before sending them back into the community.

Hart said most of the boys at the centre had been in trouble with the law.

“We teach them literacy classes, work ethnics and gardening.”

Keenan visited a K150,000 AusAID-funded building at the farm which will be used as a learning centre.

The delegation later visited the Lae War Cemetery at Memorial Avenue.

Maj Dave Siggers, the attaché based at Igam Barracks, briefed Keenan about the history of the cemetery and how many Australian soldiers were buried there.

Keenan laid a wreath and later witnessed a weapon disposal ceremony.