Every Independence day, she would proudly hoist her flag.
Like a proud mother gazing up in adoration at her child, the late Susan Karike Huhume would do the same as her flag fluttered in the breeze.
Heisi Novulu, Susan’s cousin sister, told Loop PNG that our country’s flag designer had spent most of her adult life at the Gordon’s Police Barracks in Port Moresby.
Her husband, Nanny Huhume, from Benabena district in Eastern Highlands Province, used to be an officer in the Royal PNG Constabulary.
“Every Independence Day, when the streets are filled with red, black and gold colours, Susan would smilingly come out with her flag as well.
“She would lovingly raise it up then look around with so much pride in her.”
In 1971, the country was preparing for independence so the government invited all Papua New Guineans to enter a designs competition to help find a PNG flag.
Sacred Heart Mission School (Yule Island) art teacher, Sister Joseph Mary, heard of the competition so she approached Susan, who was her best student that time, to design a flag.
The then 15-year-old agreed.
Four years later, the late Susan joined the newly-born country in raising our national identity on September 16, 1975.
“This simple woman from Meii Village, Gulf Province, designed this flag just to give an entity to the country,” says cousin sister and woman leader Novulu. “However, her work wasn’t given the credit it deserved.”
Novulu then started helping Susan fight for government recognition in 2000.
“In 2010, I brought Susan to a talkback show with the late Roger Hau’ofa.
“Papua New Guineans tuned in and supported Susan on the issue that she was being neglected and overlooked by the government.”
Novulu recalls taking the late Susan with her to a number of State events, just so she could rub shoulders with the authorities and hopefully, something good would come out of it.
Unfortunately, by the time Mr Huhume retired from RPNGC, nothing had changed.
Novulu continues: “Why didn’t the government recognise her by putting her on statutory bodies, so she could support her survival? Why didn’t the government give her those type of benefits?
“Susan shouldn’t be a poor woman. She should’ve been given a house to live in, her children sent to better schools, live on a pension, enjoy benefits like our retired politicians.
“Today her husband is a retired policeman while Susan was staying at a settlement at Laloki, outside Port Moresby, where she ended up having a stroke.”
Susan was rushed to the hospital last week after she fell ill. While she was there, her distraught husband and children appealed for government assistance to move her to a better health facility.
Her wantoks also staged a peaceful sit-in protest outside the hospital on Monday (April 10), urging their leaders to help the Huhumes.
Unfortunately, Susan passed away yesterday afternoon (April 11) at the Port Moresby General Hospital, in a small room with more than two beds and very little privacy.
The late designer gave us an identity. Wherever the colours of red, black and gold fly, please spare a thought for this simple village woman.
Your proud legacy will live on, Susan Karike Huhume.
(The Late Susan Karike Huhume during an interview. Picture: TVWAN)