BY PETER KRANZ

THERE IS AN ACTIVE and wonderful PNG community society in Newcastle, NSW, one of Australia’s great industrial cities.

The few permanent Papua New Guinean residents provide support, social activities, cultural events and outings for the surprisingly many PNG students studying in the Newcastle area. There is also a Newcastle Manus dancing group which is often invited to perform at various cultural events.

This year the society has organised barbecues, visits to the Kumuls’ international matches and Independence Day celebrations, and it has provided authentic contributions to multicultural events and valuable support to lonely PNG students and visitors.

I am always amazed by the generosity and kindness that many PNG residents of Australia provide to PNG travellers, students, new arrivals and Australians with PNG connections.

We have just attended a farewell barbecue for PNG students from the Newcastle area who are finishing their studies or returning home to PNG for Christmas.

It was very friendly, enjoyable and great fun. Some people came for the first time, including one Australian woman who had spent 32 year in PNG since childhood and had married a Madang man.

She spoke fluent Tok Pisin, and cried when she met many PNG meris who had connections with her family and whom she had never met before. She hadn't realised there was such a vibrant local community group.

One PNG man we met for the first time had attended the same church as my wife, Rose, 20 years ago, and they exchanged many heartfelt reminiscences. He even knew the pastor who conducted our marriage.

Please give support to your local PNG community group - they are found in many parts of Australia, and you will be pleasant surprised. They are doing great work – unsung, under-recognised and completely voluntary.