Papa God tasol still keeping us intact

Many people who know a little bit about the WHO health systems Building Blocks that the PNG health system has adopted, will agree and say that our health system is fragile (too many problems at different levels at national, provincial and district levels among the six building block areas).

We, as a country, have been exposed to the virus for around 3 months now as people move from China and other places into PNG. Seriously, we could have been one of the first countries to be hit. Even ol pasin blo yumi lo wokim nating nating and combined with our cultural practices would be the best breeding grounds for this virus. 

But just think about this: In that time period, we have not seen community transmission of the virus. I was thinking that maybe we were not doing enough testing. But even if we didnt do enough testing, the health surveillance system could have picked up the severe cases already in the different provinces. Maybe the disease will come and hit us hard, I dont know.

There has to be something else that is keeping us safe, dont you think? Every evening when i watch the news on tv, other countries are fighting and fear is winning. For us, right now, the only thing keeping us intact em bikpla marimari blong God bikos planti man meri insait lo PNG wok lo pray istap. Oh yes, these people are not on facebook! They dont have internet and they dont have access to regular media but they are on their knees in that chapel, in that closet, beside the river, up on the mountain or in that silent room.....

Ino gat narapla samting gen, em God tasol yah na yumi stap yah!

Tonight mi harim displa song gen na mi tingim yumi PNG na how yumi save stap yah....

Pastor Tau Abary's daughters sing a tokpisin song during the country's lockdown period

Research Conversations

Today, I attended a research conversation. It was a small session led by Professor Collin McDougall from Flinders University. The FMHS staff attended. One of the things that I liked about these research conversations is the sharing of experiences from other members of the faculty about challenges and issues they have faced as researchers. Having been here for a while now, I can honestly say that research is hard work, not because its difficult to do, but because of the time and effort one must put into to produce something that is worthy to be read by others.
I guess academics must publish work regularly in quality journals and research that can help our country too! Olsem na wok blo research mas go het!

Some old files

Well its the beginning of the new semester!
You know as I was rummaging through stuff I noticed a few old items on the shelf. I took them down and dusted the. Lo and behold, there was some old student projects from some years ago. What a pleasant sight it was to glance through them.
I know for sure that students who write them are now working in great jobs throughout PNG!

Logitech R400

This particular PowerPoint presenter device (Logitech R400) has been helping me teach for the past five years. When it went kaput, I wanted to find someone to help me fix it since I had no idea about IT stuff.

  But the internet provided the solution. People around the world share how they fix things and post it on forums and discussion pages online. I found such a site and followed instructions using a kitchen knife, opened the device and fixed the tiny switch. Now the device is working again.

Beauty of life on the sea shore

Well sometimes Madang gets a bad rap in the press, but the truth is that the natural environment wins every time. I was most fortunate to visit a little piece of beauty just outside of Madang town, just past Siar island.
This is how we spent the last day of 2019...

Finally graduation!

And finally a journey that started earlier this year finally ended at Lae International Hotel when we graduated!
I have truely enjoyed the journey when we undertook this Postgrad Certificate course at Griffith University.

First visit to Suncorp Stadium

I remember I began watching rugby league as a kid in the late 80's. I remember watching the state of origin on TV when the game was played at Lang Park (which is in Brisbane, Australia) which was the home of the Queenslanders. In the late 90's Lang Park was redeveloped to become what is now known as Suncorp Stadium. It currently can fit just over 52,000 seats. Its massive. It has so many amenities but i just couldnt list them all. I think the obvious ones to point out are that it also has around 25 food and beverage outlets, around 34 bars and 5 ATMs.

One of the entrances into the stadium

We (my colleagues from Griffith course) got to watch rugby union match. It was a test match between the Argentina Pumas and the Australian Wallabies. It was Will Genia's last game and he played well. We all cheered whenever he did something great on the field. Here is the story Wallabies beat Argentina 16-10 in Rugby Championship Test in Brisbane

Myself with the King Wally..lol

Getting ready to start with teams warming up

The games started and the group looks on

Waving them Wallaby flags

Joseph, Jimmy and Tony focus stret..lol

Midway through the game. Two giant screens shows the game.

After the game we all meet in before we make our way out

Myself, Gigil and Irene meet up. HM UP!

I, off course, wasn't too interested in the game as I think i was overawed by the place itself. It was huge and the noise was intense. There were over 30,000 people and I could see people behaved themselves but those who were a bit cheeky had the security come take them out of their seat. I guess the match was not too great at times because we had to do the mexican wave which was too fun to take part in and see the wave swell as it moved through the rows of the stadium.
It was my first visit to a stadium in Australia and it was great fun.

Catching Up

Its not too often that university class mates catch up.
Our lives are often filled with work, family, sport, recreation etc so it is indeed rare to ever meet up in one place. Well this week, I had the opportunity to meet some of my class mates from university. It had come at an unfortunate time as one of my class mates sister had died so we went to the 'hauskrai'.
Best tumas!

Beemo, Priss, Chuggy and myself with the kids

Beemo painting Loperth's nails

A visit to the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Im always fascinated by Aboriginal culture and this visit was very informative!
Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre is based at the foot of Burleigh Headland National Park in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, alongside pristine Tallebudgera Creek.

We first visited the centre building where they gave us a talk on the history, peoples, art & craft and cultural activities of those who had inhibited the Gold Coast area long before it became a city like what it is today. We were fascinated by their stories and then they performed traditional dances showing times and seasons, animals, journeys and many more.

After this session, we went on a walk along the Centre's footpath. It was enjoyable to see birds, smell the sea, meet other walkers and experience the lifestyle of those who had come to love this place.

Southbank

I have always heard about this place but to actually see and experience this place just feels so right. Southbank is just right in the city of Brisbane. It is just outside the Griffith University campus in Brisbane so as soon as class ends, you just walk out and then you are already on the part of the stretch that is Soutbank. I noticed that it is really a peaceful place to walk, run or exercise.

People ride, walk or jog along the bank of Brisbane River

Im standing at Southbank while Brisbane city is in the background

At night

Myself, Jimmy and Gigil enjoying the afternoon walk

Thinking about things...

Im standing on the beach at Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Australia

Sometimes He plans the most remarkable things in His own way....things that we have lost faith in and takes the pain away in the most unexpected of ways. We question the way things are. We ask why. There are more questions than answers. But we never give up. We should never loose faith on He who holds our breath in His hands. We hold onto His promises each day.

Australian Outback Spectacular

This was a night I just wish my three kids were here to see - it was just too beautiful!
The group was invited to attend the Australian Outback Spectacular which was around 45 minutes from with the bus shuttle from where we were staying. The AOS (just to save time tying the whole thing) is one of the Gold Coasts must see tourist attraction. It is a Village Roadshow theme park where a story of love happens along the backdrop of the harsh but stunning Australian outback.
It was just like a move with lights, music, great acting, great props and stunning visual artistry.
Of course we ate a three course meal and had wine!

Surfers Paradise

I have always heard about this place called Surfers Paradise. Well now I am finally here at this famous place in Queensland. Surfers Paradise as I learnt is a coastal suburb along Gold Coast city. The place is clean, has efficient transport and many shops too.
The beach itself is clean and stretches for a long way along the coast. In the mornings, I would come down to the beach and walk along the cement footpath. There are so many people walking and running to get some exercise in the morning.

Early in the morning at around 5.30, the sun is already up

Experiencing the sand on the beach

Looking from the room back to the beach

Myself with Wattie exploring the place on foot