Diocese of Daru-Kiunga, Papua New Guinea
The major source of revenue and opportunity for the people of this province is the Ok Tedi open cut copper mine, operated by BHP Billiton. While providing some opportunity, the mine has also brought challenges to the region as large numbers of people have migrated to Kiunga to seek economic opportunities. Despite the mineral riches of the area, the Western Province remains PNG’s least developed province, partly due to the swampy terrain and partly due to the ongoing export of wealth.
The Catholic Diocese of Daru-Kiunga is the major service provider for the people of Western Province in education, health and other social services. It runs primary and secondary schools, hospitals, women’s programs and leadership training amongst others.
Bishop Gilles Cote placed a request with Palms Australia for a Management Support Services Trainer to work with and mentor local staff.
John Gartner
Palms Australia recruited John Gartner to meet the needs of Daru-Kiunga.
John is a Mechanical Engineer with many years experience in Project, Contract and Personnel Management at senior levels of a number of organisations in Western Australia.
John has overseen delivery of Building Maintenance contracts in regional areas, including managing several staff of different trades and disciplines.
His experience as a manager and his practical understanding of engineering and construction make him very well equipped to assist the Diocese of Daru-Kiunga continue working for sustainable development in the area.
Diocese of Daru-Kiunga, Papua New Guinea
The major source of revenue and opportunity for the people of this province is the Ok Tedi open cut copper mine, operated by BHP Billiton. While providing some opportunity, the mine has also brought challenges to the region as large numbers of people have migrated to Kiunga to seek economic opportunities. Despite the mineral riches of the area, the Western Province remains PNG’s least developed province, partly due to the swampy terrain and partly due to the ongoing export of wealth.
The Catholic Diocese of Daru-Kiunga is the major service provider for the people of Western Province in education, health and other social services. It runs primary and secondary schools, hospitals, women’s programs and leadership training amongst others.
What John did at Christmas
February 7, 2012
I decided to return home for Christmas as the entire family had decided to descend on Perth for the festive season. I obtained Bishop’s permission to return home for three weeks.
I arrived in Port Moresby in the middle of a thunder storm. I got off the plane without getting too wet. Though the umbrellas they gave us had to be handed back at the half way point and we still had to cross a road in the downpour.
I was met by Lawrence Steven’s driver who took the envelope containing the proposal’s for the Lower Bamu project, the project I had completed just prior to leaving for Christmas. I then made my way to the international terminal and bought lunch and waited for both the check in counter and immigration to open.
The Lower Bamu project proposals involve building two health posts, three double classrooms and 10 houses, in five communities, in an undeveloped area of PNG where people live by fishing and growing vegetables when they can on land which is inundated regularly at high tides.
When I arrived in the house, I saw Flossie the new smoky grey cat that my daughter Anne had brought and Clare was caring for. She was asleep on the lid to the clothes basket in the Bathroom. She was unsure who I was so stayed there until later when I had more time and others had come home.
A car was available so I went and got a haircut which was desperately needed as it was over two months since my previous haircut.
In the evening I went to a cricket umpires meeting where I was made very welcome. I gave my Registrar’s report and was invited by Barry Rennie (WACA Umpire Manager) to umpire on the 7 January, I could even pick the ground, which I did, deciding on Breckler. I have been doing the registrar’s duties of record keeper as an activity while I reside in PNG.
The family went together to Midnight mass, where we heard the new organ Father Tim had brought. It sounded marvelous. Mass finished with Christmas cake and champagne. It was a different mass to the previous Christmas when some 30 odd christenings took place during a three hour mass. Parishioners asked after me and what I was doing, which was well received.
On Christmas day, I opened my presents that the family had given me. I received many practical things to suit my time in PNG, including a Kindle and clothes. Clare arranged that Christmas day would be spent at home, with a more or less a traditional lunch, but I had the job of bar-b-quing the steak, which I did satisfactorily. In the afternoon, Clare arranged for us to play a game of croquet together and the children joined in. We went home and had a light tea.
On Boxing Day, I managed to watch most of the traditional boxing day test match, then later in the afternoon, we joined with our next door neighbours to celebrate a Christmas with their extended family.
On New Year’s eve, Clare and I played croquet with friends at the Forest Park Croquet Club. Peter and Linley who run a farm had advised me on getting a lamb marking kit to use on the kid goats when we got some in Kiunga. I followed their advice and returned to PNG with the equipment to turn little boy goats into wethers so they could attract a higher value when fully grown, instead of being sold when small or allowing to turn into Billy goats with un-saleable meat.
The following weekend was hectic, we had visitors or went out to visit others on five consecutive nights as well as fitting a morning tea or two in between. I caught up with lots of friends and relations during that period. I had a morning tea with former work colleagues. I think they are envious that I had left, as one of them described, when I retired they were in the whirlpool fighting to stay out of the plug hole. Now they are in the S-bend trying to fight their way out. But they were very interested in what I have been doing, especially some of the girls who are very interested in the “Bride Price”.
It was all too short a time and I had to prepare to return to Kiunga. My return flight was via Melbourne. I caught up with Des who has just volunteered to work at Kiunga and shared a morning tea together at Melbourne Airport. It was good to share some of my experiences with Des prior to his coming to Kiunga, sometime in April once his visa and work permit are sorted out.
Food for thought
- Returning home, even temporarily for Christmas, can be an interesting experience for volunteers and their family and friends.
- What observations might have struck John about the differences between PNG and Australia?
- What questions would you have for a friend who returned from a place like Kiunga?
Once more into the fray
December 9, 2011
Volunteering can be both a challenging and immensely rewarding experience. Few returnees would claim to remain unchanged by the experience. Some, such as Des Hansen and Monica Morrison, value the experience so much that they return for another placement.
Click here to read the full article
Building houses and building capacity/Keep Palms in PNG
November 25, 2011
For security reasons, AusAID is currently unwilling to support Palms Volunteers placed in Papua New Guinea, though we remain as committed as ever to continuing our work with our partners in PNG. Our relationships and networks are too strong to abandon. Our history and knowledge of PNG are too valuable to waste.
Click here to read the full article
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Or call us on (02) 9518 9551 to make a donation by phone. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR WORK!Papua New Guinea
Population: 5,931,769
Area: 462,840 sq. km.
Median Age: 21.5
Literacy: 57.3 %
Languages: New Guinea Pidgin, English, Motu, 820 indigenous languages
The terrain of Papua New Guinea varies from its rugged mountainous spine to its beautiful beaches to its volcanic islands to one of the world’s largest swamps and the large river systems of the Sepik and Fly rivers. These geographical differences have created a unique country with many diverse cultures. The ties within a family [...]