From the President

Honouring the voices that carry our history, our culture, our spirit, and inspire us to reach further, is a theme reflected in celebrations acknowledging Papua New Guinea’s 50th Anniversary of Independence on 16 September 2025 and Australia’s role in that.

The Papua New Guinea Association of Australia (PNGAA) is delighted that our association has been there for all those years and more, has recorded so many stories that would not exist over that period without this association, and that PNG Kundu is also celebrating PNG’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Celebrating the Journey

PNG’s new Prime Minister, Michael Somare, chats with his Australian counterpart Gough Whitlam while waiting for the formal ceremony to begin on 16 September 1975

This association celebrates the journey both before independence and following independence to today.  We praise all the numerous volunteers over that time who have served on the PNGAA Management Committee, who have assisted the work and success of the association in various other ways, and our members for contributing stories, attending events, supporting fundraisers, creating the Rabaul & Montevideo Maru Memorial at the AWM Canberra, and ensuring the success of this association during that time.

Congratulations to Them All

We reflect on all those courageous men and women who helped to build the independent nation of PNG and take it to a peaceful independence. We also thank all those who carried the country forward to today, and through whose thoughtful planning there will be more successes.

Those whose vision and hard work developed a country, ravaged by war just 30 years earlier, into a free, functioning democracy with active industries and a resilience to succeed in 1975 are to be applauded.

After World War II

Let’s remember that the country had to be rebuilt after WWII; for example 82% of the male European population of Rabaul, which included those experienced in the administration of the then mandated Territory of New Guinea, perished following the occupation of Rabaul by the Japanese and the sinking of the Montevideo Maru, that the first graduates from the newly-formed University of Papua New Guinea were in 1970.

In 1975 Papua New Guinea’s population was just under three million people with a GDP of US$1.357 billion; in 2024–25 the population is estimated to be just under 11 million people with a GDP of US$32.54 billion.

The legacy which lives on in PNG, through public naming of landmarks, buildings and other places, acknowledging and honouring people who have made a significant difference, and maintaining places which protect the history for future generations, add to our understanding; there are more, unnamed. Their stories fascinate—and need telling. They are the fabric of the foundation of a nation.

Since 1975

The nation’s capital, Port Moresby, commenced its celebrations with the Grand Float Parade on16 May 2025, featuring performances from the British Army’s Pipe; Drum Majors, a Māori Kapa Haka group, and vibrant cultural dances

Successes and achievements since independence have come from people with passion to achieve dreams, those who inspire, and communities filled with energy, giving promise for the future and for making new memories. Yes, there are challenges, however we all delight in seeing Papua New Guineans continually shine in various areas.

The friendly people, breathtaking landscapes, varied culture, vibrant stories and traditions captivate everyone. The many Australians who have called Papua New Guinea ‘home’ have been privileged to share and enjoy so much … and have been thankful for it. And it’s the same for those Papua New Guineans living in Australia.

There are many 50th independence celebrations, as you’ll see on page 13 of this issue—join in, or host one yourself. Ask to share your story, initiate a project or share a PNG craft at your children or grandchildren’s school. Share your stories with family and friends. Enjoy a meal and send us your photos!

The New Team

Within the Management Committee we are settling into a new team following the AGM in late April. Two key members have since had to step back—our editor, Christine Leonard, and PNGAA secretary/admin., Kylee Andersen. Both have continued to contribute to ensure the many aspects of running the PNGAA have continuity, and we can’t thank them enough. Kylee recently told me she ensured our PNGAA website had a back-up. What a relief!

After a huge commitment over 10 years, Roy Ranney has stepped back (see June PNG Kundu) and we need someone urgently to handle his Membership Officer role, and others to build a team to help with website. If you have experience in Microsoft Access or relational databases would be an advantage, but anyone familiar with spreadsheets, would be able to adapt quickly—we thank Roy, who will assist in handover. Alternatively, there may be other options to handle online membership of an association such as ours.

Sara Turner

Thankfully, two of PNGAA’s new committee members are taking on key roles—Frazer Harry is incoming secretary/administration, and John Reeves is our new editor. If you have not already done so, read about them in the June 2025 PNG Kundu! Please get in touch with them and say hello. We appreciate their willingness to step in to these significant and voluntary roles and look forward to you getting to know them, too!

We welcome the popular Sara Turner back on the committee in the role of Events Co-ordinator. We are grateful Sara kindly put her hand up to help PNGAA with events and to be the committee liaison.

PNGAA Functions

Our PNGAA 50th Anniversary of Independence events, in Brisbane on 9 August, with PNG Consul-General and his wife from Queensland, CG Reatau Rau and Susan Rau, and guest speaker Grim Jordan, together with the Canberra event on 30 August including PNG High Commissioner to Australia His Excellency John Kali and his wife, and guest speakers Dr Ian Howie-Willis and Mrs Willis were held during our publication cycle and we’ll publish more next issue!

Andrew Cadden has offered to organise the Sydney Christmas lunch again this year on Wednesday, 26 November. Make sure you book early and come along!

Our PNGAA website, www.pngaa.org, continues to grow with wonderful stories, photos and research material and our thanks to Roy Ranney for overseeing that and to helpers, Claire van Bakel, Chris Leonard and Kylee Andersen.

And, after nearly seven years, our indefatigable Production Manager, Jeannette Gilligan, is still pulling out all stops. We’re grateful for the magic Jeannette weaves with each issue—especially this one. Thanks from us all!

This year, after 11 years, and for this special anniversary year, the PNGAA Management Committee decided to invest in a new, updated website, which we hope will be up and running in September 2025. There have been many technology advances, and we hope you enjoy the new layout. Throughout this year we have included a special 50th Anniversary tab—please take a look.

To our members, their families and friends, and on behalf of the PNGAA Management Committee—enjoy the 50th Anniversary of PNG Independence this September 2025.

Andrea Williams, PNGAA President

New Expedition Company Brings Intimate Access to Papua New Guinea

A new Australian expedition company is set to offer an alternative approach to exploring Papua New Guinea, with plans to launch five expeditions across three distinct routes beginning in late 2025. Pearl Expeditions operates the boutique motor yacht Paspaley Pearl, which carries just 30 guests—a scale that enables access to destinations larger vessels cannot reach.

For former PNG residents, the company’s approach may offer a fresh perspective on familiar territory. Rather than conventional shore excursions, their expeditions focus on participation in local customs—from traditional sago production in Tufi’s fjords to authentic Kula exchange ceremonies in the Trobriand Islands—accessed via Zodiac expedition vessels. The small group size appears designed to facilitate genuine cultural exchanges rather than staged performances.

The company’s three routes showcase PNG’s geographical and cultural diversity. Their Cairns to Madang expedition explores the cultural heartlands, taking in historic Samarai Island, the Trobriand ‘Islands of Love’, and Tufi’s dramatic volcanic fjords.

A New Britain circumnavigation combines WWII history with living traditions, visiting sites from Rabaul’s volcanic landscape to Kimbe Bay’s renowned marine biodiversity within the Coral Triangle.

The North Coast expedition traces a path from the mighty Sepik River mouth to remote islands where traditional practices continue largely unchanged.

Pearl Expeditions offers stylishly elegant expedition travel, emphasising environmental mindfulness and authentic cultural encounters. Their expedition team works directly with local communities to arrange village visits and traditional ceremonies, aiming to create meaningful connections that respect PNG’s cultural heritage.

The company’s founder brings decades of expedition experience to Papua New Guinea’s waters, building on established relationships with coastal communities.

For those who lived in PNG during earlier decades, these expeditions may provide an opportunity to reconnect with the country through a more intimate and respectful approach than traditional tourism typically allows.

Welcome to New Members

The management committee and members of PNGAA welcome the following new members to the Association: Gabrielle Alabaster, Nancy Buckney, Christine Carey, Margo Cavanagh, Greg Donald, Stella Fruend, Geoff Lapthorne, Charles Lee, Glenda Stirling, Barry Weir, Graham Werner & Joseph Yenmore.

PNGAA Education

Glenda Giles with Sheppelle Hapika

PNGAA has sponsored book packs for each of the nine students in our PNGAA Education Program. Glenda Giles recently visited Sheppelle Hapika at Passam National School of Excellence and Macquaradah Anpan at Mercy Secondary School to give them their books. Glenda writes:

Both girls were delighted to get the text books, and the principals and teachers were also very grateful. Nowadays text books are in very short supply in all the schools. Please pass on their thanks to PNGAA for their help.