First independence anniversary without our flag designer

The late Susan Karike-Huhume passed away on the afternoon of April 11 at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

In 1971, at the tender age of 15, the late Karike-Huhume played a major role in contributing to the identity of this country.

During that time, 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 Karike-Huhume 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 Heisi Novulu.

Unfortunately, the late Karike-Huhume passed away early this year due to an illness. At the PMGH’s intensive care unit, she slept in a narrow room with more than two beds and very little privacy.

Immediately after she was taken off life support, her body was transported to the Dove Funeral Home.

The funeral home kindly volunteered to preserve her body free-of-charge whilst funeral and burial arrangements were being made by her family and the government.

After more than three months, PNG’s iconic figure was finally laid to rest on July 28 at the Nine-Mile cemetery, outside Port Moresby.

No lavish ceremony befitting a national icon accompanied her burial. Only her family members, relatives and members of the Urban Youth Employment Project attended.

 “The flag flies all over the world,” Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, the father of this nation, once said when paying tribute to the PNG flag designer.

“I thank her and her family for the contribution she made to PNG.”

Though she had lived the life of a simple village woman, the late Karike-Huhume’s legacy will still live on.

(Loop file pic)

Related article:

She would raise it up with so much pride… http://www.looppng.com/node/56582

PNG’s flag designer in critical condition http://www.looppng.com/node/56354

‘The girl who drew’ http://www.looppng.com/node/56716

Late Huhume finally laid to rest http://www.looppng.com/node/63874