Swapping batting gloves for gardening gloves

The big village of Hanuabada, Port Moresby, is best known for two things; the iconic homes on stilts that cling to its shoreline and being the home of cricket in the Pacific nation.

These two sides of Hanuabada have been united in the face of tragedy.

Rarua Morea Gau was one ordinary Hanuabada man enjoying his favourite NRL game match on a Saturday when the fire tragedy struck.

For Rarua and the other victims, this Saturday has been one of the best since that fateful weekend.

Much of the dirty work has been done by some of PNG's most elite sportspeople who just happen to be neighbours as well.

The PNG national women's cricket team, the Lewas, and the national under-19 men's side, the Garamuts, have swapped the batting gloves for gardening gloves and are helping to clean up the mess left in the wake of the fire.

Author: 
Sophie Yaruso