Air Niugini has donated return Sydney-Port Moresby air fares for two people as the major prize in a raffle the PNG Association is holding to provide funds for an innovative project in PNG’s Oro Province. Tickets go on sale soon.

The winning ticket, valued at about $2,350, will be drawn at the PNGAA’s Christmas lunch in Sydney on Sunday 7 December. The Association selected the Oro Project as the first beneficiary in what it hopes will be a continuing series of fund raising enterprises designed to provide assistance to worthy civil projects in PNG.

Since its inception in 1973, and with an extensive domestic network travelling over that spectacularly rugged terrain we remember so well, Air Niugini has made it possible to experience the best PNG has to offer. Air Niugini operates a Boeing 767 on its Sydney-Port Moresby route.

The Oro Community Development Project was established after the loss of life and destruction caused by Cyclone Guba in November 2007. Following the catastrophe, a group of Australian educators decided to work with people in the Province to provide sustained and targeted assistance in the areas of education, health and agriculture.

The initial undertaking includes support to Hohorita Primary School, Gona Primary School and St Christopher’s Mechanical Training School. When improvements have been achieved here, the project’s focus will shift to other areas. In addition, planning is well advanced for specialist teams to visit Oro later this year to deliver mentoring and other professional services.

The objectives of the Oro Project are to improve access to quality education and community health and to improve agricultural practices. Support bases have been activated in Australia and PNG and a detailed on ground assessment has been made.

The partners in the Project are the PNG Anglican Diocese of Popondetta, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Reddam House, Shore Preparatory School, William Clarke College, St Paul’s College, University of Sydney, Modern Teaching Aids and many individuals in PNG and Australia.