The PNG community in Rockhampton, Australia, is preparing to host its independence celebration on September 17, to commemorate PNG’s 41st anniversary.
This, according to a community leader Austin Kipan, will be the first big celebration compared to previous years.
The community in Rockhampton is not as big as other places, with just under or about 200 people, totalling all families and friends.
But this celebration is expected to attract Papua New Guineans from towns north as far as Mackay and maybe Townsville, south as Gladstone and maybe Bundaberg and west as Blackwater and Emerald.
“We are expecting more than 200,” Kipan told Loop PNG via email.
“We would like to celebrate this special day because it means so much to us. To show that our heart is still with the rest of PNG even though we live abroad,” Kipan added.
“There will be performances like Motuan peroveta, stringband and talent shows. It’s an evening event so it’s all happening indoor.
“Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia so hopefully we satisfy everyone with lots of ‘abus’, as usual PNG way, there would be ‘bikpla kaikai – mumu’.”
Kipan furthered that the event will also educate their children as well as the Australians about the special day as some do not know the significance of the Independence from Australia.
The idea for a big celebration started when the PNG Hunters went to Rockhampton earlier this year to play the CQ Capras.
“We had a ‘fan day’ to meet and greet our Hunters and it was good to see the whole community turned up for the event. It was a successful event and we all felt homesick afterwards.”
The event, organised by the Rockhampton PNG Community and supported by CQMA (Central Queensland Multi-Cultural Association), will be held at the Allenstown State School Hall, Caroline St.