Tribute to a flag carrier

By ZACHERY PER
THE late Iscah Julie Karo was a good flag carrier for her family members, relatives and friends just as her employer Air Niugini is the national flag carrier of Papua New Guinea.
At the age of 38, Iscah passed away on Nov 24 at the Goroka Provincial Hospital after a short illness. Her death shocked her family members, relatives and colleagues at Air Niugini.
Many who paid tribute to her at the funeral service on Friday, Nov 30 at the National Sports Institute (NSI) said shehad worked her way up the ranks with Air Niugini from being a junior officer to become port manager at Goroka and she was indeed a true flag carrierfor her Karo family.
Air Niugini spokesman Daniel Tasman said at the funeral service that Iscah was a very committed officer who served everyone that came her way without fear or favour. He said she ensured that her customers went away satisfied after meeting her.
Tasaman expressed sorrow that Air Niugini had lost a highly motivated and committed officer and it would be difficult to find a replacement of the late Iscah’s calibre.
Air Niugini’s Goroka traffic officer William Michael expressed deep regret at the passing of Iscah saying that they had been looking upon to her as a role model.
“We learnt a lot from her and were expecting her to continue to lead the team for us to learn more from her, however Iscah has left us too soon and we are all faced with a vacuum that is hard to fill,” Michael said.
The late Iscah’s godfather Ango Wangatau said she lived her life guided by high moral values and respect for others and was a fine role model for others, particularly young children.
“To lose a child is very painful in our hearts as she was only 38 with more years to contribute to the family and the nation,” he said.
Uncle Allan Kamale thanked the funeral organisers Maxie Roida, Solomon Karo (brother) and Osborne Soso for ensuring a well-organised service for their sister, cousin and friend at NSI indoor sports complex.
Maxie Roida who spoke on behalf of Sipiga community outside Goroka town said Iscah, who graduated with a computer science degree, was a good role model for young girls to excel in education to university level like her.
Roida said she did exceptionally well at her work to climb the ladder to the position of Air Niugini port manager in Goroka.
He said her Sipiga community would be missing her smiles and daily greetings.
In the eulogy, her brother Solomon Karo, summed up the life of his sister’s 38 years with the scripture in James 4:10 -‘Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and he will exalt you’.
Iscah was born at the Goroka Base Hospital to Jim and Talia Karo on July 6, 1980. She spent her childhood with the Wangataus including sisters Chariama, Esther and brothers Daniel and Jessie in Port Moresby.
She returned to Goroka to live with the Karo family to do her high school education at the then Goroka Demonstration High School, which is today Goroka Secondary School. Her late dad Jim Karo and mum Talia raised her with her brothers Solomon, Luru and sister Vendelyn.
She secured a place at Aiyura National High School to do Grades 11 and 12 before taking up computer science at the University of Technology in Lae in 1999.
She graduated in 2003 and secured a job in Port Moresby. She then joined Air Niugini as a junior officer in Lae. She worked her way up the ranks to the position of port manager in Goroka.
“My sister was a strong-willed, determined and independent lady with a beautiful, gentle and kind character who was always kind to the unfortunate. She loves to go out of her own way to help everyone who was in need of her help,” Solomon said.
“She was a shining star or a comet in the night sky, her short but bright life has passed by in our lives, lighting up the sky and touching so many of us.”