Sir John Kaputin

This is a milestone not bestowed to many Papua New Guineans. An octogenarian refers to someone who is in his or her 80s.

Taken aback by the kind gesture Sir John expressed great pleasure at receiving the wonderful message for his birthday. A message that acknowledged all of Sir John’s contributions to PNG as well as a close friend of Sir Julius. 

Reflecting on history, he recollected a number of milestone achievements by Sir Julius and himself in the area of policy initiatives in finance and development during the early days of self-government. 

Kaputin, from Matupit Island in the East New Britain Province was a member of the first team from the Territory of Papua and New Guinea to take part in the British Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games) in Perth in 1962.

Kaputin and Edward Laboran were the first two athletes to be inducted into the PNG Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Laboran was PNG’s first gold medallist at the South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji in 1963.