Happy Independence
The Infamous Scribblers wish our fellow Papua New Guineans a Happy 32nd Independence Day
Feel free to share what you got up to for Independence Day or your views on independence.
Labels: Papua New Guinea
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Feel free to share what you got up to for Independence Day or your views on independence.
Independence and Moti
It is a sad fact that in the past there has been a number of serious incidents that have taken place within the governments of the day. They have involved prime ministers, ministers and a host of elected members.
Some of these matters have galvanised the nation.
For as a people, we tend to flare with anger at dramatic incidents and then forget them with equal facility and remarkable speed.
As a result, incidents involving political wheeling and dealing have frequently been obliterated from public awareness by some other more exciting or eye-catching events.
Worse, our politicians have learned how to harness this phenomenon. Troubling political or leadership revelations are today often accompanied by some highly commendable public gesture on the part of the targeted individual or group.
The troubling revelations vanish from the national consciousness overnight.
On the eve of our 32nd year as a sovereign nation, we hail the many and varied achievements of our people and our leaders. But if our reputation as a law abiding nation is to be buttressed, there can be no more prevarication.
The Moti Affair is now public property. There are questions to be answered.
It’s time.
SOURCE: The National Online for the full article click here
What are your views on the ways ministers handle these incidents? What do you think of the way the PM has handled the Moti Affair? Do you agree that these incidents "vanish from the national consciousness overnight" and if so what do you propose be done about it?
Some of these matters have galvanised the nation.
For as a people, we tend to flare with anger at dramatic incidents and then forget them with equal facility and remarkable speed.
As a result, incidents involving political wheeling and dealing have frequently been obliterated from public awareness by some other more exciting or eye-catching events.
Worse, our politicians have learned how to harness this phenomenon. Troubling political or leadership revelations are today often accompanied by some highly commendable public gesture on the part of the targeted individual or group.
The troubling revelations vanish from the national consciousness overnight.
On the eve of our 32nd year as a sovereign nation, we hail the many and varied achievements of our people and our leaders. But if our reputation as a law abiding nation is to be buttressed, there can be no more prevarication.
The Moti Affair is now public property. There are questions to be answered.
It’s time.
SOURCE: The National Online for the full article click here
What are your views on the ways ministers handle these incidents? What do you think of the way the PM has handled the Moti Affair? Do you agree that these incidents "vanish from the national consciousness overnight" and if so what do you propose be done about it?
Labels: Papua New Guinea, politics, society
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Death of the MacDhui
By Malum Nalu
A small, but significant, anniversary took place on Monday June 18, 2007.
That was the 65th anniversary of the sinking of the motor vessel Macdhui, sunk in the Port Moresby harbour by Japanese bombs in June 1942.
One of the best-known landmarks in Port Moresby is the wreck of the Macdhui in the waters just off the Port Moresby Technical College at Kanudi.
Many people just drive or walk past without knowing the significant role that the Macdhui played in the development of Papua New Guinea.Recently, I was asked to be a tour guide for a retired US veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, and one of the World War 11 relics I showed him was the wreck of the Macdhui. As we stood at Kanudi looking out to sea, I wondered what stories the deep blue sea, the rolling hills, and the wide sky could tell me about what they saw that fateful day in 1942.It was then that I realised that June 18, 2007, would be the 65th anniversary of the sinking of the Macdhui and decided to put pen to paper.
The Macdhui, 4630 tonnes, built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1930, was owned and operated on the Australia-Papua New Guinea service by Burns Philp and Company Limited.Macdhui’s maiden voyage took place in March 1931, sailing to Suva, Fiji, via the Azores, Jamaica, and the Panama Canal, with a load of coal.
Then the Sydney to Rabaul route for Burns Philip with 167 first-class passengers’ accomodation.
On June 20, 1931, a fire broke out on another voyage between Madang and Lae, but the passengers were safely taken ashore in lifeboats.
MacDhui was safely towed to Salamaua, New Guinea's then administrative capital, by Neptuna, another Burns Philp & Co vessel. After patching at Salamaua, MacDhui was sailed to Sydney for six weeks of repairs. With the onset of war the ship was commandeered by the Navy and used to evacuate civilians from New Guinea, then carrying Australian troops back to Port Moresby.
On June 17, 1942, the Macdhui was attacked by Japanese bombers as it was discharging to lighters in Port Moresby harbour.It began zigzagging around the harbour but took one direct hit which caused considerable damage.The vessel later went alongside the main wharf to unload dead and wounded.
The next day, at 10.45am, there was another air-raid warning and the Macdhui moved out into the harbour and began manoeuvring.Soon after the raid began, it took a direct hit.The captain headed towards shallow water where his ship finally keeled over onto a reef. Ten of the crew of 77 were killed along with five Australian gunners from 39 Battalion. Altogether, the Macdhui took four direct hits.
The dramatic sinking was captured on a black and white movie film shot by the famous Australian cameraman, Damien Parer from a nearby hilltop.The loss of the Macdhui was a great blow to the morale of the Australian troops in Port Moresby.Until then it had been the only regular and reliable link between Australia and Port Moresby.
After the war, the Australian government compensated Burns Philp for its loss.The wreck itself is now deeply pitted and corroded under the waterline. It is gradually breaking up but even if it does slip completely under the surface part of the Macdhui will remain in Port Moresby.
In the late 1960s the mast was removed and now stands outside the Royal Papua Yacht Club as a memorial to those who died. One of the bells was erected in the tower of St John’s Anglican Church in Port Moresby and to this day still calls parishioners to worship.
Former vice-commodore of the Royal Papua Yacht Club, Trevor Kerr, tells of a supernatural experience in 1979 when the ashes of the late Captain J. Campbell, skipper of the Macdhui, were laid to rest with his ship. The powered launch Tina, owned and skippered by yacht club committee member Russ Behan, approached the wreck with Captain Campbell’s two sons, a United Church minister, and Kerr on board.
“The weather in the harbour was unusually placid, not a zephyr stirred,” writes former Port Moresby diver Neil Whiting in Wreck and Reefs of Port Moresby.
“The sea was so clear that the superstructure of the Macdhui could be seen below the surface of the water.
“There was not a ripple on the surface or current drift to break the calm.
“With heads bowed in prayer, the United Church minister upturned the urn containing Captain Campbell’s ashes and scattered the contents into the sea.
“Trevor, observing the ceremony in a more detached fashion than the others, observed the most amazing sequence of events.
“The ashes initially clouded the water as one would expect, but almost immediately condensed into a form similar to a teardrop.
“Then, the most amazing phenomenon occurred.
“The teardrop cloud quite rapidly crossed the six-metre intervening gap between the Tina and the Macdhui and disappeared into the hull.
“At a nudge from Trevor, Russ glanced up and also observed the incredible event.
“The engines of the launch were quickly started and in a state of chilled awe, the funeral party motored away.
“Captain Campbell had returned to his ship.”
SOURCE: http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/
Labels: history, Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby