After her husband passed away in 2015, Noelyn Wati decided to become a teacher. Teaching was one way for the 40-year-old to support her children and others in the Kokoda Track region of Central Province, and to help her and her family cope with the loss. She took up short courses through the Seventh Day Adventist community-based program, and in 2018 started as a volunteer at Bisiatabu Primary School in Sogeri. “I always encouraged my eldest son to continue his studies when he lost hope after the death of his father,” Noelyn recalled. “but I felt I had to do more than just stay at home and talk.” “The short courses helped me to understand the basics of teaching elementary students and I enjoy seeing them learn and grow which also gives me confidence to grow in this profession.” Noelyn wanted to continue learning to improve as a teacher. In 2019 she received a scholarship, through the Kokoda Initiative, to access flexible, open and distance education (FODE) to achieve her high school qualifications. Australia, through the Kokoda Initiative, has supported forty teachers and health workers in the Kokoda Track region to undertake alternative education pathways like FODE. When the PNG Government’s 1-6-6 schooling structure comes into place, teachers will need formal education qualifications and Noelyn is prepared to take on that challenge and become a fully-fledged teacher like her two older siblings. She completed her grades 10 and 11 qualifications at the Kokoda Track Foundation FODE College in Northern Province, and is now studying for grade 12 at the FODE centre in Port Moresby. In 2022, Noelyn expects to be one of the 17 FODE students – teachers, health workers and village health volunteers – to graduate from year 12. “I am so determined to do well to achieve an official position as a teacher listed in the National Education System,” she said. In her current teaching role, she is benefiting from other Kokoda Initiative support to her education, including teacher in-service training and work to strengthen school governance which are providing a boost to teaching quality and student learning outcomes. Noelyn was among a group of 30 elementary teachers who recently completed phonics modules as part of their school in-service training this year to improve literacy lesson planning and student learning. Through the Kokoda Initiative, Australia supports more than 200 teachers at 19 primary schools and 41 elementary schools across the Kokoda Track region. The Kokoda Initiative in partnership with Central and Northern Provincial education authorities also supports school inspections, teacher assessments and provision of standards-based curricula to schools to ensure the quality of teaching and learning.

They leave their families at home, go to work at the hospital, the epic centre of the current COVID-19 surge in the Eastern Highlands Province. Doctors and Nurses of the Goroka Hospital risk their lives every day since the surge started in early September, hoping they don’t take the virus back to their families. Some have managed to come this far without contracting the virus, but it was unfortunate for one doctor who tested positive to COVID-19 and passed it on to his mother and his 7-year-old son at home. Dr David Nangen, a surgeon at the hospital and his wife who also works at the surgical ward both contracted the virus unknowingly, took it home and infected the two very people they have been trying to protect from the virus. An emotional Dr Nangen said it was a very stressful and difficult time for him and his wife when they found out that their 7-year-old son also tested positive to COVD-19. He said he watched COVID-19 patients collapsing and dying in front of him back at the hospital and he took it hard on himself knowing that he passed the virus to his son. “As parents, we try to protect our children from all harm and for me trying to fully grasp the fact that I took the virus home and passed it to my son was painfully hard for me to bear.” “I was stressed and traumatised for days because I was already witnessing the full extent of what COVID-19 was doing to people and I didn’t think that someone I truly cared and loved would contract the virus., said Dr Nangen. He said he has been working in the hospital for 16 years and he has never experienced such stress and trauma until recently. The whole family are currently isolating at home, recovering slowly from the virus. Dr Nangen said he is grateful that his family have been brought up in the church so when the worst happened to them, they prayed together, and they are all recovering well from home.

The Eastern Highlands Province will be going into lockdown as of tomorrow the 11th of October to the 26th of October. Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu and the Provincial COVID-19 Controller John Gimiseve made the announcement over the weekend following the COVID-19 surge in the province that has spread to all eight districts in the province killing many people. Mr Gimiseve said though the lockdown will start on Monday, it will be effective as of Wednesday with all eight districts restricted from coming into Goroka town except for essential services. "By Wednesday, there will be a total lockdown of intra provincial movement." "The eight districts will be kept at bay." “There will be roadblocks set up by police between districts so for the next two weeks, movements in and out of districts will not happen.” “All public transport will stop by Wednesday, no travelling back and forth from the upper Highlands down to the Coast and vice versa.” “For those that live within Goroka town should take note that few of the essential shops will open from 8am-2pm only and you can only access those shops between that time, followed by curfew after 2pm.” “We have asked shop owners within the town area to scale down their staff to below 20 as per the national directives from the Controller.” As for schools, the Grade Eight, Ten and Twelve students are the only students that will be allowed to attend classes as they have exams coming up while the rest of the students remain at home. “That also creates more space in the schools and also we cannot stop these lot of students from going to school as they have exams coming up.” Mr Gimiseve said they will be issuing exemption passes for essential services only. "Essential services include medical evacuation for vehicles that are moving sick people around, shop owners back in the districts that need to restock their store goods and big cargo trucks that need to pass through Goroka." He said shop owners in the province should start applying to the Provincial Police Commander to obtain their exemption passes before Wednesday. Cargo moving vehicles will also be issued exemption passes and their drivers will be tested at the checkpoints before they pass through Goroka. “The drivers of the cargo vehicles are no different from the public, they will be tested at the two check points.” “One check point will be on the Eastern End which will be down at Kassam Yonki and the other checkpoint will be at the Western End which will be at Chimbu Eastern Highlands boarder,” said Gimiseve. As for the airlines, they will be allowed to operate with the provincial COVID-19 surveillance team to step up on testing at the airport upon arrivals. Mr Gimiseve said they will stop flights from coming in if they do detect the virus from the passengers. He said all the police officers in the province have been tasked to carry out surveillance and security during this lockdown therefore, minor crimes will not be entertained except for major crimes. “All police have been deployed to do this, therefore our Goroka police station will only deal with serious matters such as, rape, armed robbery and murder, all the other cases will have to wait until situation is back to normal.” The Police officers will all be tested for COVID-19 and only those with negative results will be allowed to be part of the lockdown surveillance team. Mr Gimiseve said as much as possible, they don’t want to restrict people from moving around however, it is unfortunate that the virus is moving with people from one place to another. “We want people to move around freely but unfortunately when the move, they move with the virus.” “The virus is not something we can physically hold and deal with it separately from the human beings.” “In order to kill the virus, we have to deal with carriers.” He said a postmortem will be done after the two weeks lockdown to assess the situation and if there is no improvement then drastic actions will be taken. “If it goes from bad to worse then we will just say that Eastern Highlands will be closed to the rest of the world for whatever period that would be deemed necessary,” said Mr Gimiseve.

Tyson Fury needed to dance with the most dangerous man in heavyweight boxing three times, with the third outing the most legendary, to finally put the rivalry to bed. Fury knocked out Deontay Wilder in the eleventh round of their Las Vegas epic; a fight that saw both fighters knocked down multiple times before the WBC champion of the world found the killer blow. A third fight that many in the boxing world didn’t want to see — due to the ease in which Fury won the second — was ultimately the best heavyweight war we’ve seen in a very long time. Despite coming out with a calculated aggression, Wilder hit the deck in the third, and looked certain for another early defeat. Then, it was Fury’s turn to taste canvas; dropping twice in the fourth round as the American found a home for that right hand that has ended so many fights. But like he did in their classic first go-around back in 2018, Fury got up. And in the middle rounds, was able to assert himself in the fight. Wilder looked gassed, but always one punch away from flipping the script. The hard-hitting former champion of the world ate right hand after right hand from Fury, and answered with his own bombs, before it eventually became too much. Fury sent Wilder crashing back to the canvas in the 10th round. But that wasn’t the end, as Wilder, who wanted to go out on his shield in the sequel, somehow got back to his feet. No, the end came in the 11th as a looping Fury right hand with Wilder against the ropes saw the tall American timber finally topple as referee Russell Mora waved off the fight. Fury was ahead on the scorecards 95-91 x 2, 94-92. The two heavyweights fought to a bruising draw in their first fight in Los Angeles in 2018, when Fury came back from the dead. Fury then defeated Wilder in February last year via a seventh-round knockout that ended Wilder’s five-year reign as WBC champion. SOURCE: FOX SPORTS

International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced the composition of its Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXV Olympiad after electing Brisbane 2032 as Olympic and Paralympic host last July in Tokyo. Five-time Olympian and two-time Olympic champion in swimming Kirsty Coventry, from Zimbabwe, will chair the Commission. The most decorated Olympian from her continent, Coventry was the Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, and in this capacity a member of the IOC Executive Board, from 2018 until earlier this year, when the IOC Session in Tokyo approved the change of her IOC membership status to Individual Member. Sixty-six per cent of the Brisbane 2032 Coordination Commission members are women, with the number of female chairs of IOC Commissions now 12 out of 30. The Olympic Games Brisbane 2032 are the first to have been elected under, and to have fully benefited from, the new flexible approach to electing Olympic hosts. The new approach encourages sustainable Olympic projects that fit into long-term regional and national strategies while delivering the best possible Games experience. With an average age of 48, and with the addition of more recently-elected IOC members, the Commission members will also bring a fresh perspective to the preparations. IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Kirsty Coventry is leading an exciting new generation of IOC members in this Commission. As a double Olympic gold medallist and a former IOC Executive Board member, she has all the experience for this important task.  The Commission will cooperate closely with the Organising Committee to deliver together sustainable and economically responsible Olympic Games.  These will be an exciting experience for the athletes and the fans, and have a solid legacy fully aligned with the IOC reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020+5.” Commission Chair Coventry added: “It is a great honour to be chosen to lead the Coordination Commission for Brisbane 2032. As a five-time Olympian and former Chair of the Athletes’ Commission, I will always put athletes at the heart of these Games. Brisbane 2032 has an exciting concept which will deliver a great legacy for the region and the country, but most importantly it will deliver great Games for the athletes and for the fans.  Working with such a dynamic Coordination Commission, we can help the organisers with our energy and experience to bring their ideas to life.” As usual, the Commission will be made up of other IOC members who are not on the Executive Board, with representatives of the athletes, International Federations, National Olympic Committees and the International Paralympic Committee. In addition to the Chair and Vice-Chair, there are two members from each continent. Other members might be added to the current core composition over the next 11 years until the Games. The composition of the IOC Coordination Commission Brisbane 2032 is as follows: Chair Kirsty COVENTRY (ZIM) Vice-Chair Anita L. DEFRANTZ (USA) Members Princess Reema BANDAR AL-SAUD (KSA) Dagmawit Girmay BERHANE (ETH) William Frederick BLICK (UGA) Mikaela COJUANGCO JAWORSKI (PHI) Andrew PARSONS (BRA) Federica PELLEGRINI (ITA) Camilo PEREZ LOPEZ MOREIRA (PAR) Auvita RAPILLA (PNG) Jean-Christophe ROLLAND (FRA) Baklai TEMENGIL (PLW)

October 5th is observed around the world as World Teacher’s Day. To most, teachers have been our second parents and our comfort when we’re away from home. A teacher is formally an educator – any person that helps another person acquire knowledge and learn new things. Here at Port Moresby Nature Park, we have a group of amazing educators who over the years have played a massive role in educating thousands of school children about the environment, our culture and its people through various educational topics under their weekly curriculum-based lesson plans. The Park takes this time to thank its Education Team, led by Ms Shirley Mogi for their tireless efforts in carrying out the Park’s mission of educating people and connecting them to wildlife through the natural environment & cultural connections to provide understanding and inspire actions for wildlife conservation and sustainability outcomes. Thank you to all you teachers and educators out there who educate today for a better future

Extended lockdowns are crushing news for businesses as many battle for survival, and more government support is needed, industry figures say. Northland plunged back into alert level 3 restrictions overnight, parts of Waikato remain in level 3, and Auckland is entering its ninth week in either level 3 or 4 restrictions. On Monday, the government released its plan to ease restrictions, but critics slammed it as confusing and lacking a timeframe. Retail New Zealand chief executive Greg Harford said the moves to Level 3 lockdowns were devastating news for retailers in Northland and Waikato. This time last year the agency said more than 10 percent of the country's retailers were not sure they could survive the next 12 months - now a third of retailers had doubts they'd make it through another year, Harford said. "The ongoing lockdowns, including the new Auckland 'Roadmap' are causing economic carnage," Harford said. "Many Auckland retailers are already on the brink of disaster after seven weeks of lockdown, businesses in the Waikato and Northland will be bracing themselves after the expansion of level 3 restrictions. ''As the level 3 area continues to expand, businesses further south are asking if their regions will be next. In addition to more financial support for businesses, he wanted to see more firmness in the vaccine programme. "The most important thing the government needs to do is to set a date whereby everyone needs to be vaccinated, and work towards that so we can start stepping out of alert levels. "Part of that is around giving businesses the tools to be able to put vaccine policies and other provisions in place for their workforces without running the risk of a personal grievance from an employee." The restrictions in Northland remain in place until just before midnight on Tuesday, and are to be reviewed by Cabinet on Monday. The head of Auckland's business group said she had real concerns for the future of some businesses. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said businesses were desperate and need clarity. "They need clear border policy, clear vaccination targets, and a framework to give them guidance around how that will work. "They need a commitment to additional financial support, and basically there's no timeframes." She said business need as much certainty as possible, and that should come from the government. But so far those affected by Auckland's ongoing restrictions had not been given the support they need. They especially needed to know when and how they would be able to start to safely operate. "We are dealing now with a situation now where we've got vaccinations, and so we should be able to give them a clear timeframe, we should have a clear target around vaccination rates and when they're going to be able to trade in a fair and reasonable way." Harford said while those in regions directly affected by the lockdowns were effected the worse, retailers throughout the country were feeling the impact. "We were really quite surprised last year at the resilience of the sector, but as we're seeing more and more lockdowns it is getting harder and harder." SOURCE: RNZ NEWS

At least 9 to 15 people die from COVID-19 on a daily basis at the Goroka Hospital as reported by the Sister in Charge of the isolation ward Sr Lynette Babah. The Eastern Highlands Province is going into an immediate lockdown as of Monday the 11th of October to the 28th October as bodies continue to pile up in two containers located outside the morgue for COVID-19 related deaths. CEO of the hospital Dr Joseph Apa announced this morning that the virus has also claimed the lives of three of his staff since the surge began. Health officers continue to load bodies into the morgue and the coffins lined up outside the morgue by family members. Provincial COVID-19 Controller John Gimiseve said the virus travels with people and in order for them to take control of the situation, a lockdown has to happen to stop people from moving around.

The Popondetta General Hospital in Oro Province has confirmed 13 covid-19 cases this week with two of the cases being severe and admitted at the hospital. “Even though Northern Province is not a hotspot, we are still recording Covid-19 cases.” “COVID-19 is fairly new in the country and so we currently don’t have an isolation facility in the hospital for COVID-19 patients,” said former Acting CEO, Dr Touai Giara. Dr Giara said that the 13 cases were detected when they presented themselves at the hospital for testing and upon testing positive, they were advised to go into isolation with the 2 severe cases remaining at the hospital. He said that so far the hospital is operating as normal and accepting and treating all patients. At present, they have not decided yet on whether they will scale down services as the Hospital board has not met to discuss their options going forward since the confirmation of the new covid-19 cases. He added that now with the 3rd wave of COVID-19 cases been reported, people have been coming forward to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine. “Everyone is afraid of the Delta Variant which is already in the country so the turnout for people coming forward to get the vaccine has been very good.” “Both the Astra Zeneca and the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine is available for people that wish to get get the jab,” Dr Giara said. He further added that COVID-19 testing is available at the General Hospital as well as the health centres in the province.

Six villages along the Ok Tedi River will now access Tabubil safely for health, education and other services after Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML) completed the construction of the Lower Ok Tedi footbridge. The bridge, which was funded under the Ok Tedi Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme program was constructed after the old one was damaged in 2006. The bridge was officially opened by OTML Managing Director and CEO, Musje Werror last month and was witnessed by community leaders from the six villages of Kumgit, Ankit, Okteditau, Nioksikwi, Derongo, and Boungkim including other community members and staff of OTML. The project began in June after it was delayed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nioksikwi Village Councillor, Manop Deknong, said for nearly 15 years, a number of people had lost their lives trying to cross the river but can now do so safely with the new footbridge. “Planti manmeri i bin lus. Ai wara bilong mi pundaun olgeta taim. Mi askim wanem taim bai bris bilong mipela bai ol i wokim. Mi save krai kam inap nau. Nau mi hamamas long bel bilong mi, mi tok tenkyu long Ok Tedi. (Many people have died trying to cross the river and I have pleaded to have a bridge built time and time again. I am happy now and I thank Ok Tedi for providing this bridge for us to use) Star Mountain LLG Manager, George Papin Nanden, urged the locals to look after the bridge. “Displa bris nau istap long han blong yumi yet. Em yumi imas holim gut. (This bridge now belongs to us and we must all look after it),” said Nanden. During the opening, Mr Werror also called on the communities to support the OTML operations so that such community projects can continue to be delivered. “OTML is a 100% PNG owned mining company and all stakeholders including the communities have a role to play in looking after the company so that it can continue to help improve the lives of our people through such infrastructure projects,” he said. OTML has implemented over K300 million in ITCS projects across the three districts of Western Province and the Telefomin District in Sandaun Province since 1997, covering health, education, roads, water and sewerage infrastructure, bridges, jetties, and airstrips.

The general public will now be given the opportunity to be informed on the roles of key stakeholders in the upcoming 2022 National General Elections. PNG National Research Institute (PNGNRI) Acting Director Dr Osborne Sanida said the Institute is aware of the importance of the 2022 National General Elections therefore it has approved a program focusing on issues relating to election preparation, election observation and post-election governance matters. “Considering this, I have invited key agencies that have a key role to play in the effective and efficient preparation for a successful 2022 PNG National General Elections,” Dr Sanida said. “We have invited Department of Local and Provincial Government Affairs (DLPGA), the Office of the Clerk of Parliament, the Royal PNG Constabulary, National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), PNG Electoral Commission, Electoral Boundaries Commission, and the Office of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission to make presentations on their roles in preparation for a successful 2022 PNG National Elections,” Dr Sanida added. The council has resolved to engage with the PNG Electoral Commission, the Integrity of Political Parties & Candidates Commission (Registrar of Political Parties), National Broadcasting Corporation, Office of Prime Minister, Office of Opposition Leader and the National Parliament to commence the weekly Seminar Series. “We are hopeful of having these presentations throughout this month and considering the current measures on COVID-19, attendance is limited to 20 persons but going forward, we will also provide an option for online attendance through relevant online platform.” Presentations by the 46 registered political parties will be from November to December 2021 with eight political parties per week. “All political parties’ executives will be given opportunity to outline their philosophies, policies and election platforms to be followed by Party Leaders.” “This is to enable the political parties to outline and publicise their visions and polices, open up for debate and scrutiny.” “These presentations will provide much needed information for the wider public in the interest of good governance and a free and fair election,” Dr Sanida said.

The Eastern Highlands National Adventist Students Association have so far raised up to K58, 500 in their fundraising drive for the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority which will end tomorrow. These group of students came together with the idea to raise funds following the COVID-19 surge in the province that has really put a strain on hospital facilities. The Association has used some of the funds to purchase 100 oxygen cylinders already with other equipment that COVID-19 patients usually need. Team leader Hilton Tricker said they have realized that government organizations and others were not reacting quickly when the Goroka hospital was running out of oxygen, so that prompted them to come up with the fundraising drive. They are now looking at purchasing the regulators and flowmeter for the oxygen cylinders. “Oxygen cylinders without regulators and flowmeters are of no use so we discussed amongst ourselves and decided that we are going to purchase 28 flowmeters and regulators which will cost us K34,000.” said Tricker. He said donations are still flooding in from people who have been part of this association and they will utilize the remaining money to meet the hospital’s needs with whatever they collect tomorrow. Meanwhile the CEO for the EHPHA Dr Joseph Apa was pleased with the donations and praised the students for having the heart of giving.