Waigani traffic lights man is no more

HE was police officer 11724
Chris Aua, otherwise the nameless man at the Waigani traffic lights, was born on Dec 25 at Varia Village in Baimuru, Gulf, to Evai Ilaea and the Vani Aua (late).
Motorists and other passers-by may have realised his prolonged absence by now.
He was seen, sometimes with a child in tow, begging at the intersections along Waigani Drive in Port Moresby. In his best, he preached about whatever entered his troubled mind and at worst he harassed motorists and passengers in PMVs.
On Jan 21 he passed on and last Saturday, Jan 30 he was buried at the Kirakira cemetery on the way to Pari Village.
His father Vani Aua was a colonial-era teacher who worked in many provinces of the country. His final posting was at Evedahana Primary School at 9-Mile in National Captial District where Chris started his formal education.
During Chris’ childhood, he travelled a lot and in 1981 he was enrolled at the Evedahana Primary School and did grades one to six from 1981 to 1986. From 1987 to 1990 he did grades seven to 10 at Kilakila Secondary School.
He was selected to study journalism at University of PNG so from 1991 to 1992 he was at UPNG. After completing his studies, he applied to be a police officer and started his six-month training at the Bomana Police College and graduated in 1993.
He was posted to Mendi in Southern Highlands.
Chris served as a police office in Mendi for a couple of years before being sent to Port Moresby due to injuries sustained in car accident in the line of duty.
In 1996 he was attached to Police headquarters in the Media section. Because of his potential, he was sent to study investigative journalism at the Divine Word University for two years.
He completed the first year but did not continue because his wife had left him with his two sons.
In 2000 he walked away from his studies and travelled to Daru in Western to be with his family but was not accepted by his wife’s relatives. With so much pain in his heart, he returned to Port Moresy.
In the city he was unsettled so he starting roaming the streets visiting government offices to seek custody of his children but to no avail. In 2001, frustrated from all his unsuccessful visits to government offices, he walked the Kokoka Trail alone to Popondetta. There he boarded a ship to Lae.
After spending some time in Lae, he travelled to the highlands. He spent alsmot five years in the highlands, travelling between Kundiawa and Goroka. While in Chimbu, he met a woman and married her.
Just before Christmas in 2006, he took his wife and son Elijah and they came back to Port Moresby, walking the Kokoka Trail from Popondetta.
Soon after arriving in Port Moresby, his second wife was taken away from him by her relatives while his son was only a few months old. Since then Chris has been on the streets raising his son by himselve for the last 14 years until his passing after a short illness.
His eldest son from the first wife flew into Port Moresby from Daru when he heard of his dad’s passing and witnessed his burial last Saturday.
His youngest son Elijah is with his grandmother Evai at Kilakila settlement.
The family says thank you to all who had contributed in fundraising at Manu, Sabama, 4-Mile and Waigani traffic lights for Chris’ funeral costs.
– Details provided by sisters Ave and Eni Awa, and cousin Justin Heni.