Volume 44 2025
M A G A Z I N E PNG Air
HAPPY 50TH Technology is bringing history to life as PNG prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary as an independent nation P24
Cultural celebrations unite PNG P8
PNG Air 38 Photo Contest P34
www.pngair.com.pg
• PLACES • PEOPLE • INFLIGHT NEWS
HAPPY 50TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
As Papua New Guinea marks 50 years of Independence, BSP proudly reflects on our own journey - serving the people of PNG since 1957. We’ve grown with the nation, standing beside our communities through every challenge and triumph. BSP is proud to be part of PNG’s story - supporting progress, empowering communities, and nation building for over 68 years. Together, we’ve grown stronger... Celebrating Independence. Celebrating Progress.
bsp.com.pg
BSP Financial Group Limited 1-4815
115 YEARS CELEBRATING IN PNG
WE’RE NOT JUST YOUR BANK. WE’RE YOUR PARTNER FOR LIFE. In community, in business, and in life, we’re with you, building stronger futures together. Proud to have walked alongside Papua New Guinea through 50 years of independence, and 115 years of shared progress.
Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141. The liability of its members is limited. Westpac is represented in Papua New Guinea by Westpac Bank - PNG - Limited.
PNG LNG Revenues to the Government and people of PNG
PGK 10.4 Billion PGK 2.1 Billion PGK 1.5 Billion PGK 1.3 Billion PGK 14.9 Billion Amount since 2014 *(start of production through January 2025)
Revenue Stream
Tax
Distributions to Kumul Petroleum Distributions to MRDC (Landowners)
KUMUL PETROLEUM
Royalty
Development Levy
PGK 30.2 Billion
Total Benefits to the State
For over 10 years of Production, the PNG LNG Project has contributed over 30 billion kina in total benefits to the State of Papua New Guinea. This infographic shows the amount of revenues paid by the PNG LNG Project to the Government and people of PNG since LNG production started in 2014. All figures shown are for amounts paid or payable through January 2025. The PNG LNG Project generates five primary revenue streams. These include equity distributions paid to Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) and MRDC, which is based on the amount of equity in the PNG LNG Project held by each (KPHL – 19.4% and MRDC – 2.8%). Different types of tax including company tax are paid to the Internal Revenue Commission. In 2024, Tax payments alone to the State were over PGK 4 billion, the largest in the Project’s history. Development Levy and Royalties are paid to the Department of Petroleum and Energy in line with the Oil and Gas Act for the benefit of respective Project areas, provincial and local level governments plus landowner beneficiaries.
PNG LNG is operated by a subsidiary of ExxonMobil in co-venture with:
MAGAZINE PNG Air
Thank you for choosing to fly with the people’s airline. It is with great pride that I welcome you to this special edition of our in-flight magazine, commemorating a remarkable milestone – 50 years of Papua New Guinea’s independence. As we celebrate our nation’s golden jubilee, we also reflect on the dynamic journey we are taking together, as a country and as an airline. At the heart of PNG Air’s growth is our commitment to progress, innovation and, above all, our customers. This year marks 38 years since our founding, and we are proud to be expanding our fleet with new state-of-the-art ATR aircraft. These additions not only enhance comfort and efficiency but also contribute to a reduced environmental footprint. Every new aircraft brings us closer to a more connected, sustainable future for Papua New Guinea. Alongside our fleet expansion, we are reimagining the travel experience across every touchpoint. We look to introduce innovative fares, streamline the check-in experience, and introduce lounges for VIP and corporate customers. Our focus remains on delivering excellence every time you fly with us. We are investing in what matters most – your journey. We have also been working diligently to build a more reliable and resilient schedule. Our redesigned route structure will offer greater connectivity, reduced travel times, and increased frequency on key routes – ensuring you can reach your destination when it matters most to you. Performance matters. Over the past two years, PNG Air has improved its on-time performance and reduced its cancellation rates to now stand shoulder-to-shoulder on both metrics with some of the region’s most respected international carriers – Qantas and Singapore Airlines. Our goal is to continue raising the bar. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our travelling mine workers from Newmont and St Barbara in the New Ireland Province for your continued support and trust. PNG Air is deeply appreciative. Looking ahead, our vision remains clear: Striving to be PNG’s first choice domestic airline, the airline you can rely on when flying across Papua New Guinea. On behalf of the board, management and all our dedicated staff, thank you for choosing PNG Air. We are grateful for your continued trust and look forward to welcoming you on board as we reach new heights together.
PUBLISHED BY Pacific Islands Publishing Editor Margo Nugent m.nugent@moore.com.pg Airline Editorial Contact Dalai Thomas dalai.thomas@pngair.com.pg Sales and Distribution Maiyola Steven pipsales@moore.com.pg
Design and Layout Anthony Lingnonge pipart@moore.com.pg Correspondence to the airline:
All rights reserved. © Copyright 2025 by Pacific Islands Publishing, a division of Moore Business Systems (PNG) Limited. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Statements, opinions and viewpoints expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher, editor or the airline. Information contained in this publication is assumed to be correct only at the time it was originally obtained by the writers and may be subject to change at any time without notice. Any material accepted is subject to revision as is necessary in the publisher’s sole discretion to meet the requirements of this publication. While all care will be taken, neither the publisher nor the airline will accept responsibility for accidental loss or damage. Marketing Manager PO Box 170, Boroko, N.C.D. Papua New Guinea Ph: +675 302 3100 Fax: +675 325 2219 E: pngair@pngair.com.pg Editorial correspondence to: The Editor Pacific Islands Publishing PO Box 7543, Boroko, N.C.D. Papua New Guinea Ph: +675 321 0000 Fax: +675 321 0002 E: m.nugent@moore.com.pg Printer Moore Printing Scratchley Road, Badili N.C.D. Papua New Guinea Ph: +675 321 0000
Enjoy your flight.
Best regards and God bless,
Brian Fraser Chief Executive Officer
Cover photo Gough Whitlam, Australia’s Prime Minister at the time of PNG’s Independence 50 years ago, is greeted by a Roro (Central Province) man in feathered headdress on his arrival at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby on Independence Eve – September 15, 1975 “ Bringing the Past to Life” Page 24 Photo: National Archives of Australia, A6180, KN22/9/75_16 Note: Photo has been colourised using AI software 4
VOLUME 44 2025
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24 “Bringing the Past to Life”
Contents 08 PNG Story: Port Moresby’s Golden Jubilee Countdown Port Moresby’s series of four regional cultural showcases –
entitled PNG Story – turned July into a four-weekend preview of the 50th Independence party fast approaching on September 16. Each Saturday lit up Sir Hubert Murray Stadium for a different region – Southern, Niugini Islands, Highlands and Momase – blending float parades, sing-sing troupes, SME food stalls and musical hit- parade line-ups from Betty Toea to Tonton Malele. Free entry kept families pouring in – 40-plus market stalls at each festival, student-led pageants and packed grandstands with crowds of 20,000 or more to prove the slogan true: One City. One Kantri. One Future. Old Independence-era photos are leaping off the page in PNG50’s new “Living Photographs” series. Using AI, archivists paint, blink and breathe 1975 into 12-second colour reels that have been streaming on Facebook and Instagram – cultural dancers beat kundus, school kids parade their flag, and soon the poignant sunset lowering of Australia’s flag will return in motion. Funded by the PNG50 budget, the project aims to animate 50 images for social feeds, big-screen parades and classroom packs, using technology to serve up history to a new generation in a way that our ancestors could never have imagined. 34 Flying You Home: Photo Contest Celebrates 38 Years of PNG Air PNG Air turned 38 in June by handing passengers the lens. From an ATR 72 framed by Rabaul palms to Tolai dancers at Lae’s UniTech and a volcanic sunset in Kokopo, 84 entries poured in under the #PNG38 hashtag. First place went to Roger Moko, second to Louis Lambert, and third to Casey Sogavo – Roger’s 24 Bringing the Past to Life partner, in a feel-good twist organisers hadn’t anticipated. The contest became a nationwide love letter to PNG and the airline that connects it, as shown by some of the images featured in this issue.
NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_59
42 PNG Air – Where We Fly
A map of Papua New Guinea and PNG Air flight routes, plus airline contact information, transfer information, and Inflight Games’ puzzle solutions. A few health tips and easy exercises to help make your PNG Air flight as comfortable as possible.
44 PNG Air – Inflight Comfort
8 “PNG Story: Port Moresby’s Golden Jubilee Countdown”
34 “Flying You Home: Photo Contest Celebrates 38 Years of PNG Air”
41 PNG Air – Inflight Games Exercise the mind with Christina Lovatt’s crossword and puzzles for your enjoyment.
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PNG Story: Port Moresby’s Golden Jubilee Countdown Words: Staff writers Photos: Joel Hafungi, NCDC Media
Images from the PNG Story regional 50th Independence cultural festivals (clockwise from top left), Highlands Day, Southern Day and Niugini Islands Day
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U nder the glare of Sir Hubert Murray Stadium’s floodlights, veteran Aroma Coast (Central) singer Betty Toea Abau stepped to the microphone and coaxed the opening notes of her 1990s anthem ‘Rorie Rori’– a song that mourns the end of a relationship and the promises that were not kept. Right: A live baby crocodile from the Sepik River was one of the gifts presented to NCD Governor Powes Parkop at the Momase Day celebrations at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on July 26. The little croc has now found a new home at the POM Nature Park A month-long, four-Saturday festival in Port Moresby in July that individually focused on the four regions of Southern, Niugini Islands, Highlands and Momase was created by city leaders to bring PNG culture, music, dance and food in a grassroots buildup to the 50th anniversary of Independence on September 16 together through
Popular Central singer Betty Toea Abau was one of the headline acts at the Southern Day regional festival
Within seconds, the Southern region crowd was singing the familiar chorus back to her – a living reminder that this old radio hit will never age. Betty’s set was part of the very first PNG Story regional festival on July 5 and marked the continuation of a golden jubilee countdown that has been firmly focused on music, culture and bringing people together.
The brief was simple – to give each of PNG’s four regions a chance to shine over four Saturdays in July under the theme: One City . One Kantri. One Future . Each festival mixed a float parade, cultural showcases, live music, sing-sing dances, craft markets, local cuisine food stalls and storytelling – all with free entry to keep the spotlight firmly on community spirit. For Betty Toea Abau,
who is local musical royalty as the daughter of the late Kiki Geno, MBE – frontman of the legendary Paramana Strangers – and with over 100 songs of her own recorded over the past 25 years earning her multiple awards, it’s her commitment to mentoring younger performers that keeps her diary full. “I will continue to sing and produce songs until death do me part from singing,” she told the
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WHAT’S AHEAD The official 50th anniversary program was still unconfirmed at the time of press in late July, including attendance by King Charles III, invited by PM James Marape to be the guest of honour. Details below are a guide only. September 1-7: PNG Defence Force Week & Launch of Operation Planti Balus humanitarian airlift. Planes and helicopters from bilateral partners (Australia, New Zealand, France) will help the PNG and provincial governments and NGOs to airlift medicines, building materials, educational supplies and other cargo to rural areas from Sept 3-5. The military week to also include: ship visits/open days from partner navies, march pasts, band performances, static displays of aircraft/vehicles, and a mini tattoo. 7: Motu Koitabu Assembly Prayer Day . Indigenous landowners will pray for the 50th anniversary and walk from Ela Beach to Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, ending with a church service open to all. Early/mid Sept: Presentation of Colours to 1st & 2nd RPIR (PNGDF) 12-13: National Orchid & Flower Show , Parliament Haus. “Blossoming PNG: 50 Years of Growth, Unity & Beauty”. Hosted by the PNG Orchid Society. 12-15: Amazing Port Moresby Festival – Unity Walk and Music Concert The Unity Walk will kick off the Independence weekend on Friday, with floats from businesses and different cultural communities joining the public for a parade from Murray Barracks to Ela Beach where there will be activities and market stalls. The Music Concert will be held at Sir John Guise Stadium over three days, with international artists (yet to be announced) to headline. Various cultural, music and arts shows will be held over the weekend at Ela Beach, Murray Barracks, Unagi Oval, UPNG and PAU. Regional universities Divine Word (Madang), Goroka and UniTech (Lae) are also hosting shows. 13-14: Pasin Tumbuna (Day of our Ancestors) cultural showcase, Port Moresby Nature Park. Live demonstrations of sago-making, bilum-
August 26: National Repentance Day (public holiday; capital events TBC) 30: Golden Toana Gala (Teased as ‘PNG’s most glamorous night’ on social media but date/details TBC). Toana is a Motuan word meaning ‘symbol’ or ‘sign’ so a black-tie gold themed evening honouring symbolic moments and figures of the past 50 years is expected
weaving, claypot-firing and local food preparation. Also garamut drumming, face painting and food tastings.
Dawn: Flag Raising Ceremony , Independence Hill, Parliament precinct. Singing of the national anthem and official flag ceremony with the PM and dignitaries present. PNG50 Choir. Thousands of students will line Independence Boulevard in front of Parliament Haus, creating a PNG50 formation to sing the national anthem and the song “Our Land”. Opening of the new National & Supreme Courts His Royal Highness King Charles is scheduled to do the honours, followed by a royal tour of the five-storey Waigani National Court Complex Re-enactment of the Australian Flag Lowering & PNG50 Spectacular Hubert Murray Stadium This recreation of the 1975 handover when the Australian flag was symbolically lowered will be an emotion-charged highlight of the day’s program, which will also include handing over the military colours. PM James Marape will address the nation, there will be evening entertainment and the day will close with fireworks. 22: Governor’s Independence Ball TBC October Date TBC: Journey Through the Lens: 50 Years of PNG (Photo Exhibition) Date TBC: PNG50 Gospel Concert
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Images on these pages were taken at Southern Day on July 6
Post Courier in an interview last year. “My father sang until he died in 2019 and I will follow his legacy. Like father like daughter.” Southern Betty was not the only musical legend in the lineup on July 5. PNG Story’s Southern showcase also rolled out TT Rocks (Oro), Murphy Buana (Kairuku), Jnr Vigi (Rigo), Archy Tarzy (Gulf), Dejays Band (Hiri-Koiari) and the Dawgside Boys (NCD) – a cross-province medley designed to prove that contemporary sounds can
sit comfortably alongside traditional dance troupes on the same bill.
If the atmosphere felt super charged, credit the momentum of June’s Meganesia Music Festival, a free “once in a lifetime extravaganza” that packed the very same stadium
with stars such as Sprigga Mek, Saii Kay, Tarvin Toune, Tonton Malele,
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Images on this page were taken at Nuigini Islands Day on July 12
Singer Danielle Morgan
stadium concourse into a pop- up marketplace: Gulf sago puddings steaming beside Oro carvings, and mothers from Central bagging bundles of pit pit buns for families heading home. UPNG students, still hyped from their morning float parade, criss-crossed the aisles in regional regalia, offering selfie moments to tourists. Niugini Islands The next region to be showcased on July 12 was the Niugini Islands, with the NGI musical bill reading like a coastal greatest hits playlist.
Bougainville singer Tyronn Scott needed only the first guitar strum of his hit “Haluma” to create a surge from fans, with guards unable to hold back the tide of people flooding the front stage, singing at the top of their voices and dancing to the popular song, according to the Post Courier’s coverage. Scott’s follow up, “Ani Eh”, kept more than a thousand voices locked in unison. But Scott’s set was just the start. Pacific Break 2022’s first female winner Danielle Morgan’s (ENB/NIP) soulful vocals had the whole stadium swaying,
Anslom, Mal Meninga Kuri, Mereani Masani and Justin Wellington. NCD Governor Powes Parkop hailed that concert as “a celebration of identity, culture and unity – a perfect tribute as we move closer to our 50th Independence Anniversary”. Away from the stage at the Southern festival, a ring of 40 SME stalls turned the
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Images on these pages were taken at Highlands Day on July 19
“We can’t change the last 50 years but we can shape the next 50 – that is your challenge and your opportunity”
draped in Manus, Bougainville,
years in driving the national conversation on identity, unity and self-governance – from the 1970s push for nationhood through to Bougainville’s independence activism. Along the concourse, SME stalls sold shell money, mats, Manus string band CDs, lamington-sized kulau (young coconut) buns and smoky “aigir” fish parcels from New Ireland. Highlands Highlands Day was next on the schedule on July 19, with Sir Hubert Murray Stadium hitting capacity (officials estimated 20 000+) before noon. This was the first of the festivals to raise security concerns, with Prime Minister James Marape admitting “crowds got out of hand” when space ran
New Ireland, and East and West New Britain
regalia – leading the float parade
Jarahn (Bialla, WNB/ Kokopo, ENB) detonated the crowd with “Bad Manners” and “DukDuk”, Tolai legend Nathan Nakikus
and “Black Baby”, and Tonton Malele (Lihir, Kavieng, NIP/ ENB) closed the night with crowd-pleasers “Maris No Katigu”, “Vavina” and “Pikinini Niu Ailan”. The day had begun with UPNG
and bringing colour and purpose to the celebration. In his keynote speech, Governor Parkop praised the energy of the young people, and called on them to reflect on what story they will tell in the next 50 years. “What lessons will you learn from the last 50 years? How will you redefine and recreate our nation for your children, your families, your future?” he asked. “We can’t change the last 50 years but we can shape the
(Rabaul, ENB) put his reggae spin on “Mangi Tolai”
students –
next 50 – that is your challenge and your
opportunity.” The governor highlighted the “defining and
critical” role NGI leaders had played throughout the
out and gates had to be closed early. On stage, the
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powerhouse Highlands lineup was kicked off by Mal Meninga Kuri (Enga), whose reggae gospel fusion
Augustine Emil (Eastern Highlands) dedicated “Kumul Fly” to cocoa farmers, McDonald Taylor (Simbu) gave a
on “Horizon” had even MPs dancing.
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An Engan dance troupe waits to perform on Highlands Day
Singer EstaPacifica
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crowd-wide whistle intro to “Meror Waghi”, Western Highlands’ Bata Rods and EstaPacifica delivered a hip-hop meets kundu drum mashup, Kingsmahn – HLP Crew (Jiwaka) debuted their new single “Gehamo Moho”, Naxii Jay & Kalu T (Hela/SHP) provided a tag team rap in Tok Pisin and Huli, and Lerams of Kagua and Ragga Siai (SHP) finished with classic string band harmonies. Over 40 SME stalls served mumu pork, roasted kaukau
(sweet potato), herbal-infused kambang drinks and small bags of organic coffee from Goroka. Telikom and Vodafone kiosks sat side-by-side with bilum weavers and face paint artists, turning the venue into a living village. UPNG Highlands students escorted Mud Men, sing- sing groups and a convoy of decorated flat beds into the city before the gates opened – an explosion of paint, cassowary feathers and hornbills carved in polystyrene.
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Advertorial
“With the right knowledge, resources and dedication, we can preserve our natural heritage for future generations”
MRDC Celebrates 50 years of Nation Building
Mineral Resource s Development Company has grown into Papua New Guinea’s leading company for managing benefits from natural resources. We focus on fair sharing of wealth and long-term sustainability. We manage interests for landowners and provincial governments in the mining, oil and gas sectors. Our goal is to make sure these investments continue to support communities even after resource projects end. We are strongly committed to improving the lives of landowning communities. Our work brings vital services and infrastructure, leaving a lasting impact on many areas. This year, we celebrate 50 years of partnership and nation building. We aim to ensure that no one is left behind, that resources are used wisely, and that each generation has a better future. Looking ahead, we remain focused on building a legacy of fairness, growth and strength for the next 50 years and beyond.
Images on these pages were taken at Momase Day on July 25
Momase On July 25, the finale belonged to Momase. On stage, Morobe’s reggae veterans K Dumen and the Siassi Heritage stringers swapped sets with Madang’s Demas Saul and Gedix Atege, before East Sepik’s Avisat and West Sepik’s Mel Nukun
concourse, crocodile masks bobbing in the crowd. If Southern brought nostalgia, the Niugini Islands brought tropical breeze sway and the Highlands brought thunder, Momase
Singer K Dumen
closed on a wall of garamut and mambu. Around them, banana leaf parcels of aigir and bowls of sago lined the
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PO Box PO Box 140, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Phone: 321 1700 / 321 1723 | Email: admin@rpyc.com.pg Terms & Conditions Apply 14 0 , Port Moresby , Papua New Guinea Phone : 321 17 00 / 321 1723 | Email : admin @ rpyc . com Terms & Conditions Apply
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poured on river rhythm. For Governor Parkop, the significance of the regional festivals has always been to reaffirm PNG’s commitment to a stronger, united and progressive nation.
“As a nation of a thousand tribes and
over 800 languages we are so diverse in culture – yet against all odds, we have remained
strongly united. This unity is our strength, our foundation, and our future.”
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OTHER KEY 50TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS As well as the PNG Story in July which focused on the four PNG regions, there have been several other key celebrations. Hiri Queen 2025, Luisa
Udia of Tatana village, waves from a float
May 16: The celebrations officially launched with a Grand Float Parade from City Hall to Ela Beach featuring the British Army’s Pipe & Drum Majors, a Māori Kapa Haka group, plus Pacific and Asian cultural dancers. PM James Marape inaugurated the program, initiating a symbolic motorcade representing 22 nations significant to PNG’s independence. A main showpiece were the three giant Chinese- designed floats – a panda/dragon, a 10 drum float and eight lion figures, with China PNG Friendship Association president Michael Lin describing the parade as “a brilliant chapter in the friendship between our two countries”. Pacific Story / Asia Story May 17: New Zealand, Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati Sir Hubert Murray Stadium came alive during the day with performances from New Zealand’s Māori Kapa Haka group, Samoan ‘siva’ dancers, and cultural presentations from Tuvalu and Kiribati, before internationally acclaimed DJ Noiz electrified the crowd, joined by artists DJ Kennyon Brown and singer Bina Butta. Despite the rain, fans flocked to the stage, with DJ Noiz’s performance lauded for uniting attendees, transforming the stadium into a vibrant dance party and fostering camaraderie among Pacific Islanders. May 24: Tonga, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Hawai‘i, Tahiti May 31: West Papua & Melanesian neighbours June 7: Australia Community Day Bringing a “slice of Australia” to Port Moresby, this day of sausage sizzles, footy clinics and Australia Awards stalls fostered community spirit. A highlight was Cricket
PNG hosting mini six-a-side cricket with national captains Asad Vala, Brenda Tau, Gaba Frank and Dika Lohia, plus NCD Governor Parkop and Australian High Commissioner Ewen McDonald joining in. “As we count down (to the anniversary), we are proud to be part of events like these that bring people together through sport and culture,” Cricket PNG chairman Michael Harrison said.
Tahitian Fire Dance performed during the Pacific Story
Māori Kapa Haka group
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Advertorial
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Family planning empowers women and transforms lives in Frieda River communities
In the remote Frieda River communities of the Sepik region, a quiet revolution is unfolding – women and families are embracing family planning as a powerful tool for managing their health, futures and livelihoods. Thanks to Frieda River Limited’s (FRL) ongoing capacity-building training, individuals and couples among the customary landowners of the Frieda River copper-gold resource are now making informed decisions about when and how many children to have – based on personal, health and financial realities. For local advocates Christina Nathan and Martha Ronald, family planning is more than just a medical service – it’s a pathway to dignity, wellbeing and sustainable family life. Christina, 33, from Wameimin 2 village in Telefomin, is the mother of three children and a proud recipient of a family planning implant. She describes her decision to use the implant – one of the most effective, low-maintenance contraceptives available – as life-changing. “This was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she said. “It has allowed me to care properly for my children, support their education, and maintain their health. With a smaller family, I can grow food in the gardens, help the children with their schoolwork, look after myself and participate in training programs like leadership and financial literacy.” Christina, who left school after Grade 7, now finds herself back in a learning environment – this time by choice and
with purpose. Downriver in Ambunti’s Paupe village, Martha, also in her 30s, made a deeply personal decision to undergo family planning after a near-death experience during childbirth. A mother of four and classified as high-risk due to her health status and poor nutrition in her community, she speaks candidly about how family planning saved her life. “I knew I wouldn’t survive another complicated childbirth,” Martha reflected. “Family planning gave me a second chance – and the opportunity to be there for the children I already have.” Crucially, both women say their partners supported their choices – an encouraging sign in communities where women’s health decisions are often not prioritised.
They’re giving women a voice and giving families the chance to thrive.” Since 2017, hundreds of women and teenage girls in the seven landowning communities of FRL have participated in the company’s training programs, which focused on health, leadership and life skills. These initiatives are part of FRL’s broader commitment under the proposed Sepik Development Project (SDP) – a transformative, multi-billion-kina proposal to responsibly develop one of the world’s largest untapped copper-gold resources. The SDP encompasses the Frieda River Copper-Gold Project, the Frieda River Hydroelectric Project, the Sepik Power Grid, and the Sepik Infrastructure Project, which is expected to connect the region to the rest of the country and beyond.
Fredah Wantum, FRL’s community
development officer, who is a registered nurse and midwife, is inspired by the growing momentum. “It’s rare in many rural areas for women to have control over their reproductive choices,” Fredah said. “Hearing Christina and Martha speak with such confidence about their rights and futures is exactly the outcome we hope for. Our capacity-building programs are not just saving lives – they’re enhancing them.
TOP: Frieda River women – leading family planning. Here they celebrate their new resource centre built through a Mineral Resources Authority and Frieda River Limited collaboration
About us: Frieda River Limited is a significant subsidiary of the PanAust Limited Group. Along with the pre-development opportunities in Papua New Guinea operations, PanAust Limited also owns Phu Bia Mining, an award-winning dual operation in Laos, and has development opportunities in Chile. An Australian-incorporated company, PanAust is owned by Guangdong Rising H.K. (Holding) Limited which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guangdong Rising Holding Group Co., Ltd. (GDRH). GDRH is a Chinese state-owned company regulated under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the People’s Government of the Guangdong Province in China.
For further information, visit: www.friedariver.com
High school students create a PNG50 formation at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium during PNG Story’s Southern Day
China Day
June 8: Philippines Day June 14: Malaysia Day A highlight was a full re-enactment of a traditional Malaysian wedding ceremony plus Malaysian
street food stalls offered culinary delights. June 15: China Day Vibrant lion and dragon dances, acrobatics, face- ’changing’ (a performance that involves rapid mask swaps), singing, kung- fu and drum shows, plus Chinese food stalls. June 21: India Day A traditional lamp- lighting ceremony; the commemorative
Visitors at Highlands Day
A little dancer at the Meganesia Concert
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anthem “Future for Our Children” was performed; classical (Bharatanatyam, Kathak) to folk (Ghoomar, Garba, Bihu, Bhangra) and modern fusion (Jugalbandhi, Kuthu, Bollywood- Hip Hop) dances. Meganesia Concert June 28: A spectacular showcase of more than 150 Indigenous Australian and Papua
Sprigga Mek
Kaiit
New Guinean musicians and dancers, spearheaded by drummer and artistic director Airileke and including Yirrmal Marika, Kaiit, Anslom, Tonton Malele, Saii Kay, Mal Meninga Kuri, Sprigga Mek, Tarvin Toune, Mereani Masani and Justin Wellington. In thanking the Australian Government as the concert’s main sponsor, Governor Parkop described it as a celebration of shared heritage, identity and aspirations between indigenous artists from both nations. “Meganesia is more than entertainment – it’s a cultural hand-shake.” The Australian High Commission’s counsellor for public diplomacy Nicholas Kittel said the “incredible vibe” and the “crossing of culture between Papua New Guinea and Australia” highlighted both nations as “young countries in the sense of being nations, but we’re also ancient countries”.
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Words: Staff writers Photos: National Archives of Australia Bringing the PAST TO LIFE
In this historic photo taken on Independence Day, September 16, 1975, men in cultural dress from Oro Province line up by the roadside on Independence Hill to greet their nation’s new flag NAA- A8746, KN23/9/75_60
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NAA: A6180, 22/9/75_18
NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_18
Prince Charles, now King Charles III, is greeted by dignitaries as he arrives at Jacksons Airport for PNG’s independence celebrations in September 1975. At the centre is Chief Minister Michael Somare – soon to become PNG’s first prime minister – with his wife Veronica shaking the British royal’s hand. On the left is PNG’s first Governor-General Sir John Guise, while behind him (almost out of shot) is Australian Governor-General Sir John Kerr. On the right is believed to be PNG’s Chief Justice Sir Sydney Frost and his wife Lady Dorothy. In the right photo Australian PM Gough Whitlam is visible, along with his wife Margaret.
A s we celebrate the historic milestone of PNG’s 50th anniversary year, AI (artificial intelligence) technology is helping bring old archival photos to life in a way our ancestors could never have possibly imagined! Black and white still photos that capture a frozen moment in time suddenly spring to life in 12-second full-colour animation reels on Instagram and Facebook.
“The software being used to
animate these old photos has a magic effect, but it’s not magic”
Men in bilas march with kundu drums at the Australian flag lowering ceremony and celebrations in Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on Independence Eve – September 15, 1975 NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_85
These shots from the animated reel were created with AI technology to bring the dancers to life
to be in Port Moresby 50 years ago to witness the inception of PNG’s nationhood, another reel being prepared that shows the moment the Australian flag was lowered and PNG’s new one raised will be powerful memory triggers. For the many more people who were not there – including a new generation born in the five decades since – such reels are a fascinating learning tool and a gateway history lesson. If you follow #PNG50Official and #PNG50 in social media, you may have already seen these examples of the ‘Living Photographs’ series. Funded from the national PNG50 Independence budget approved by the National Executive Council, the initiative’s initial target was to release one iconic image for every one of the 50 years since 1975. At the time of press in late July 2025, two finished animated clips had been released and it is uncertain of the time frame for the balance. The one of cultural dancers with kundus was taken from a still of Sir Hubert Murray Stadium where the Australian flag was lowered at sunset on the day before Independence. The ceremony was part of six days of celebrations, with the stadium chosen as it was the closest
NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_49
Dancers in bilas sway and march, their eyes blink and they beat their kundus (hourglass-shaped hand drums). In another clip, teenage students proudly walk past with their school flag, part of the parade on the first Independence Day of September 16, 1975. For those lucky enough These photos from 1975 were taken during celebrations at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium held as part of the official Australian Flag Lowering Ceremony on Independence Eve – September 15. They include (from top) a march-past by students of Bavaroko High School (Moresby South); high school students wearing laplaps and flower wreaths; and a decorated crocodile float made by students of Gordon High School
NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_52
NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_53
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Papua New Guinea’s flag, featuring the mighty Kumul and southern cross constellation, is both a celebration of our unique natural world and a potent symbol of our independence on the world stage. It’s also a symbol of our unity, with the nation’s 1000-plus tribes coming together under it. And a symbol of our progress, with the country soaring like the Kumul over the last 50 years. It’s time to celebrate our flag, our history, and inspire our future. OUR FLAG IS MORE THAN JUST A FLAG
png50.co #PNG50Official
Sir John Guise Stadium during a parade on September 16, 1975. Reel link here: https:// www.instagram.com/p/ DK3pQFfS5V6/ The software being used to animate these old photos has a magic effect, but it’s not magic. A digital copy of the photograph is loaded into the software and then written instructions direct it to convert the still image into video footage. All the photos being The colourful scene at Jacksons Airport as a sing-sing greeting party in traditional bilas prepares to welcome international dignitaries arriving for the Independence ceremonies in the days leading up to September 16, 1975 NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_42
possible point to where the English flag was first raised at Hanuabada in 1884. Reel link here: https:// www.facebook.com/ reel/18450660 16040955/ The other reel showing Bavaroko students walking with their school flag was taken from a still at Left: Men in bilas with kundu drums on Independence Hill on September 16, 1975 Primary School (Moresby South)
NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_61
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Visa on Arrival (VOA) Visa on Arrival is currently accessible to citizens of the following countries and territories.
United Kingdom
Canada
Japan
China
Northern Mariana Islands
State of Israel
Marshall Islands
Guam
Kiribati
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
Palau
Niue American Samoa Tokelau
Singapore
Indonesia
Papua New Guinea
Nauru
Solomon Island Vanuatu
Tuvalu
Samoa
Tonga Niue Wallis and Futuna French Polynesia (Tahiti) Cook Islands
Fiji
New Caledonia
Note: Mainland New Zealand, French and United States of America are not eligible for VOA.
Follow us: www.ica.gov.pg Visit this website for specific details on each country requirements for VOA:
Papua New Guinea Immigration & Citizenship Authority, Central Government Office, Ground Floor (Tower A), Melanesian Way Waigani PO Box 1790, Boroko, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea
At sunset on September 15, 1975, the Australian flag is lowered at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium NAA: A6180, 22/9/75_20
“The two outstanding ceremonies in Port Moresby were the flag lowering ceremony at sunset on 15 September 1975 and the flag raising ceremony the next day.... That marvellous sunset, together with Sir John Guise’s words, ‘We are lowering this flag, not tearing it down’, made for a memorable occasion”
animated were taken around the main events in September 1975 and is part of the content that will be shared online over coming months: on social media
primarily but organisers say additional screenings are planned for parade‑day big screens, museum exhibits and classroom digital‑learning packs,
with details still being finalised. The period leading up to Independence in 1975 is remembered in this excerpt written in 2009 by former long-
serving PNG District Commissioner, the late David Marsh. (Sourced from pngattitude.com) “In late June 1975, Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam asked Papua New Guinea Chief Minister Michael Somare to provide a date for PNG Independence. Somare set the date of 16 September the same year. Then he gave me the job of organising the event. We had 10 weeks. Getting people to join me to get the job done was difficult. But when I had a general picture in my mind of the ceremonies that were required, the people to invite, the security, transport, accommodation and so on, I gathered a few staunch souls together
On the morning of September 16, 1975, PNG’s new flag is carried by Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary up Independence Hill to be officially raised for the first time
NAA: A8746, KN23/9/75_58
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David Marsh – PNG’s last District Commissioner at the time of Independence in 1975 – is pictured here as a young lieutenant and member of ANGAU (Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit). Photo: Australian War Memoriall
The two outstanding ceremonies in Port Moresby were the flag lowering ceremony at sunset on 15 September 1975 and the flag raising ceremony the next day. I selected Sir Hubert Murray Stadium for the flag lowering, as it was the closest possible place to Hanuabada where the British flag was first raised in 1884. That marvellous sunset, together with Sir John Guise’s words, “We are lowering this flag, not tearing it down”, made for a memorable occasion. The flag raising ceremony was conducted on Independence Hill, a hill where there had been an anti-aircraft gun during the war defending Wards Strip. It is within sight of the administrative headquarters, Parliament House, the Supreme Court and the prime minister’s residence. At one minute past midnight on 16 September, the proclamation of independence was announced by the Governor- General in a radio broadcast, followed by the national anthem and a 101-gun salute provided by
ceremony commenced. Prince Charles inspected the Royal Guard before taking his place on the VIP dais. Cultural groups then handed the PNG flag to the Governor- General who handed it to the Commander of the PNG Defence Force, asking him to raise it on behalf of the people of Papua New Guinea. Two chaplains blessed the flag and it was raised at 10am followed by a fly-past of Royal Australian Air Force and PNG Defence Force aircraft. Prince Charles unveiled a plaque and joined Sir John Guise and Sir John Kerr in planting trees to commemorate the occasion. The officers in charge of each official occasion did very well and government departments – especially Public Works, the Government Printer and the Department of Information – all rose to the great occasion.” More details at png50.co or look for the hashtag #PNG50 on social media.
and started on the detail. We raised funds from business, organised fireworks for each district and provided cash to ensure activities in all districts. We also paid for the West Indies cricket team to play in Port Moresby and Lae, had an Independence Medal made and issued all sorts of literature and badges. During the six days of celebrations from 14-19 September there were exhibits, church services, sporting events, bands, pageants, formal addresses, dinners and ceremonies.
the Royal Australian Navy. At 9.30 am the flag raising
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At Santos, we are proud of our rich history in Papua New Guinea and what we have achieved in partnership with the PNG government and local communities. Celebrating Papua New Guinea’s Golden Jubilee in 2025
W hen PNG Air turned 38 this year, it didn’t just blow out candles – it asked its passengers to join in the celebrations by sharing their photo memories. In mid June the airline posted a call for entries on Facebook and Instagram announcing the #PNG38 Photo Contest to mark both its own 38-year anniversary as well as PNG’s 50 years of independence. Anyone who was a resident of PNG was invited “to show us what Flying You Home means to you” and tag their pictures with the anniversary hashtag. The brief was wide open: a shot of an ATR plane on approach, a family reunion at the airstrip, or the Highlands bathed in dawn light – if it captured either PNG Air or the beauty of PNG it was welcome. PNG Air kept the contest live through to the end of the month, reminding followers that entries would close on June 30 – the exact date the airline first The winner of PNG Air’s 38th anniversary photo contest was Roger Moko’s shot of passengers at Rabaul’s Tokua Airport boarding a twin engine ATR 72 600 turboprop – the workhorse of the fleet
The best cultural photo was this shot of UniTech students Allyson Tirbuak (front, right) and Shalome in Tolai (East New Britain) dress, taken on campus during Independence Day celebrations last year and earning a second place prize for Lae-based freelance photographer Louis Lambert of LC Image
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Flying You Home Photo Contest Celebrates 38 Years of PNG Air
took to the skies back in 1987. The stakes were spelled out clearly: the grand prize photograph would earn its creator
six return tickets to any PNG Air destination, while second place received three return tickets, and third place
one return. The top photographs would be published on the airline’s social channels and website.
A total of 84 entries were lodged – a mix of people, landscapes, and PNG Air planes/ perspectives from
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