What a surprise the staff got when they arrived to work in the morning and saw a newly hatched blue-winged kookaburra chick sitting in the incubator. Not everything goes to plan at the Nature Park and this was the case with our resident pair of Bluewinged Kookaburras. After laying their eggs in a hollow log on the ground, we normally allow the parent to incubate and raise their offspring but unfortunately with the heavy rains one of the eggs was damaged and it was decided to remove the last remaining egg. Luckily the Nature Park is equipped to care for fertile eggs and artificially incubate the egg. After looking at the egg through a strong light and confirming it was fertile the egg was incubated for the necessary 23-25 days until a fully formed chick developed inside and hatched out during the early hours of the morning. The chick has now moved to a humid crib where the staff hand feed the chick every 3 hours with special food ensuring it receives the necessary dietary needs and is gaining weight. Once it has all its feathers and can fly we will look at introducing it to its original parents and allow them to bond as a family.

The end may be in sight for thousands of Australians stranded overseas as the international border reopens next week and, after 20 months of being shut out, some still feel abandoned. Quarantine requirements will no longer apply to fully vaccinated international travellers from November 1, when New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT allow free inbound and outbound movement. That means vaccinated travellers can fly internationally, to and from these states,  without needing an exemption to leave Australia and, upon their return, they can walk off the plane without quarantining. Unvaccinated travellers will still face quarantine restrictions. Australia's re-entry into the wider world has expats in tears of relief as they race to book tickets home after the ordeal of flight cancellations and missed family connections. [caption id="attachment_16377" align="aligncenter" width="944"] Gauri and Peter Davies with their children.(Supplied: Peter Davies)[/caption] Listed as vulnerable by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), expats Gauri and Peter Davies have been trying to return home from London without any luck. They're now booked on a flight to Sydney next week to introduce their new baby son to their family. "We cried," Ms Davies told 7.30. "We were so happy when we heard the news, but we're still cautious because we have commercial tickets, and commercial tickets can get cancelled." "It's certainly been, I would say, the hardest last couple of years of our lives," Mr Davies added. SOURCE: ABC NEWS

In light of the recent surge IN Delta Variant cases, 53 students of Dirima Primary School in Gumine of Simbu Province have all been masked up for the Grade Eight National Examinations which started off on Monday this week. The white masks were supplied to the students and the invigilators by Dirima Catholic Parish Priest, Fr Peter Kim (SVD) on Sunday after blessing the grade eight examination papers. Fr Peter Kim received close to 10,000 authentically designed and made face masks from his friends in South Korea where he is originally from. Fr Kim said he distributed the masks to his parishioners and the surrounding communities in Dirima and also disbursed them to others from Kundiawa Catholic Diocese and the SVD confrences. He said he received the masks mid this year from his friends who paid all costs involved. He also said with support from his parish council, fabric material were bought and with the help of volunteers close to 1,000 face masks were locally sewn and distributed to the Catholic communities which included three agency schools in the parish. When others chose to leave, Fr Kim remained steadfast in his awareness and education approaches in preventing the spread of Covid-19 in Dirima and the surrounding communities. He said the new normal strategies have been applied in his Church on Sundays and he is limiting Church programs and activities as a part of the new normal. Officer-in-Charge of Gumine Health Centre, George Umba said his health facility, which is two kilometres away from Dirima, has recorded 17 cases so far in the last two weeks of which three patients have died. Mr Umba said there is community transmissions happening in Gumine currently and he is expecting to see more patients coming in to the health centre. Meanwhile, the district Covid-19 mobile team that has conducted vaccinations has jabbed 200 people in Dirima with the Johnson & Johnson (JJ) vaccinations a week ago. Team leader Sr Serah Kaile said in Dirima 200 people have been vaccinated and currently the team is awaiting more vaccines to come in before they move into other communities in Gumine.

Minister for Forests and Namatanai MP Walter D. Schnaubelt took the lead in his ministry to purchase six Air- Sanitisers for the PNG Forest Authority offices and the ministerial office. In a bid to help reduce the spread of bacteria and virus including COVID-19, Minister Schnaubelt purchased the air-sanitisers using his personal funds which were distributed to all the offices. During the presentation yesterday he explained how the air sanitiser works and its operations. He added that he has also put one in his home and encouraged the officers to utilise the machines to reduce the spread of covid-19. He said covid-19 is real and here to stay and that measures must be carried out to prevent any further spread of the pandemic. The picture shows Minister Schnaubelt presenting the air sanitiser to the PNGFA Managing Director John Mosoro and looking on are the senior management officers and staff.  

THE United Kingdom Emergency Medical Team(EMT) has been deployed to Western Highlands, one of the worst affected in this wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team left for Mt Hagen this morning where they will be for six weeks unless they are needed in another province as well. At a press conference yesterday, Police Commissioner and Controller of the National Pandemic Response Mr David Manning welcomed the team on behalf of the PNG Government, saying PNG is facing significant challenges in the current COVID-19 pandemic and was grateful for the support from the UK EMT. [caption id="attachment_16355" align="aligncenter" width="666"] British High Commissioner Keith Scott (in red necktie) looks on during an address to the media.[/caption] “UK EMT will be deployed to Mt Hagen in the Western Highlands. It is in dire need of specialist assistance. From the NCC, we are grateful for this assistance from the British Government,’’ he said. He also acknowledged the presence of the Australian Assistance Medical Team in the country. Mr Manning said the UK EMT team was being deployed to Western Highlands because of the dire situation in that province, but the situation in other provinces are also being monitored and help will be sent there if this is needed. [caption id="attachment_16356" align="aligncenter" width="669"] UK EMT Team Lead Peter Sykes[/caption] He said PNG has its own domestic EMT that has been responding to the surges in the provinces in the past two months but has its limitations thus the government sought help from its foreign friends, including the British Government.   British High Commissioner to PNG Keith Scott thanked PNG for the warm welcome on behalf of the UK EMT. He said since the outbreak begun almost two years ago, the British High Commission has tried to respond to requests for help from the PNG Government which included helping with awareness on the Niupela Pasin; helped St John Ambulance with some infrastructure development in Port Moresby; provided US$500, 000 worth of medical equipment in response to the last wave of COVID-19 and is delighted that its help to PNG is being taken to an extra level with the arrival of UK Emergency Medical Team. [caption id="attachment_16357" align="aligncenter" width="533"] Police Commissioner and Controller of the National Pandemic Response Mr David Manning[/caption] “It’s a chance for the British medical expertise equipped to the best use here in PNG. It’s not only about dealing with a surge of COVID-19 cases of the Western Highlands but I’m also hoping there’s also some capacity building here, that the team will leave behind a legacy, and will help put the COVID-19 system on a sure footing to be able to be more resilient in the way it responds to such crisis in future,’’ said Mr Scott. “I know the team are desperate to get in and do what they have to do, make a difference on the ground. Thank you for the warm welcome and for the opportunity to help a good friend in Papua New Guinea.’’ The UK EMT Team Lead Peter Sykes thanked PNG for the warm welcome and the opportunity to serve the people of PNG. He said his team will be providing urgent care to seriously and critically ill patients; ensuring with PNG colleagues adequate infection prevention and control measures to stop further spread of the disease; and supporting community engagement strategies to reduce the spread of the virus. “We are proud to represent the UK Emergency Medical Team in Papua New Guinea, grateful for the support of the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, and will do all we can to support PNG’s efforts to fight this pandemic and bring it under control. Our expert team will be providing critical medical care to patients suffering with COVID-19 and support to national health staff, already engaged in coping with the rapid spread of a third wave of the virus.’’

Five (5) students from a remote primary school in the Gumine District, Simbu Province are among the 137,769 Grade 8 students around the country sitting their final examinations this week. Nondri Primary School is one of the most remote schools in the Gumine District quietly sitting its final examinations as the 5 students sit day three of the exams which is General Skills today and will conclude with the rest of the grade 8's tomorrow with the last paper, English paper 2. Gumine school inspector, Michael Sipa said over 300 plus grade eight students from 24 primary schools in the Gumine District are among students sitting the examination, with Nondri Primary School having its 5 students; two females and three males also go through this week. Mr Sipa also visited the schools earlier this week urging the students and the invigilators to stay safe from Covid-19 during the exam week. He said all schools in the district have reported no hiccups except for Omkolai Primary which reported one sick student who will not sit for the examinations. Meanwhile 53 grade eight students of Dirima Primary School also in Gumine District, also joined the rest of their colleagues around the country starting on Monday. Head-teacher Mr Jack Gena in welcoming the invigilators, Mrs Pauline Ninkama and Mr Elias Ule to supervise the students said the students have come through many challenges over the past seven years to the day they sit for their examinations. Mr Gena said recently the students have been disturbed with the Covid-19 pandemic and acknowledged them for their perseverance in attending classes through to the time of the week of their examinations. He said the Corona virus is here to stay and after their examinations the students must remain vigilant in preventing transmissions to families and community in Dirima. Dirima Catholic parish priest, Fr. Peter Kim after the blessing of the examination papers on Sunday also supplied face masks, originally donated by his friends in South Korea of close to 10, 000, to the students to wear, while sitting for their exams. Picture sourced: devpolicy.com

Marie Stopes Papua New Guinea (MSPNG) has extended its support to the family and friends of its employees, transporting them from their homes to facilities in Port Moresby to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The initiative was launched to support the government’s ‘Sleeves Up’ COVID-19 vaccination campaign. MSPNG Country Director Dr David Ayres said “our staff has been 100 percent vaccinated since July, and that has definitely helped us weather this third wave. But we think we can do more to protect our families and friends.” “We know that many people remain hesitant about getting vaccinated, and this small contribution might help them make the decision to get the shot that could save their life.” MSPNG started its first pick up and drop off for families on Wednesday, 20th October 2021. Natasha Kedamwana, an accountant from the Auditor General’s Office (AGO) of Papua New Guinea, was one of the first people to embrace this service. “Employer of the year!” she excitedly said. “I have never come across an organisation providing this kind of service for family and friends. For a while I was thinking of getting vaccinated, but with work and stuff I didn't have the time to get it. Transportation is difficult because of where I live.” She said it was coincidental that her office went on lock down the day she saw a Facebook post from her sister who works with MSPNG that the transportation service was available. “I quickly communicated with her to put my name down on the list,” she said. “I want to protect myself and the people around me. At first, I had doubts about getting vaccinated but upon reading and watching what is happening around the world, and facts about this deadly virus, I came to an understanding that I should get vaccinated.” “I think it is very kind of Marie Stopes PNG to be reaching out to the wider community that way. Helping people get vaccinated goes a long way. You help one person, you're also helping a family, community, and the country in keeping each other safe.” More family and friends are scheduled to be vaccinated this week.

Japan's Princess Mako has married her college sweetheart Kei Komuro - thus losing her royal status. Under Japanese law, female imperial family members forfeit their status upon marriage to a "commoner" although male members do not. She also skipped the usual rites of a royal wedding and turned down a payment offered to royal females upon their departure from the family. She is the first female member of the royal family to decline both. The couple are expected to move to the US - where Mr Komuro works as a lawyer - after marriage. The move has drawn inevitable comparisons with British royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, earning the newlyweds the nickname "Japan's Harry and Meghan". Like Ms Markle, Mr Komuro has come under intense scrutiny since his relationship with Ms Mako was announced. He was most recently criticised for sporting a ponytail when he returned to Japan. Some tabloid newspapers and social media users felt his hairstyle - seen as unconventional in Japan - was unbecoming of someone set to marry a princess. There was also a protest on Tuesday against the couple's marriage. In a press conference on Tuesday, Ms Mako said she apologised for any trouble brought to people by her marriage. "I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused and I am grateful for those... who have continued to support me," she said, according to an NHK report. "For me, Kei is irreplaceable - marriage was a necessary choice for us." Mr Komuro added that he loved Ms Mako and wanted to spend his life with her. "I love Mako. We only get one life, and I want us to spend it with the one we love," said Mr Komuro according to an AFP report. "I feel very sad that Mako has been in a bad condition, mentally and physically, because of the false accusations." Princess Mako left her Tokyo residence at around 10:00 local time on Tuesday (01:00 GMT) to register her marriage, bowing several times to her parents, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko. She also hugged her younger sister before she left, news outlet Kyodo reported. There has been excessive media coverage around the couple over the years, which has caused the princess to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, the Imperial Household Agency (IHA) had earlier said. Her relationship has been met with controversy in the country. On Tuesday, people were pictured protesting against the marriage in a Japanese park. Many slogans appeared to bring up financial issues around Mr Komuro's family - specifically his mother. The former princess got engaged to Mr Komuro in 2017 and the two were set to wed the following year. But the marriage was delayed following claims Mr Komuro's mother had financial problems - she had reportedly taken a loan from her ex-fiancé and not paid him back. The palace denied the delay was linked to this, though Crown Prince Fumihito said it was important for the money issues to be dealt with before the couple got married. According to the BBC's Tokyo correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, the real reason for the animosity towards Mr Komuro seems to be among some conservative Japanese who believe he is not a worthy partner for a niece of the emperor. Mr Komuro - who has received a job offer from a top New York law firm - comes from humble origins, and local tabloids have spent years digging dirt on his family, including the allegations against his mother. SOURCE: BBC NEWS

Paradise Foods Limited has re-committed its K150, 000 per annum sponsorship with AFL PNG to sponsor the Smart Start Niukick Program for another 3 years. AFL PNG Chairman Ekonia Peni and Paradise Company Interim Group CEO Ben Wong virtually signed the contract between the two parties last Wednesday. The virtual signing was witnessed by PFL Group Manager Marketing, Roger Harwood, Sponsorships & Promotions Manager Nicola Ani and virtually by Pacific AFL Development Manager Ben Drew. Wong said Paradise Foods is happy to continue its sponsorship of the Niukick Program as it is a professionally run sport that spoke to 80,000 children in the country in 2019 and 18,000 more since the outbreak of COVID-19. The Smart Start NiuKick program is run throughout the country in schools, communities, churches focusing on kids aged between 7 – 15yrs teaching basic skills for the sport and also on basic hygiene habits, following the Niupela Pasin measures. A significant change to the Sponsorship is the change from the emNAU Biscuit brand to the Smart Start Breakfast Biscuit brand. Paradise Foods Group Manager Marketing Roger Harwood said that this made sense as the brand speaks to the same target market. Pacific AFL Development Manager Ben Drew thanked Paradise Foods Limited for their continued support of the Niukick Program and looks forward to getting the Smart Start Niukick Program into many communities throughout Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea top referee David Yereboinen will leave for Qatar tomorrow to attend a FIFA seminar. The 30-year-old is among the 52 fellow match officials from around the world who have been selected to take part in the FIFA Referee Seminar from 1-5 November 2021. The seminar is part of the preparation programme and selection process for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Yereboinen says his inclusion is reward for the hard work and commitment he has made to excelling as a referee. The PNG top referee is a regular face at OFC tournaments – he also once officiates as a fourth official at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland in 2019. Yareboinen, who was added to the list of prospective referees for Qatar 2022 in March, says he is keen for his journey to act as an example for his fellow match officials in Papua New Guinea. If successful in being confirmed for Qatar 2022, Yareboinen will become the first Papua New Guinean referee to officiate in the FIFA Men’s World Cup. “It’s a blessing I’d say to be selected to attend the seminar, it was really hard to get up there but through commitment and hard work towards what you want to achieve,” Yareboinen said. “In refereeing we need to stay focused and not give up hope as opportunities are there for the taking. He said he was privileged and blessed to go out there and represent the country and his fellow referees. “I would like to encourage my fellow referees in the country to do not give up, knowing there is a pathway to reach big events and ultimately your full potential,” he says. “Refereeing is all about respect; we respect the players and in return they respect us. Anything is possible, if you believe in yourself, stay committed and focused you can reach your dream.” PNGFA head of referee Jimmy Warai say it is great to see a representative from PNG attending the seminar. “It is an honour to have one of our local referees selected to participate in the FIFA Seminar as part of the referee selection process for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. “It shows the potential our referees can achieve, if we continue to work hard,” “David has set the pace and I encourages everyone to follow his footstep to achieve your dream,” Warai said. The FIFA Referee Seminar will be held from 1-5 November in Qatar. SOURCE: PNGFA

Cities are responsible for some 70 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban greenhouse gas emissions. In supporting this global call for a carbon-free World, starting with our Nation’s Capital, Port Moresby Nature Park’s nursery houses hundreds of tree seedlings, ready for planting. The Park through its Trees4Life initiative supports the nation’s capital by supplying tree seedlings, creating more green spaces for residents to enjoy in the future. Since 2020, the Park has provided over 10,000 tree seedlings for planting around the city. It is a collective responsibility by all citizens to ensure the future of our natural environment and you too can help us play your part by creating more ‘Green’ to reduce carbon emissions into the environment by planting trees or maintaining the natural environment that you have around you now. The ‘Trees for Life’ initiative is supported by the global NGO Cities 4Forests and One Tree Planted, the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, the British High Commission, Rotary Club of Port Moresby and Skal Port Moresby. With continuous environmental issues affecting many societies today, the work of Port Moresby Nature Park will be even more important as we advocate, protect and conserve PNG’s Wildlife and Natural Environment.

A special custom ceremony to release the name of the late Miriam Tinkoris to be used on the newly built Tinkoris Medical Centre was held on the 23rd of October at Ngosngos-Nokon ples, in the Matalai LLG of Namatanai District. Son and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan was present alongside his clans men to witness and accept the transition of his mother’s name into immortality through the naming of his peoples Medical centre after his dear mother. “Our Clan Koris gave birth to your mother, if it wasn’t for her you would never be born. We now officially hand over the use of her name to your Government. This stone represents our clan handing over the name Tinkoris for you to use,” said clansmen Daniel Tuagon. Sir J gladly excepted the ceremonial gesture from his mother’s clan stating with the Medical Centre named after his mother her spirit would look after anyone that sought care and attention there. “ You will now all be in safe hands because my mother will be watching over you and taking care of you when you visit the Tinkoris Hospital. Thank you for releasing her name to all of New Ireland,” said Sir J. Pigs and garden food along with mis and money were also presented to the clan as a token of appreciation. Sir J will be travelling to Rabaul on Friday 29th October in preparation for his mother’s 47th death anniversary. This will be after he attends to the official launch of WASH Program duties on Djaul Island on Thursday. Sir J has never failed to visit his mother’s gravesite since her passing on the 30th of October 1974. His mother, Miriam Tinkoris Chin hailed from the Matalai LLG in the Namatanai district of New Ireland province. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She died around age 64. He attributes his political character and endurance to her, stating she is the reason he continues to serve this Country and Province.