KEITH JACKSON
MONDAY morning in Noosa was the first time Francis, Daniel, Phil, Martyn and I were able to sit down together and plan the writers’ visit in gritty detail.
But first there was an interview with Kerri Worthington of Radio Australia’s popular Pacific Beat program.
Martyn explained to Kerri that, with the Crocodile Prize now for the first time firmly in the hands of Papua New Guineans, it’s time for PNG voices to be expressed to the world.
And the Brisbane Writers Festival – where a panel of four PNG writers will present what the nation has to offer in creative and critical writing – is a major step forward in that expression of Melanesian literary culture.
“Australians generally don’t know that PNG exists,” said Martyn, “they need to hear about us. It’s amazing how an imaginary boundary in the Torres Strait creates a mental boundary between nations.
“We’re not just the Kokoda Track and we’re in Australia to make the connections that need to be made.”
Daniel Kumbon told Kerri Worthington that he’d authored three books so far and they were all designed to help people lead happy lives and to progress development.
“Our leaders are failing us who want to make our country and our lives better,” he said.
Francis Nii completed the interview by reading his poem Love and Contentment – the antidotes to world misery. It’s a poem of peace and love.
We then moved into our planning session which ended just as Peter Gardiner from the Noosa News knocked on the door for his interview.
In the early evening, there was a reception for local writers and political figures at my home. Glen Elmes MP and I made welcoming speeches and Martyn Namorong responded with characteristic eloquence on behalf of the writers.
Glen, who was Queensland's previous Minister for Indigenous Affairs, spoke of his visits to the Torres Strait islands and the geographical closeness of Australia to PNG.
He said visits like this by the writers gave real meaning to that closeness between our two nations and our two peoples.
That's Glen Elmes in the top image, along with Noosa mayor Tony Wellington at right, thanking Daniel and Julie Kumbon for their gifts of two amazing Enga sand paintings to the people of Noosa.
Daniel commented later: “Martyn, Francis and myself are happy meeting some very wonderful people here at Noosa Heads on the Sunshine Coast, including politicians.
“Hon Glen Elmes, the local MP for Noosa, the Mayor of Noosa, Cr Tony Wellington, Deputy Mayor Cr Frank Wilkie and Cr Ingrid Jackson are the most humble bunch of leaders I've ever met.
“Their support and encouragement says it all. PNG literature is growing new feathers on its wings.”
It was a good day.
Top photo: Daniel & Julie Kumbon present Enga sand paintings to Noosa MP Glen Elmes and Mayor Tony Wellington