Papua New Guinea Independence Day (16-9-1975) Mount Riverview, New South Wales, Australia
By thomo31 on 16-Sep-20. Waypoint GA18151

VIRTUAL EVENT to celebrate PNG Independence Day

On September 16, Papua New Guinea will celebrate 45 years independence from Australia. *** "The southern half of eastern New Guinea (the Territory of Papua) came under Australian administration in 1902, following annexation by the United Kingdom. Papua New Guinea was ruled by Australia until independence in 1975. The two countries retained close relations, with Australia supplying development aid." *** In the early 1970s, Sydney YMCA (in its Pitt Street building), opened a Recreation Centre for Papua New Guinea students & visitors to Sydney. My Dad, Rob was given the privilege of being the Director of the Centre. It was an amazing experience having a huge PNG "family" during my high school years. Most had no family Australia, and adopted us as theirs. I learnt a lot about their culture and about merging modern ideas in to the old way of life, and some pidgeon-english (although I was better at listening to it than speaking it). I did one trip to PNG during that time. *** I will always remember their Independence Day, as it was the day I got my drivers licence, before heading to the Independence Day Celebrations in Sydney. So every year on 16 September, I take the time to remember old friends. *** It hasn't been an easy independence, but it is important to remember the good times, and all the help we got on the Kokoda Trail during the war. *** There is no requirement to logging your virtual attendance at this event. *** ***I have posted some "memory photos" if you are interested. ***

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