Tovue hails missionaries

 By ELIZABETH VUVU

SIR Ronald Tovue has paid tribute to the missionaries of the Methodist Church who brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Gazelle in East New Britain.

Sir Ronald said the missionaries introduced Christianity to the ancestors and great grandparents of the East New Britain  people. He said the missionaries came with the Good news and imparted their skills and knowledge of making things with their hands.

He said the missionaries arrived with Methodist missionary Reverend Dr George Brown to preach the gospel.

They taught the men how to make tables and chairs and the women how to sew dresses.

Sir Ronald said the Woolnough Vocational Centre at Raluana was named after a Methodist Church-lay woman Miss Woolnough from England.

She taught tailoring skills for women around the Gazelle Peninsula.

He said women in the Methodist Church, later to become the United Church in the New Britain region, were well known for their sewing skills.

One of their products which is on high demand was the Meri blouse.

Sir Ronald was the chairman of the Ratavul United Church.

He spoke during the opening of a one-week handicraft show at the Pilapila Primary School grounds.

Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat gave K3000 to the Pilapila church circuit as his contribution to its fundraising.