The Sixth
p. 13 · Read in the full issue
Of The Line
Papua New Guinea’s Goyer nor-General-designate, Mr Tore Lokoloko, was knighted by the Queen in March. He thus became the sixth PNG national to be awarded a knighthood.
Following the award of a knighthood to the then Admin istrator, Sir Donald Cleland, in 1961, no knighthoods were awarded to PNG residents for many years.
But the drought broke in 1974.
In that year Sir Paul Lapun, now Minister of Health, became the first PNG national to become a knight. The former Governor- General, Sir John Guise, was also knighted in 1974, being cre ated a KBE. (He became a KCMG in 1975.) In 1975, knighthoods were awarded to the PNG national librarian, Sir John Yocklunn, and the present Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Maori Kiki. The Leader of the Opposition, Sir Tei Abal, was knighted in 1976.
Non-nationals knighted over the same period for their work in Papua New Guinea were Sir John Gunther, first Chancellor of the University of PNG; Sir Horace Niall, first Speaker of the House of Assembly; and Sir Sydney Frost, the present Chief Justice.