Thank you and Happy New Year

2020 REVIEW

Craig Volker, Seik Pitoi, Thomas Hukahu, Daniel Kumbon, Michael Uglo, George Mombi, Paul Minga, Peter Aglum, Dominic Sengi, Vincent Kumura, Kevin Pamba, Rebecca Kuku, Helen Tarawa, Gynnie Kero, Charles Moi, Nathan Lati, Ellen Tiamu, Gabby Mugang, Peter Esila, Kevin Dayonga, Cora Moabi, Leo Wafiwa, Wenceslaus Magun, Jina Amba, Samuel Bariasi, Clifford Faiparik, Dale Luma, Miriam Zarriga, Martha Deruage, Joshua Mani, Zachery Per, Sylvester Wemuru, Zedaiah Kanau, Enamyra Ani, Sylvia Persata, Nathan Woti, Michelle Jerewai, Asesela Matanatabu, Daniel Muru, Jason Koama, Leila Gilchrist, Samuel Tam, Aileen Kaiulo, Leslie Omaro, Fay Duega, John Iamo, Alexander Nara, Rebecca Passingan, Roselyn Ellison, Elizabeth Vuvu, Pisai Gumar, Erebiri Zurenuoc, Gloria Bauai, Barbara Arivusu, David Harro, Bradley Mariori, Elias Larry, Betty Wakia, Maureen Gerawa, Roland Fasol, Jonathan Koh, David Susuve, Jasmine Iru, Peter Tere

AS the curtain is drawn on 2020 and fittingly our last edition appears on this final day, we use the space and time to thank all who have been part of our efforts to amuse, inform or inspire.
Between January and December the global Covid-19 crisis did force a three-month hiatus. But Weekender did pick up again, in a subdued manner – speaking through a mask as it were.
Prof Craig Volker, our roving language expert has faithfully kept to the task of answering tokples questions. He has sent in his Language Toktok column from places as diverse and far apart as Kavieng, Indonesia, Australia and Europe.
Rev Seik Pitoi used his commentaries to educate and encourage believers. A man of many years in ministry, earlier on in life a public servant and a member of a gospel music band, his varied experiences have been reflected in his articles. We are quite positive that his counsel and provocation to ponder on some of life’s issues has helped many a reader.
Thomas Hukahu, a former sub-editor at The National is an exponent of serious study and hard work. He encourages the reader, especially students, to never stop at whatever appears to be a blockage.
Daniel Kumbon is arguably Enga’s most prolific writer yet who possesses a valuable wealth of local history and weaves tales using such savvy. He has done a few books already, one of which is to be launched any day now. Brevity is not one of his strong points though his wordiness serves a certain purpose.
Michael Uglo has tried to unravel the digital world in everyday language without getting lost himself in the maze of the internet of things.
George Mombi contributed perpectives on the Christian faith and what is scripturally sound as regards covenants and the nation of Israel.
Former The National scribes Ellen Tiamu, Elizabeth Vuvu and Rebecca Kuku have each told tales of happenings and people. Rebecca has been sharing with us stories from her Becky’s World Facebook page – stories of real people who had experienced gender-based violence, sorcery-related violence, prostitution and other “diversions” in life.
Ps Peter Aglum came onto the scene to join the debate on violence and cults, offering his perspective based on scripture and urging us to look beyond perpetrators and mediums to the dark spiritual forces lurking behind all that evil.
Operating out of a difficult pocket of PNG, Vincent Kumura has been keeping us abreast with news of his foundation which is doing little things that are making big impacts.
Public relations experts Nathan Lati, Fay Duega, Leo Wafiva, Cora Moabi, Leslie Omaro, Kevin Dayonga, Alexander Nara, Rebecca Passingan, Michelle Jerewai and Maureen Gerawa have done their bit to let us know what their organisations are doing for humanity and the environment.
We also acknowledge the Australian High Commission, the International Council of the Red Cross, World Vision and other NGOs for sharing with us what they are doing in serving communities. Tenk yu tru.
Remember the endangered homing leatherback turtles of the Madang north coast? Wenceslaus Magun, an expert behind the conservation of these ocean reptiles of the dinosaur age has made his point through this forum.
Other out-of-Madang stories came from former jounalist and academic Kevin Pamba of Divine World University.
Foreign affairs official Dominic Sengi in his profile of ex-diplomat and business executive Paul Nerau, tried to woo Bougainville voters to him but after all was said and done Ishmael Toroama beat everyone in the race for president.
Samuel Tam (Papa Sam) and Aileen Kaiulo from the Human Development Institute have lovingly preached the Personal Viability (PV) gospel. And we’re convinced that many a convert has been won over already. As they say, you’ve got to live it to see it work. Faith without action is dead – period.
David Harro over in Lae has poured out his love for Morobe, a place he had served a good part of his life as a provincial government information officer.
Dr Roland Fasol joined us midway through 2020 and for a couple of months dissected how the the human body functioned and warned about some major diseases affecting it. He has since left Pacific International Hospital and ceased writing.
Paul Minga wrote about his trek into the Goilala mountains. He also mused over life in general and missed opportunities in particular.
Other freelancers and journalism students we have heard from are Grace Maribu, Gabby Mugang, David Susuve, Betty Wakia, Jonathan Koh, Sylvester Wemuru, Jasmine Iru, Enamyra Ani, Sylvia Persata and Nathan Woti.
Our men and women and in Lae are (or were) Pisai Gumar, Erebiri Zurenuoc, Larry Andrew, Bradley Mariori and Gloria Bauai. From Kokopo we have received from Roselyn Ellison, from Mt Hagen James Gumuno and Elias Larry.
Then there is the Port Moresby-based team of journalists who have, besides their daily rounds, found time to write for us: Gynnie Kero, the news editor, her number two Charles Moi and their charges –Helen Tarawa, Mariam Zarriga, Jina Amba, Peter Esila, Dale Luma, Samuel Bariasi, Joshua Mani, Clifford Faiparik and Zedaiah Kanau.
We acknowledge the graphic artists who gave life to our pages. Asesela Matanatabu, the leader has ensured Daniel Muru, Jason Koama and Leila Gilchrist delivered the finished artwork to our printers on time. We thank IT techs Barbara Arivusu and Peter Tere who painstakingly uploaded the magazine.
(Our sincere apologies to anyone else who should have been named here.)
Most importantly, thank you all who have read the Weekender on newsprint or online and our advertisers who have stuck with us throughout the year.
We know that our scope of subject or detail can be expanded and improved.
Which is why in 2021 we will strive to better our efforts, of course with the help of the above-named plus anyone else out there who has a story to tell.
We wish you all a prosperous year ahead! …Editor