The Independence Day Parade at Goroka and some of the fireworks on the day (Photos courtesy Trevor Freestone)

Trevor Freestone

I was an education officer in Papua New Guinea from 1964 to 1975. My postings included Ambunti in the East Sepik District, Pagei in the Sandaun (West Sepik) Province and Bena Bena in the Eastern Highlands.

In 1968 I was transferred to Watabung school, also in the Eastern Highlands. I was there for six years and with the help of the teachers, students and parents built a great school.

It was about 1973 when the PNG Government Minister for Education, together with the NSW Minister for Education, visited our school and told our superintendent in Goroka that Watabung was by far the best primary school he had ever visited.

The school was dedicated to the education of its students, encouraging children who weren’t going on to high school by offering programs suitable for them. The school had its own piggery for instance. We also had a special cultural program teaching students about their culture; this included cultural days when students dressed up in their cultural costumes. We had several buildings representing traditional buildings including a museum. I also staged the firework show for Goroka’s celebration for Independence.