PNGAA’s call for help must be answered
18 January 2024
KEITH JACKSON
NOOSA – I once served a short and turbulent period as president of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia.
One of the matters I attended to was a change in the Association's Constitution to mandate it to become even closer to PNG and its people.
The result was the addition of two resounding and pre-eminent clauses to the Constitution, mandating it “to strengthen the civil relationship between the peoples of Australia and Papua New Guinea” and “to foster and encourage contact and friendship with Papua New Guineans and promote friendly association among members”.
Members overwhelming voted to adopt these changes which more clearly defined the PNGAA as an association whose members had a deep and enduring affection for PNG and its people.
Now, not for the first time, a situation has developed where that legacy needs to be defended.
The PNGAA’s activities include production of the admirable quarterly journal, Kundu, a scholarship fund, a website rich in the history of PNG, PNG-related events and the valuable PNGAA Collection.
The association’s management committee is now calling for help because the committee “has several gaps which need urgent attention….to ensure that the PNGAA operations can continue.”
They are important positions indeed, including a new president, magazine editor, events coordinator, public officer and committee members.
I don’t have to explain to readers that such positions are the core of any association, hence the notation that, should they not be filled, the PNGAA’s operations will cease.
Here’s a summary of the association’s plea to members:
If you are flexible, proactive, have communication skills and enjoy speaking with people, then there is a role for you. There are between three and five committee meetings a year and, thanks to modern technology, members can be located anywhere.
The president’s role is to be passionate about the significance of the association and its unique role in the Australian-PNG relationship, to be proactive, a team player and to be “revered by the association and associated networks”.
The editor’s role is to work with the PNGAA’s production designer to produce Kundu and ensure “the quality of our extraordinary product. If you always wanted to be a journalist, and have a sense of curiosity, then this is for you!”
To do this job, you’ll need to be computer literate and experienced in writing and editing. A knowledge of PNG’s history and current state “would be handy”.
The events coordinator will initiate and manage social events and will need organisational and networking skills.
The public officer does not have to be a committee member but must be a resident of NSW. The public officer is the official point of contact for the PNGAA and has custody of documents required by the constitution.
The PNGAA says “the turmoil in PNG this past week has been very disappointing, and we are thinking about how the underlying issues could be improved.
“Good relations and understanding between Australia and PNG are crucial and this is where the PNGAA can play a part.
“The PNGAA will only thrive if fresh ideas and enthusiastic support are manifested for our journal, website and activities.
“We cannot stress enough the need for volunteers to join the Management Committee to share the jobs that need doing.”
So if you believe you can assist this decent and impressive organisation at any level, contact one of these people:
Andrea [email protected]
Murrough [email protected]
Kylee [email protected]
I've been trying to work out who the two individuals are in the photograph accompanying this article, Keith.
At first I thought the kiap-ish looking bloke was Paul Oates and then I realised it's a young Chips Mackellar - the hairy chest and the cargo shorts give it away.
As for the other guy - did your father have a pony tail, Sil?
________
The pic was produced by artificial intelligence, so neither of those two smart young men never existed. Maybe the course of PNG would have been different if they had - KJ
Posted by: Philip Fitzpatrick | 21 January 2024 at 04:10 PM
Many thanks for the kind assistance and support here, Keith.
I'm delighted to say the management committee has had a couple of people offer to fill positions, including the roles of Editor and Public Officer.
This is wonderful, and demonstrates how valuable the PNGAA continues to be.
We've also had a couple more folk offer general assistance which is great. We always appreciate more offers, though!
Phil - Thanks for your comments. May I clarify that the PNGAA continues to evolve - on the executive is an amazing Secretary/Admin, Kylee Andersen, who joined the management committee late last year. Kylee is an absolute powerhouse of energy and inspiration.
The PNGAA has had other people offer to help where they cannot commit to a committee position. It's always 'the more the merrier'!
I'm delighted to also confirm that the PNGAA regularly gets new members, and membership is increasing. Yes, for those people who realise what a unique association this is and what it offers, it's a 'must' to subscribe to and engage with.
The PNG Scholarship Fund is likely to grow this year and already supports six PNG school children, who it is inspiring to hear from (check the September PNG Kundu).
Looking through the fascinating December Kundu, there is a range of contemporary and historical pieces. Favourable comments on the journal continue to be generous and gratefully received.
In regard to your comment about the content, the cover of the December 2023 issue features one of Nombri Temine’s paintings which is on display at the PNG Fine Arts Gallery in Port Moresby.
Nombri's work has also been exhibited as part of the Paradise Palette Exhibition curated by Don Wotton at the Royal Queensland Art Society (RQAS). The PNGAA has worked with Don on these Brisbane exhibitions.
Contemporary exhibitions relating to PNG are included in Kundu for members' enjoyment. The December issue features Tidal Kin and the Book News section highlights the Book Manuscript Award of the First Nations Writers Festival (FNWF) which was awarded to Paul Puri Nii, a Papua New Guinea national at a ceremony in Townsville in August last year. Nii’s book, Birth of a Tribe, is his first novel.
An article titled 'Trepidations of a Female Student in Port Moresby' by Sharon Banuk is an absolute must read.
Kundu's guidelines for contributions include the following: 'We welcome factual and anecdotal stories of various lengths, information about members of PNGAA and their activities, letters and enquiries, reviews of art and books, photos, news and reunions—a diverse range of material is welcome— the common factor being that it is relevant to Papua New Guinea in some way. Who can contribute? We welcome contributions from members and non-members. Citizens of PNG are welcome to contribute.'
The PNGAA certainly appreciates volunteers to assist in various ways, and the editorial team welcomes all articles for the journal, and looks forward to 2024!
Posted by: Andrea Williams | 19 January 2024 at 07:49 PM
I am currently near completion of a book which I am editing and would like to use some of the pictures that were taken during the colonial days back in Ambunti on the Sepik River.
Pictures of Patrol Officers and MV Mala and another of a corpse burnt to ash are among the many pictures taken. I would like to get permission before publishing the book. I would like to have specific contact with the source.
If you are the right person or source of this very important information, or could possibly direct me to the source, I'd be very glad to share a copy of the book with you once its completed.
It's in honour of one of the great leaders of the Sepik River.
Posted by: Emma Petrus | 18 January 2024 at 10:07 PM
One of the 'must read' sections in each quarterly Kundu, Phil, is the Vale and Tributes pages.
Not just to reminisce on some of the Old Hands we have farewelled but just to make sure I'm not in it.
I know that sounds very flippant, but I frequently remember many of those honoured in the Vales.
And to make sure someone hasn't made a clerical error and inserted 'R E Jones, PNG years,1963-1976)'.
Posted by: Richard Jones | 18 January 2024 at 07:38 PM
Many the greys now past the graze,
award of first not quenching thirst,
any that may, please grasp this cause,
advance as best, friendships more versed.
Posted by: Lindsay F Bond | 18 January 2024 at 12:31 PM
I don't know about others but while the spirit is willing the body is weak.
The PNGAA, as evident in its Kundu magazine, is nostalgia orientated.
Maybe it's time to revisit its constitution and reorientate to attract new blood.
I imagine many of its members are old PNG hands, maybe it's time for new and contemporary hands to become involved?
There are several Facebook and other sites now covering the nostalgia angle and the "my, hasn't it changed" mob.
Posted by: Philip Fitzpatrick | 18 January 2024 at 10:05 AM