SYLVESTER GAWI | Graun Bilong Mi (My Land) | Edited
LAE - It was quite an experience for me travelling home to Wewak for a well-deserved break from reporting stories of petty crimes, housing issues and road accidents which dominate news out from Lae.
The plan was to go to Wewak and travel by road to Pagwi where I would get on an outboard vessel and travel up the Sepik River to home sweet home, Aibom - an island in the Chambri Lake.
Accompanying me on the trip was Post Courier reporter Frankiy Kapin who had been assigned to cover the aftermath of the Kadawar Island volcanic eruption, which had occurred three weeks earlier.
But I decided to stayed on in Wewak and follow Frankiy on his news trips and that is when we met NBC East Sepik journalist Edward Hagoria, who introduced us to several of his contacts in Wewak and soon we were on the news hunting trail.
I wasn't sure where to go in Wewak, having spent most of my life growing up and working in Lae. But I covered news and filed stories for radio and television and Frankiy did the same for print media.
What amazed me was the reception we received from the management and staff of NBC in Wewak. NBC East Sepik was totally different from what I’ve seen at other provincial radio stations across Papua New Guinea.
Anna Klawe is the Director Provincial Radio for NBC Wewak. She heads a small team of officers, predominantly women: Johanna Sidney (executive producer), Kimela Baloiloi (broadcaster), Eugene Sami (broadcaster/archivist), Ruth Maino (broadcaster) and Edward Hagoria (journalist in charge).
The first day I stepped into the office everyone was on their computers working. There was no internet (nothing fancy like we have at NBC Morobe) but the office was clean and welcoming.
The toilets were clean (they didn't have a cleaner) and smelled better than most hotels in Lae and Port Moresby. The kitchen was equipped with cooking utensils and rations bought by the staff for lunch and dinner.
I entered the studio. Wow it was amazing and very relaxing. We weren't allowed to wear slippers or shoes in the studio. Tables, microphones and headsets weren't too fancy but had been carefully looked after for some decades. And the turntables and tape players and recorders were in good working condition.
The next place I visited was the technician's room where everything was in its place and radio and television reception were crystal clear. There was also a television screen outside the office and an amplified speaker where people in the reception area could listen to the broadcast.
The radio broadcasts from here cover all of East Sepik, reaching as far as Enga, Western Highlands, Madang and West Sepik.
What really caught my attention was the NBC vehicle bought by the provincial government some five years back. It was still in good condition.
Johnny the hardworking driver is someone whom you hardly see sitting around doing nothing. When there's no news runs, he is cleaning the vehicle or mowing the grass around the office. Not to mention he's a very good chef, he cooks rice, kaukau and fish for lunch and dinner at the office.
I felt at home and found it relaxing. Despite the setback of no free internet, we paid for own our own credits and data to send stories. Everyone in there loves their job.
Broadcast officers work seven days a week and there are no excuses for missing your shift - even they don’t live in an NBC house.
One day as we were returning from a trip to Maprik Secondary School, driver Johnny slowed down between Koikin and Kreer and asked me and other colleagues to bow our heads as he prayed, thanking our good Lord for his guidance and blessings throughout our day’s assignment.
I was amazed as he praised the Lord in his prayer about the good things the Lord has done for their small and hardworking radio team. Johnny finished praying, turned to me and said, "Son, what you see and felt during your time with us at NBC Wewak is a testimony of our (staff) commitment to God."
Everyone from the Director to the driver and support staff work together as a team. They maintain communication and remain focussed to face each day’s challenges. They look after what little equipment and resources they have. They understand the economic crisis the PNG government is facing and they know if would be hard to replace equipment if it wasn’t looked after.
NBC East Sepik is a shining example of good and prudent management and leadership by the provincial management team. The Director has good working relations with the provincial government and receives funding support from the provincial administration.
If there was one radio station I would recommend as a role model for NBC provincial stations throughout PNG, it would be NBC East Sepik.
To all my hardworking colleagues across the country, we need good managers at the provincial level if we are serious about moving forward and meeting the expectations of the people who rely on us for news and information.
We are the NBC, we are the voice of Papua New Guinea, let’s all stand united and learn from each other's successes to build our beloved nation.