Links
If links in the newsletter do not work properly, copy and paste the URL into your browser and press Enter. Be sure to copy the entire link, as it may wrap to the next line. If this still does not work please send an email to the newsletter advising of the broken link.
Do you have a web site or link to a PNG related area on the WWW? If so do you want it mentioned here? Then use the submission form by clicking here
External links - while PNG Gossip Newsletter will not sell your email address to others many links on this web site lead to other sites that may may not have the same policy regarding your valuable email address. Be careful when handing over your email address.
PNG in the News
Goroka doctor wins prestigious new award -- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/200908/s2655692.htm
New Britain Palm Oil has reported a sharp drop in first-half profit -- http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSL65223720090806
Prosperity gospel bandwagon hits Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b27d60
PNG 20 provincial governors explore new government system -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=48351
PNG's Morobe government calls for sweeping public sector reform -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=48382
The Kokoda air tragedy and memories of others -- http://giaman.com/pg/?60276a
Selfless people shared a love of community -- http://giaman.com/pg/?77aebb
PNG Blogs
How media portray PNG -- http://niuginistylee.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-media-portrays-png.html
Jac and John's PNG Adventure -- http://www.offexploring.com/jrosenthal
Blog entry from Kundiawa -- http://giaman.com/pg/?dea9f9
Bulolo Mine Pollutes Watut River System -- http://bulolo-river-pollution.blogspot.com/
Highland Happenings -- http://anthonypng.blogspot.com
Leanne in Maprik -- http://friendrobinson.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/leanne-in-maprik-2/
Hagen Golfing -- http://www.chapmanconnection.com/2009/08/09/hagen-golfing/
Random PNG Links
Scuba Ventures Kavieng -- http://www.scubakavieng.com
Kokopo Beach Bungalow -- http://www.kbb.com.pg/
Ukarumpa -- http://www.thirdday.com/boards/showthread.php?t=108295
Tom Hedley plans to start a new life in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?fd468d
Ulumani Treetops is a lodge set in pristine forest wilderness in the foothills of the Pini ranges -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1519a4
World Vision -- http://www.worldvision.org.nz/wherewework/profiles/c_png.asp
Telephone Management Software -- http://www.matryx.com.pg/
Mandarin fish at Kimbe Bay -- http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Mandarinfish-at-Kimbe-Bay
A Story of a Major: Inspirational Stories and real life incidences -- http://giaman.com/pg/?519267
Strange nudi from Milne Bay -- http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31759
One degree of change - Fiji and PNG -- http://www.1degree.com.au/what_we_are_doing/australia/fiji
Internet Service Providers
Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
Data Nets -- http://www.online.net.pg
Datec -- http://www.datec.net.pg
Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
Computer Companies in PNG
Able Computing -- http://www.able.com.pg
Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
Data Nets -- http://www.datanets.com.pg
Datec -- http://www.datec.com.pg
Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
HT PNG Limited (formerly High Tech Industries Limited) -- http://www.hightech.com.pg/
News Items
Wara Blong Life
The Wara Blong Life (Water for Survival) collaborative Internet project is on again this year and schools in New Zealand are looking for PNG schools to participate in the project. It was very successful last year
Oxfam are running the project again this October. This is a fun, interactive term 4 classroom project where students learn about the relationship between washing hands and the prevention of disease. Wara Blong Life is a global education Oxfam project, based on the New Zealand Technology, Social Studies and Health and Physical Education curricula and also ties nicely in with the PNG International Education Agency PNG curricula.
The background for study is health education and sanitation in primary schools in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The aims of the project are to encourage 'out of the square' problem solving in a 'real world' context. Students are asked to design a method of washing hands that requires very little water and develop health education materials. In the New Zealand context, the learning will assist swine flu prevention.
Teachers and students are fully supported for the duration of the project with briefs, background resources, an e-teacher and experts in the field.
To register interest in this project contact: monika @ megabright.co.nz -- http://www.megabright.co.nz/Wara_Bilong_Life/home.html
Schenker Shipping
DB Schenker has announced it will expand its Australasian operations to the growing PNG market. A Schenker spokesperson said the company will provide extensive service offerings in PNG, such as ocean freight to Lae and Port Moresby, customs clearance, domestic distribution (door to door), warehousing and storage, to supply chain planning and supply chain management.
The National
The National newspaper web site mentioned at the bottom of the newsletter has been off the air for several weeks after being hacked. Any one visiting the site in the near future is warned to be careful and make sure that they have current virus protection in place.
Read more about this problem in the "Madang - Ples Bilong Mi" blog -- http://giaman.com/pg/?06b634
The Lower Ramu Bible Translation Ministry blog and web site were also hacked recently -- http://www.flyingfox.org/wordpress/2009/08/10/web-site-hacked/
Smart PNG Parrot
A five-year-old female parrot named Strawberry has proved to be smarter than human investors in a stock investment contest. The PNG parrot finished third in the six-week challenge after randomly selecting blue chip stock using its beak from a list of 30. The tips by the parrot returned 13.7 percent. Human investors averaged a 4.6 percent loss, with only two outperforming the parrot.
NHC Flats Burn
A block of flats close to Manu Autoport in Port Moresby burnt down recently with fire fighters complaining abut difficulties finding fire hydrants. The firemen arrived promptly and were able to start fighting the fire with the water in their tanker but this soon ran out. The hydrant, although being close by, was not clearly marked. Eyewitnesses and the affected occupants suspect an electrical fault ignited the fire, but fire investigators are tight-lipped on the cause of the fire, saying a report will be finalised when they have completed their investigations into the destruction. The flats were owned by the National Housing Corporation (NHC).
Residents did not lose everything to the fire but people who helped rescue white goods from the burning buildings soon changed that by walking off with the goods.
Guns Surrendered
Reformed criminals have surrendered guns, knives, axes, shovels and spades at a gun-surrender ceremony held recently at Gerehu Sports Centre. A spokesman for the criminals said "there is no future in crime. We must work for our living". The spokesman said they are also trying to convince other young people in Tokarara, June Valley, Hohola, Morata, 5 Mile, 6 Mile and 8 Mile to change their lives. Another spokesman said "Enough is enough. Now we need employment to occupy our time and help our families."
Fuel Prices Down
For the first time in six months fuel prices have fallen. The new prices would be K1.41 a litre for petrol, K1.42 a litre for diesel and K1.40 for kerosene.
Food Expensive
The Post Courier has reported the price of goods at Telefomin Station in Sandaun (West Sepik) Province.
A kilogram of Trukai Rice - K10.00
500ml Cooking oil - K8.90
500g Ramu Sugar - K9.50
for the full report visit the Post Courier web site -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090810/news01.htm
The cooking oil sells for around K2.00 in Port Moresby.
Coastwatchers Memorial
The Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse at Kalibobo Point in Madang town turned 50 on the 15th of August (2009). The lighthouse, started in 1958 and completed in 1959 by the Australian government, recognises the invaluable service of coast watchers who were spread along the coastline and islands of PNG during World War II.
Malagan Beach Resort
Thinking of staying at the Malagan Beach Resort in Kavieng (New Ireland province) then read the reviews by 5 travellers here -- http://giaman.com/pg/?845579
Hiri Moale Festival
An amount of over K880,000 has been allocated by the Motu Koita Assembly towards the running of the Hiri Moale Festival this year. The Festival is usually held in conjunction with PNG Independence celebrations on the 16th of September. This year -- http://skerah.com -- have announced the event will be held between Monday the 14th of September 2009 to Wednesday the 16th of September 2009.
see -- http://www.skerah.com/hirimoale.php
Should the PM Resign?
The Opposition has joined hands and called on the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to resign because it claimed he was too old to run the country.
Have your vote -- http://pnginfo.com/survey.html
Kokoda Trekkers & Pilots Die
A twin-engine De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter plane carrying 13 people has crashed at about 5500 feet (1680 meters) in the rugged Owen Stanley Range. Flight CG4684 left the capital of Port Moresby en route to an airport near the country's Kokoda Track, a mountainous 60-mile (100-kilometer) trail. The plane's crew radioed air traffic controllers as it was approaching the airstrip, but the aircraft never landed, said Allen Tyson, a spokesman for Airlines PNG.
see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0bf0dc -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f4597a
Airlines PNG press releases -- http://www.apng.com/index.asp?pgid=9
People who have not been to PNG often do not understand aviation in PNG. Here is a quote I picked up from a well known source that sums it up fairly well. "PNG aviation has as much similarity to operating in Australia as the Space Shuttle program does to Qantas's B744 operations". Also from a different person "planes are like busses in PNG"
Beaten by weather -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090813/news05.htm
Pilots fly in world's worst conditions -- http://giaman.com/pg/?9947fa
Trekkers isolated in the town bound by weather -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0ad262
Gazelle International
A hotel, currently being built on the historic site of Queen Emma's residence at Ralum near Kokopo in East New Britain, will be known as the Gazelle International. Work began early this year on the multi-million kina hotel. It is a joint venture between Nambawan Super Ltd, the Airways Hotel and the East New Britain provincial government.
2009-10 Soccer
Nominations for the 2009 - 2010 National Soccer League competition have been official declared open. Nominations close on the 21st of August. Telikom PNG, the current major sponsor, has verbally committed to support the competition again.
PNG Rugby Team
Australian Rugby League great, Mal Meninga, says PNG's inclusion in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) competition is on track. He also emphasised that violence would not be condoned and that discipline would be paramount. Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, started the bidding process by allocating K500,000 in February. For the bid to be successful a multi million Kina stadium would have to be built within the country and television rights to broadcast the games sold. It is estimated the stadium would cost between K150 million to K400 million while TV rights are expected to bring in K50 million.
Aussie Rules
Essendon Aussie Rules Club has confirmed they have signed PNG teenager David Meli. Meli, who turns 17 next month, has relocated to the Gold Coast in Australia and plays with the Southport team, but will be at Windy Hill next year. Windy Hill is the Essendon Football Clubs home ground in Victoria. Meli lived the first nine years of his life in Kimbe, a coastal town of 14,000 in West New Britain, before his family moved to Port Moresby prior to his transfer to Queensland. Essendon Bombers can elevate him to its senior list at the end of 2010 or 2011
Govt Officers Arrested
Two officers from the Prime Minister's Department have been suspended following an alleged link to a daring day-light hold-up that led to the theft of K200,000 in Port Moresby last month. The money was stolen by three armed men while being delivered to Port Moresby's airport for distribution to Alotau and Madang under the Service Delivery Mechanism Model (SDMM) project.
Domestic Violence Help
The British High Commission is assisting PNG in its problem of domestic violence. The High Commission has commissioned a plaque that says in tok pisin "Sapos yu kisim birua na yu pret, yu kam insait nau", translated into English this reads "If you are abused or hurt and afraid, come in here now". The United Kingdom Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant said domestic violence continued to remain a problem in developed countries as well as in developing countries like PNG. According to a recent UNICEF survey about 75 per cent of children report physical abuse and about 80 percent report verbal abuse in the home.
Exchange Rates
The latest fees and foreign exchange rates for Australia to PNG are available online. Please access -- http://www.sendmoneypacific.org/compareCosts.cfm -- to view them.
You can also compare rates at -- http://www.pngbd.com/finance/index.php -- and -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/moni.html#convert
Lae Buildings
Foundation work for the tallest building in Lae is progressing despite heavy rain. The seven-storey building will cost its owners, PNG Nambawan Super Ltd, K50 million with completion expected in mid 2011. The architects have taken the ease of maintenance into account as one of the major consideration to ensure that the building maintains its status as the prime address in Lae for many years to come.
Coming Events
Namatanai Mini Mask Festival (on now) - 5th to 8th of August
3rd Sepik River Crocodile Festival - 11th to 12th August
Mona Festival - Bougainville - 13th to 15th August
Western Highlands provincial show - 18th and 19th of August
45th Medical Symposium - Port Moresby - sponsored by the Pacific International Hospital from the 30th of Aug to the 4th of September
8th National Garamut and Mambu Festival - Wewak - 5th - 6th of September
5th Bilasim Skin Festival - Goroka - 12th, 14th and 15th of September
Mt Wilhelm Walk for Life - 18th to the 20th of September
World Heart Day - 28th September
Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from the 29th of September to the 2nd of October.
PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum 2009 Seminars 27th to the 30th of October -- http://skerah.com/Venuecentral/Premiumlink/pngcmp.php -- or -- http://www.pngchamberminpet.com.pg/images/pdf_files/chevents.pdf
31st October and the 1st of November - Morobe Show - see -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg/ -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2f4583
6th to 8th of November - National Canoe and Kundu Festival, Milne Bay -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ab7f63
National Arts and Craft Exhibition - 13th - 15th of November
Women in Mining and Petroleum Conference - 22nd - 24th March 2010 - to be held at Divine Word University in Madang.
25th April 2010 - World Malaria Day. Malaria affects 90 per cent of the PNG population.
World liquefied natural gas (LNG) summit - Mid 2010
11th Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference - 6th to 8th December, 2010 - Hilton Hotel, Sydney - http://www.pnginvestment.cia.com.au -- This web site is out of date showing information abut the 2008 conference.
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html.
PNG Media
If a friend has given or sent you a copy of this newsletter and you would like to keep receiving free copies then please visit -- ../news/index.html -- for instructions on how to join the list.
Articles for this Newsletter
If you think you have a PNG page worth mentioning then please click here and use the submission form
To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter queue please click here and use the submission form.
.gif)
.jpg)
View PNG Gossip Newsletter Archive