We only ask for your support when there’s a real need
04 December 2018
KEITH JACKSON
NOOSA - Two months from now, I’ll have been publishing this blog for 13 years. According to the statistics, that’s about one-fifth of my life expectancy.
During that 20% of my life, I’ve wanted no reward from PNG Attitude except to keep it serving its main purpose, which is to maintain the links between Papua New Guineans and Australians. That’s a good reason and enough reward.
And when this blog is no longer required, when it’s replaced by something better, or when I tire, I’ll draw the curtains and slip away.
But for now there are thousands of people who value this small space on the internet. I value them and they constantly motivate me to continue this project.
One thing PNG Attitude does from time to time is to ask readers to assist with small but important activities in PNG. We began doing this even before the term ‘crowd-funding’ entered the dictionary and when our readership was tiny. We saw it as a means by which readers could give some money and contribute to the relationship this blog seeks to maintain.
And so it has been that readers have assisted people in PNG who required hospital treatment and medical support, they sponsored PNG writers through travel, fellowships, mentoring, awards and publishing, they provided the means to stock schools with books and equipment, they were front and centre in supporting Papua New Guineans in their quest to root out corruption, facilitate equality and bring honesty to the relationship between our countries. And more.
I don’t often ask readers for money, and when I do it’s because I’ve identified a vital need. This is one of those times.
Marlene Potoura (pictured above) has been kicked around life’s park these last few years. She’s deserved a break and has not been given one. I hope we can raise enough money through this appeal to enable Marlene to get herself and her kids out of the terrible predicament she finds herself in.
Trapped in a Lae slum; robbed at random by people as badly off as she is; lacking the means to get out and move to a place of safety and security….
I’m sure you can help to something to change this.
I will aggregate donations from Australian and overseas readers and use a special account to get the funds to Marlene to reduce the exorbitant cost of fund transfers to Papua New Guinea. Make your donation here: Keith Jackson, NAB Neutral Bay, BSB 082-302, account no 50-650-1355. Remember to send me an email here to let me know you’ve made a donation.
Papua New Guinean readers can donate directly to Marlene Potoura at the Westpac bank in Lae. The account number is 600 613 7433. You can also email me to let me know.
I cannot think of anyone who has done more for PNG than you, Keith. You have filled an enormous void and from the bottom of my heart I thank you.
I was born in Wau in 1937 and lived in Wewak until Xmas 1941. After boarding school, I went to Aitape in 1954 and spent the rest of my working life there.
Since I retired to Brisbane 10 years ago I have watched closely and seen all services in Aitape dropping away drastically.
The beautiful people of Aitape just accept that things were better 30 years ago. We had an excellent air service with six flights a week. Now nil.
We had a regular cargo shipping service and also a passenger ferry service along the coast from Lae, Madang, Wewak, Aitape and Vanimo. Now nil.
The only service which has improved is the phone and internet service with two providers.
As there are no regular newspapers, I have a blog, 'Aitape Group', and spend a few hours a day posting local and international news. We have 2,500 members and, as long as the Elcom power, is working they can get the news.
But this has problems as the power is erratic and lately they have had blackouts lasting days.
Posted by: Robert Lenton Parer CMG MBE | 07 December 2018 at 12:47 AM
When there is a felt need either in cash or material or publishing of our books and articles, many good Samaritans in Australian like Keith Jackson, Philip Fitzpatrick and others are quick to respond.
When you give to someone who is helpless to support him self or her self your gift added more values than just ordinary Christmas presents or gifts.
Gifts are taken with tremendous appreciation and there is always a reward when you give as St Francis of Assisi mentioned, "In giving that you receive"
The giver support another person in need out of unconditional love and concern and the receiver felt deeply thankful that someone known or unknown is concern. We establish a good lasting relationship that benefits each other.
Posted by: Philip Kai Morre | 05 December 2018 at 11:07 PM
I've spent years giving people Christmas presents that I'm sure they didn't really appreciate nor which represented the spirit of Christmas.
My Christmas present to Marlene really feels different.
Posted by: Philip Fitzpatrick | 04 December 2018 at 04:40 PM