Sunday 8 July 2007

Your PNG Reunion Committee met again on Sunday 8 July to continue planning for the 21 June 2008 Reunion to be held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Clearly there is considerable work to be done to make sure that we deliver the best function that we can and so the first steps are well and truly underway.



Of course none of us have all the ideas or answers, so we are very keen to hear from you too! So feel free to send in your suggestions - either by email to Robby or Greg, or you can post them to this Blog by making a comment. Tell us what you want in the way of a theme, entertainment, side events etc. and we will certainly take on board what you tell us. And if you have ideas for sponsorship let us know so that we can follow up. We would also like to know if you have any special skills that we can tap into to help us along the way!



While our event is being generally described as a PNG reunion we thought that we needed to identify the gathering with a catchy name - something that we can all identify with and `Bikpela Pati' came up trumps!

And we all agreed that the purpose of the `Bikpela Pati' is about connecting and celebrating with wontoks who have a common experience to share together. We see it as allowing our `tropical genes' to kick in again as we remember the good times that we shared together long taim bipo!

Since we launched with an exploratory email a couple of weeks ago, we have been very excited with the response! Not only have we started to connect with lots of people, we are also very glad to see just how active many of you are in organising your own get togethers across the country and that you have been kind enough to pass our story on through your networks. Can I ask that you continue to spread the word far and wide so that everyone who has a PNG connection hears about our `Bikpela Pati'.

We are hoping to get our own web page up and running before too long so keep your eyes and ears open! And finally I have posted a photo of your reunion committee so that you know who we are!

lukim yu
Greg Pike

Sunday 1 July 2007

Highlands International Primary School Reunion

BANZ - GOROKA - KUNDIAWA - MINJ - MT HAGEN

Lisa Adams has asked me to spread the news of a reunion coming up in September 2007:


Date: Saturday 15th September 2007
Where: The Queensland Irish Club, Brisbane
Tickets: $50/Adult & $30/Child
To help cover all costs, tickets are prepaid only and members are
asked to purchase thier tickets before 1st August 2007

BIPS & HIPS - Jean Martin: dirwaghi@hotmail.com.au
BIPS & HIPS - Lola Collins: lola.collins@defence.gov.au
GIPS - Lisa Adams: gipsreunion07@hotmail.com
KIPS - Carla Cabasug - cabasug@bigpond.net.au
MIPS - Ilma Leahy - ileahy@bigpond.net.au

Saturday 23 June 2007

News travels fast!

Since emailing news of the 2008 PNG Reunion venue and date I have been inundated with emails from far and wide! Of course that is most welcome - keep them coming!

What we need you to do now is to email in or post on the blog your comments and ideas so that we can ensure that we meet your needs as we begin the detailed planning for 21 June 2008. We would also like to encourage you to pass on the news to your wontoks so that the story of the reunion spreads to every corner of the globe!

Mipela hamamas tru long dispela bikpela pati I kamap long 2008!

Thursday 21 June 2007

Venue and date now confirmed

NEWS JUST IN!

We are now able to confirm the date and venue for the 2008 PNG Reunion!

DATE: Saturday 21 June 2008
VENUE: Gold Coast Convention Centre

Over the last few weeks the Committee looked at a number of venues across the Gold Coast and the Convention Centre was clearly the best option = best price, central location, access to transport and accommodation, quality venue and catering, and the most flexible terms.

Unfortunately, the Convention Centre had already locked in a booking over the 2008 Queens Birthday weekend (which was our preferred date) so we have moved to 21 June 2008!

So now that we are locked in ourselves, the Committee can move forward with some detailed planning.

So watch this space for more details as they unfold!

Monday 11 June 2007

Possible change to 2008 PNG Reunion dates

Since the first posting there may be a possible change to the proposed dates for the 2008 PNG Reunion due to conflicting bookings at our proposed venue. So the Reunion may not fall on the Queens Birthday weekend as has been the practice over the years, but might be held on the weekend of 21/22 June instead.

We hope to have some resolution of dates shortly and we will publish the confirmed dates ASAP.

Wednesday 6 June 2007

PNG Reunion Gold Coast - Saturday 7 June 2008

Welcome to the PNG Reunion Blog.

Lae, Moresby, Rabaul, Hagen, Goroka, Minj, Madang, Wewak, Popondetta, Wau, Bulolo.......,
and so the list goes on! These are places all so familiar to those special people who can claim to have enjoyed life in the land of the Birds of Paradise!

So what is this all about?

As someone who was born in PNG and spent much of his early life there, there is something very special about that experience that is unique and can only be shared among other special people who have enjoyed the wonderful experience of life in PNG as well. Living in PNG has a special meaning for so many people and it is a bond that is treasured and never forgotten!

As many of you reading this will know, there has been a PNG Reunion held on the Gold Coast every other year for many years. The aim of these gatherings has been to get together with old wantoks and celebrate the great life and times that we all enjoyed over many years living in PNG. Such events have been extremely popular and have polarised others into action to arrange similar events targeting specific groups of people such as the fantastic Markham Reunion organised by Wendy Clarke & Brian Zavataro last September in Brisbane, and more recently the Salamaua mob who gathered on Stradbroke for a successful celebration.

Since 1994 Paul Bolger and his team have worked tirelessly to bring you the biennial Gold Coast gathering and recently Paul's committee has decided to hand over to some `younger folk' to continue on with their excellent work. And that's where this Blog comes in!

The new team have already met a couple of times to scope the 2008 event and consists of a group of people who were pikininis during their time in PNG. The team includes Robyne Horley (President), Kelly Horley (Treasurer), Greg Pike (Secretary), and an excellent committee comprising Wendy Stockden-Brock, Leanne St George and Jenni Purdy, with openings for others who want to lend a hand. Planning is in its early stages with venues and other details still under wraps, but already there is promise of sponsorship from a brewery that many of you will recall made the best `greenie' in the world!

So enough from me for now! The PNG reunion Blog is officially launched and until we get up and running with our web page, this will be the medium for broadcasting any breaking news! Jump on and give us your comments. Add your email address if you want to be added to our address list. Spread the word to your friends and to their friends.

Let's make 2008 the best reunion yet!