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October 2024

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Sustainable Fashion becoming a Global Agenda as PNG explores international markets

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PNG Designers at BRICS+ Fashion Show

Papua New Guinea fashion was represented on the global stage in Russia at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit held from October 3 – 6 in Moscow.  

Over 180 countries were represented at the prestigious event.

The Fashion Summit culminated in the formation of the BRICS International Fashion Federation.

Representing PNG, Ms Philma Kelegai the Founder and Managing Director of PNG Fashion Week said it was such a great success to be part of the Federation.  

Fashion associations from more than 50 countries joined the BRICS International Fashion Federation.

It aims to establish new centers of influence, and strengthen international ties to improve the industry’s sustainability and provide emerging designers with a platform to grow.  

BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India China and South Africa.  
 
The BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow provided industry leaders from manufacturing countries like China, India and Indonesia to share their experiences while others from Malaysia, Argentina and France discussed opportunities among participants.
 
The highlight of the Summit was the Heritage Exhibition where designers showcased their work.  
Fashion Week specialists spoke at this event discussing the unique challenges and opportunities that contributed to nation building.  

Speaking at the ‘Fashion from Afar’ Segment of the summit, Ms Kelegai promoted and marketed Papua New Guinea as a fashion tourism destination.

She said, “with our rich culture and heritage we are in a unique position to showcase fashion through the lens of a thousand tribes.”  

PNG Fashion Designers go global.
Wandid Amini Korimbo, owner of Niugini Native designs (centre) and Elizabeth Omeri of Denani Designs (Second from right)

Fashion is a thriving business in PNG, a number of indigenous designers use local designs to create their unique style.  

Ms Kelegai added, ‘this is our strength and our fashion designers are our ambassadors, they will tell our story and the world wants to experience the final frontier of fashion.”

Papua New Guinea Fashion week is scheduled for September during the country’s 50th Independence anniversary in 2025.

Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, two PNG designers, Denani Design’s  Elizabeth Omeri and Niugini Native’s Wandid Amini Korimbo returned this week after attending a fashion show in Utah, United States.  

Held from September 21 – 29, 2024 the event was hosted by Creative Pacific Foundation.  

The show held a panelist and workshop session where designers from the Pacific discussed their work.

The PNG Designers promoted two unique parts of PNG.  

Mrs Korimbo, spoke on culture and tradition while Ms Omeri launched her eco-printing collection and spoke about sustainable fashion.  

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K5million for Waigani Christian College to facilitate Early Childhood Teacher Training

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The Minister for Education and Member for Gumine, Dawa Lukas Dekena, recently made a significant announcement declaring Waigani Christian Academy as an institution to facilitate teacher training for Early Childhood Learning.

He said this declaration highlights the government’s commitment to improving the education sector, particularly in the training and development of early childhood educators.

With this new status, the academy will be able to offer specialized courses and programs tailored to equip aspiring teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively educate and shape the future generation.

WCA Founder Benjamin Mul, pointed out that this move by Minister Dekena is a significant step towards enhancing the standard of early childhood education in the country and ensuring that every child receives a solid foundation for their academic journey.

The Minister’s commitment to allocate five million kina towards ensuring that early childhood teachers are adequately trained before being sent out for their mission is a crucial step towards improving the quality of education for young children in the country.

“This investment will not only benefit the teachers by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge, but it will also have a positive impact on the development and well-being of the children they will be teaching.

“Properly trained early childhood teachers play a vital role in shaping the early years of a child’s education and setting a strong foundation for their future learning,” Dekena said.

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Government commits to relieve financial burdens off parents at private schools

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Prime Minister James Marape announced that his government will be looking at relieving some financial loads of parents who send their children to private schools.

During a speech at the Waigani Christian College recently, Marape said they should have a scheme come next year 2025.

Marape expressed his gratitude to all the parents who have always prioritized their children’s education by enrolling them in privately owned educational institutions.

He acknowledged the sacrifices that parents make in order to provide for their children with a better education and promised to support them in their efforts.

The PM said the government will be implementing a scheme to provide assistance to those families who send their children to private schools, as they often have higher fees compared to public schools.

He emphasized that the government’s goal is to ensure that all children in Papua New Guinea have access to quality education, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that the government will be reviewing their policies and budget allocations in order to make this plan a reality by the year 2025.

He assured the parents that the taxes they pay will be utilized to support their children’s education.

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World Coconut Day

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World Coconut Day was held from the 3rd to the 5th of October at the Sir John Guise Indoor complex in Port Moresby.

It was hosted by Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK), the regulatory body of the Coconut Industy in PNG. World Coconut Day is an event of the International Coconut Community made up of coconut growing countries.  

There are 21 coconut growing countries globally and each take turn to host World Coconut Day annually.  

PNG played host to this year’s festival with guests from member countries invited to participate and interact with stakeholders especially small to medium enterprises who showcased their products at this event.

World Coconut Day - Gwen Jerome
Gwen Jerome, Owner of North Coast Farmers


Among the SMEs was North Coast Farmers from Milne Bay Province.

Owner Gwen Jerome has a coconut plantation and has been in business two years running.  

Gwen began producing coconut products after being introduced to the idea by KIK.  

“I own a plantation. I started without funds because these are downstream products. I sell then branched out, I spend to make money.  I make products such as coconut milk ice cream, soaps, oils and essence.”
 
Another passionate producer of coconut products is 55-year-old Josephine Kinoli from Manus Province.  

She started her business in 2002 buying coconut oils in bulk from village women then repackaging and reprocessing for sale.  

Like Gwen, Josphine’s company, Manus Coconut Product and Services is a booming business, specializing in 14 various product lines of skin care and hair products.

World Coconut Day - Josephine Kinoli
Josephine Kinoli, Manus

She has also diversified the business to include other plant products such as Tumeric, Noni and Moringa.  

Back in the 90s, Josephine worked at the Kulili Plantation on Karkar Island in Madang.

At the end of her stint, she returned home to Manus in 2000 and decided to put her knowledge to good use.

By 2005 she generated enough funds to purchase land, build a home and have a place to produce coconut products.  

In diversifying her business, she praised God for the wisdom and blessings that has helped her develop the ideas for her ventures.  

On marketing, this is what she had to say, “we don’t advertise, our products promote itself, one customer buys and spreads the word.”

The family run business supplies to Harbourside and Seeadler Bay hotels in Manus and the general population, while around the country, Josephine takes orders through shipping and DHL Services.

Stalls at world coconut day event
Stalls at the World Coconut Day event.

Gwen and Josephine like many other SMEs who showcased their products at the World Coconut Day were able to do so with the backing of Kokonas Indastri Koporesen.  

An important component is ensuring they meet the national standards of producing quality products for consumption this includes packaging and branding.

KIK continues to provide training and financial literacy to rural communities across the country especially for farmers and plantation owners.  

KIK is encouraging them to participate in order to achieve the country’s Medium Term Development Goal 4 – To grow PNG’s GDP to K200 billion and create one-million jobs.

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International Market Exposure for Village Cocoa Farmer

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Balthazar Winjowa has never been more optimistic about his family’s future then today.

After undergoing training with the EU-STREIT PNG Programme to revive cocoa in Wanwara Village of the Turubu LLG in East Sepik Province, where he comes from, the 33 year-old says he’s life has changed completely.

Along side the materials that the EU-STREIT PNG provided, Baltazar was also privileged to undergo bud grafting training, learned proper pruning techniques and studied cocoa fermentation and processing.

“I learned how to conduct pruning and bud grafting,” he explains.
“I now train other farmers in my Village and show them how to manage their cocoa blocks.”

The training and tools started paying off.

In the first half of this year alone, Baltazar harvested 7,300 kilograms of wet beans which yielded around forty bags of dried beans.

He says that the trees just started bearing fruit and he is seeing production increase.

“With the support from STREIT, we are harvesting beans with no Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) infestation,” He says.

The improved quality of Baltazar’s cocoa has opened new doors for him and his fellow farmers.

With the support of the programme, he had the chance to send his cocoa beans to the Queen Emma Chocolate factory in Port Moresby where they were evaluated for quality.

“STREIT came to my Village and sent samples of my cocoa to Queen Emma. I got a WhatsApp message on my phone saying that I have high-quality cocoa,” he recalls with pride.

His success also led to an opportunity to meet an Overseas buyer from New Zealand.

With the help from STREIT, Baltazar was able to attend a factory presentation with Queen Emma Chocolate, where he met the lady buyer from New Zealand.

“She said if I pass the quality standard, she will visit my Village to sign a contract to supply one tonne of dried cocoa beans per year,” he says.

For Baltazar, this journey has transformed not only his business, but also his family life.

With the money that he earned from cocoa, he has been able to provide more for his family.

His eldest daughter is currently doing grade 9 at Yarapos Secondary School, and Baltazar is committed more to supporting her education.

“My formal education stopped at grade 8 and my wife went as far as grade 9 because of school fee problems,” says Baltazar.

He wants his daughter to go to a business college and return back to manage their cocoa farming as a business.

With the support of his wife, Baltazar is looking ahead to plan big for his future with his cocoa farming business.

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TISA Bank Unveils New Logo

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The Teacher’s Savings and Loan Limited (Tisa) Bank unveiled its newly rebranded logo on Saturday the 5th of October.

TISA group Chief Executive Officer, Michael Koisen in his opening remarks, stated that the progress of TISA over the years had seen the defining relationship between the shareholders and the board and had also attributed the success of TISA to the mutual trust between each and every Papua New Guinean.

“That idea had grown over the years into building a financial institution for Papua New Guinea and our new brand captures the essence as it transitions to a bank,”.

He says they currently have a staff of 150 and would increase that number to 600 to provide equal opportunity for new graduates from the tertiary institutions.

The expansion of TISA will see the opportunities for local entrepreneurs to access capital growth in their businesses and contribute to job opportunities.

TISA group Chairman, Gabriel Tai says TISA was established in 1972, almost 50 years ago with the purpose of serving teachers monetarily.

“They understood the power of collective savings and the strength that comes from unity” he says.

Mr. Tai also says the new brand commends the new chapter in the history of TISA with the aim to give more opportunities to the people of PNG.

The new logo – a bilum is about embracing a bigger mission, banking on change.

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Similar paths, but halves are now meeting expectations

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Luke Brooks has revealed he will go into his halves pairing with Lachlan Galvin cold, having only just met despite the pair’s similar paths at Wests Tigers.

Brooks will play his first representative game in almost 10 years for the Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea on Sunday, with Galvin alongside him.

On the surface the careers of Brooks and Galvin appear tightly entwined, and in another world they could have been the Tigers’ long-term halves pairing.

Galvin’s debut this year at Wests Tigers was the most hyped of any player at the club since Brooks’ in 2013, when he was labelled by critics as the next Andrew Johns.

Brooks battled under that spotlight, enduring almost a decade of being a punching bag for Tigers fans, before eventually leaving for Manly at the end of 2023.

His exit allowed Galvin to be picked out of SG Ball for round one this year, without ever having played a senior game.

Halves
Lachlan Galvin of the Tigers runs with the ball during the NRL Round 24 match between the Wests Tigers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Campbelltown Stadium Saturday, August 17, 2024. (AAP Image/MARK EVANS)

Galvin subsequently starred, was named the Rugby League Players Association’s rookie of the year, and would likely have won the same award at the Dally Ms if not ineligible due to a suspension.

But despite those paths, Brooks said he and Galvin had only met for the first time at a sizing day last week, and never trained together at the Tigers.

“I actually don’t know him too well,” Brooks said ahead of Sunday’s clash in Port Moresby. 

“I didn’t meet him when I was at the Tigers, but I did meet him (last Wednesday).

“I don’t think he played 20s, so we didn’t have anything to do with each other.

“But it’s exciting. I haven’t been over there (PNG), but I’ve heard it’s a crazy experience, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Regardless, Brooks said he had been impressed by the way Galvin had handled the spotlight this year at age 19.

“It’s tough to be in your rookie year in that sort of situation, but he really stood out in that side and I thought he was great,” Brooks said. 

“He’s an attacking weapon. 

“The one thing I noticed when we played against him was just how busy he was. He was moving around the whole field and getting his hands on the ball. 

“He’s always looking to create something, so for him to be able to do that at such a young age is pretty special.”

Brooks admitted he thought the chance to wear a green-and-gold jersey had passed him by, and was surprised by the call-up to the PM’s XIII.

He will be one of the senior players in an inexperienced side, with Damien Cook to captain and Brad Fittler coaching.

Written by: Scott Bailey © AAP

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Penrith’s Sorensen passed fit for NRL grand final

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Ivan Cleary has no concerns about throwing Scott Sorensen into the cauldron of an NRL grand final after clearing the Penrith forward to feature against Melbourne.

Cleary confirmed on Saturday that Sorensen was fit to take the field in Sunday’s decider after being sidelined for the past month with a hamstring issue.

The Penrith coach would not confirm who would drop out for Sorensen, but the return of the New Zealand international is a significant boost for the Panthers.

“He’ll be playing. It’s awesome. Sorro’s been a big part of our team the last three years,” Cleary said on Saturday. 

“He’s a real soldier in our team.

“Everyone was pretty bummed when he got injured a few weeks ago (against Parramatta) and it looked like that was the end for him this year. 

“He was really devastated. To be able to work so hard and get back and for him to be able to make a contribution tomorrow is really good.

“Last week he definitely was (pushing to play and) if it was a round game throughout the year, you probably wouldn’t do it, but we definitely considered it. 

“In the end it was just too big a risk, so we were always hoping we’d win the game and we’d be able to give him a chance this week. He has ticked every box.”

Cleary, however, would not be drawn on which player would miss out.

Matt Eisenhuth – a long-serving player at Penrith, who has yet to win an NRL grand final – looms as the most likely casualty of Sorensen being given the all-clear.

Still named on the bench as the Panthers trimmed their squad 24 hours before kick-off, Eisenhuth said earlier this week he would have no issue making way for a fit-again Sorensen. 

Daine Laurie is the other Penrith player alongside Sorensen to be spared the axe from the Panthers’ extended squad.

“That’s the real downer when it comes to this time of year and these sorts of games,” Cleary said.

“You’d love them all to play but they can’t, unfortunately.

“We’ll confirm the 17 tomorrow (on Sunday) … I’ve got things covered.”

Sorensen’s inclusion gives Penrith an extra experienced head to match it in the middle against a Storm side deprived of Nelson Asofa-Solomona due to suspension.

“They (the Storm) had a great season and they’ve been very dominant in their two finals games,” Cleary said. 

“When you get to grand final day you expect to play against the best. That’s certainly the case for us.

“It’s the old saying, to be the best you’ve got to beat the best, and we are looking forward to that challenge.”  

Written by: George Clarke © AAP

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NRL’s Hughes, NRLW’s Kelly voted best in 2024 by peers

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Jahrome Hughes has added the Players’ Champion award to his Dally M Medal, voted the best player in the NRL in 2024 by his peers.

Hours before the NRL grand final against Penrith, Hughes became the first Melbourne player in history to win the players’ union’s major men’s honour.

Sydney Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly claimed the women’s award, also hours before she was due to lead her side in the NRLW grand final against Cronulla.

Best of NRLW 2024, Isabelle Kelly
Isabelle Kelly of the Roosters on her way to scoring a try during the NRLW Round 3 match between the Sydney Roosters and the St. George Illawarra Dragons at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Thursday, August 3, 2023. (AAP Image/Mark Evans)

Both Hughes and Kelly have been standouts this season.

Hughes’ maiden Dally M Medal on Wednesday night came after a season in which he took charge of the Storm’s attack.

The No.7 then flourished upon Cameron Munster’s return from injury, with the pair’s combination a big part of the reason they finished first on the ladder and are in the decider.

The Kiwi halfback beat out fellow finalists in Roosters second-rower Angus Crichton, Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake and Canterbury centre Stephen Crichton for the latest award.

“This is a massive honour for me to be voted the Players’ Champion,” Hughes said.

“I really hold this in high regard, and I think it is definitely one of the best individual accolades you can get.

I’m so honoured to be able to receive it, and just to get the praise from the players that you go against week in, week out.

“For them to vote for this, it is truly massive for myself. I’m super grateful and really honoured to win the Players’ Champion.”

Voting for the Players’ Champion awards is done at the end of each regular season, on a 3-2-1 system open to all contracted NRL and NRLW players for their respective competition. 

Kelly’s award was also her first, following a year in which she shifted from fullback to the halves and then to centre for the Roosters.

The NSW State of Origin star was expected to feature prominently in the Dally M race last week, but was outgunned by her Roosters teammate Olivia Kernick.

But in the eyes of the players, Kelly has now risen to No.1 in the women’s game after a season in which she broke the line nine times and averaged 198 metres per game.

She won the players’ award ahead of fellow finalists Kernick, Parramatta’s Abbi Church, Brisbane’s Julia Robinson and Newcastle’s Tamika Upton. 

“Looking at the calibre of players who have won this award before is super special for me,” Kelly said. 

“Being voted by the wider playing group is something that I am honoured with and I’m really grateful for all the girls who voted for me.”

“When you look at those (previous winners), they’ve been pioneers within our women’s game. 

“To be alongside them and have my name with theirs is a massive honour and something I don’t take very lightly and something that I am super proud of.”

Written by: Scott Bailey © AAP

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2020 grand final of little use to Storm now: Bellamy

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Storm Coach, Craig Bellamy says there is nothing but “nice memories” to take from Melbourne’s 2020 NRL premiership win as he leads the new-look Storm into the grand-final rematch against Penrith.

Rarely in the ensuing four seasons have triple-reigning premiers Penrith been as comprehensively outplayed as they were by the Storm in the 2020 decider.

Playing his last match, NRL great Cameron Smith skippered the Storm to a 26-0 lead early in the second half, with the side eventually holding on for a 26-20 win and fourth premiership.

Fuelled by their heartbreak, the Panthers twice eliminated the Storm from finals in the years that followed, before the two undisputed best sides of 2024 booked in a grand-final date for Sunday.

But while much has been made of roster changes undergone at Penrith over the past four years, the Storm have been undergoing their own regeneration.

Just four players from the Storm’s 2020 grand final team – Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Christian Welch – will face Penrith at Accor Stadium.

And while Penrith’s squad is now largely comprised of players who came through their famous junior nursery, nine of the Storm’s 17 were recruited after the 2020 triumph.

“I was just looking at the last team we had in a grand final in 2020. Nine of those 18 played against us this year,” Bellamy said.

“Having lost them and obviously Cameron (Smith) being the big loss, our side has changed a lot in four years. It’s changed a heap.”

Newly-minted Dally M Medallist Hughes, wily five-eighth Munster and athletic fullback Papenhuyzen were all in the spine on grand final day in 2020, with the last of that trio winning the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match.

But with Smith still the chief architect at the time, Bellamy said the team had undergone a shift since 2020, and was quick to point out injuries had meant the current spine was only just clicking into gear. 

“It’s a different era with those guys,” he said.

“These guys are just basically starting together. They’ve still got a bit to go, to be quite honest.”

While Sunday’s fixture marks only the second grand final rematch of the NRL era, Bellamy is looking at the two deciders as separate from one another.

“Four years is a long time in life, four years is a real long time in footy,” he said.

“At the end of the day, that was a great result for us back then but I can hardly remember it to be quite honest. 

“What’s important is now. In the past, they’re nice memories, but halfway through next week we’d like to have a nice memory of what happens (on Sunday) too.”

Written by: Jasper Bruce © AAP

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