Thus an opportunity was created that proved to be the beginning of the journey, the backstory if you like, which led to the eventual publication of My Walk to Equality - the first ever collection of PNG women’s writing which had dual launches in Port Moresby and Brisbane in March this year.

At the Brisbane launch at Milton’s Mary Ryan Bookshop, I was thrilled to meet and then receive an invitation from Zoe Pollock, artistic director and chief executive of the Brisbane Writers Festival, to present MWTE at Queensland’s premier literary event.

It was a great opportunity that took us to here. Or, let me rephrase, a series of opportunities created by a handful of people interested in encouraging the growth of PNG’s contemporary literature, particularly literature produced by the nation’s women.

As it transpired, MWTE got two moments in the spotlight at this month's festival: it featured in an all-PNG women writers' panel and again in a domestic-violence-in-literature panel where I spoke alongside prominent authors Kerrie Davies and Michael Sala.

This is a tale of wonderful opportunities. But of the opportunists, I am not fond at all. 'Opportunist: A person who takes advantage of opportunities as and when they arise, regardless of planning or principle.'

Putting that aside, however, let me review the outcome so far of this wonderful literary opportunity.

In its 55th year, the 2017 Brisbane festival was delivered under the catchphrase, ‘The big stories and the little ones in between’. The festival offered a fitting platform to introduce the audience to the focus of MWTE, which I did in my introductory comments:

“My Walk to Equality contains the big stories of PNG that you’ll often hear and see conveyed through the media. But its emphasis is on the little ones in between – the voices of Papua New Guinean women, who are under-represented in the delivery of the big stories, and particularly our role in re-framing the current narrative.”

Elvina Ogil, Tania Basiou and Vanessa Gordon articulately delivered to an engaged audience a vivid snapshot of their part in the book. It was a memorable hour: PNG women writers leading a conversation based on PNG women-authored literature and conveying the insights, stories and opinions of PNG women and their role in reducing nationwide inequality.

Here was literature on display as a critical mechanism to amplify PNG women’s voices in an otherwise male-dominated dialogue. This was always a key goal of MWTE.

In my role as project chair and editor of the book, I have observed that what is common among the individuals who have facilitated the wide reach of MWTE is an unwavering respect, understanding and appreciation for the end goals of the collection.

And as things turned out, the effort invested for success was accorded reciprocity and equal weight by the outcome.

It was a remarkable opportunity, created for me by Pukpuk Publications and PNG Attitude, to be able to curate and oversee delivery of MWTE, in the process creating further opportunities for 44 PNG women writers.

As the first phase of the MWTE project comes to an end, I am confident and delighted with the team’s efforts throughout the past year.

And, as also happened in 2016, the Brisbane festival audience provided inspiration for the future direction of this project.

Continuing in the capacity of project chair, I look forward to aligning the MWTE brand with PNG writers, women and men, who convey values and issues that are feminist and pro-gender equity in political participation and representation in PNG’s national parliament.