Accolades flowed yesterday as family, friends and colleagues of veteran Journalist late Oseah Philemon, OBE, said their last goodbyes.
About 300 people turned up for the funeral service at the Sione Kami Memorial church in Port Moresby to pay their last respects. The coffin of late Philemon spent the early part of the morning at the Post-Courier head office at Lawes Road for staff to pay their last respects. The hearse was then brought up the Poreporena Freeway to the church for the service.
A close friend in former Defence Force Commanders General Jerry Singirok, said the Late Oseah Philemon " had raised the benchmark in journalism" and it was now up to the upcoming younger generation to uphold and carry the profession of Journalism.
PNG Media Council chairman, Alexander Rheeney said the passing of two veteran Journalist’s " Susuve Laumaea who died on Monday Dec 20 and the passing of Oseah Philemon four days later on Christmas Eve, was a big shock to the media industry." On Oseah Philemon, Rheeney said he was a true fighter and mentor to many your Journalists who are in various organisation. He told the gathering that a vacuum had been left and it was now up to the new generation of media workers to carry the profession forward.
The casket of Late "OP" overnighted at Funeral Homes, and will depart today for Lae, his home city, where another funeral will be held before he is finally laid to rest at his village of Labu, beyond the mouth of the mighty Markham River.
May you rest in peace Oh great One, OP.