Students
pp. 28-29 · Read in the full issue
Australia
Students win in
Png
contest
Australian school children were quick to respond to a contest held by the PNG Gov ernment in 1988 to promote aware ness of Papua New Guinea. This in novative promotion was announced by PNG’s Sydney consulate and entries were sought from students in New South Wales, Queensland and the Au
stralian Capital Territory.
Consulate information officer John Hunter said the competition had oeen devised to counter a lack of know ledge about PNG among young Au stralians. “It was designed to encour age Australian school children to find out more about Papua New Guinea,” he said. “The questions in each divi sion encouraged them to use their im aginations and to conduct some re search on the country.”
Entries were judged in three age groups, with juniors (11 and under)
Above: Colourful and informative, this tour itinerary wins 12-year-old Gillian Mitchell of Sydney a trip for two to PNG. Judges praised her unmatched creativity. Left: Artwork from senior division winner Shirley Higgins, 16, who examined PNG’s role in the Pacific Region.
required to draw a PNG village; mid dle divisions entrants (12-15 years) were asked to devise an itinerary for a touring party to PNG; and seniors (16 and over) were asked for 1500 words on PNG’s role in the southwest Pacific.
Cash and book prizes were offered in each division, and the best overall en
try was awarded a package trip to PNG for the winner and an adult companion.
Judging was made dificult by the overall high standard of entries. Jeff Harte, of the Geography Teachers’
Association of New South Wales, su pervised the judging and said the
junior entries in particular were of an excellent standard.
Twelve-year-old Gillian Mitchell of Gladesville, NSW, was declared overall winner for her colourful travel itiner ary. Mr Harte said Gillian, who en tered the middle division, had display ed a creativity unmatched even by more senior entrants.
Winners of the cash and book prizes were; Senior — Shirley Higgins, 16, of Thornlands, Old; Middle — Federica Rossi, 15, of St Ives, NSW, Kellie Lethbridge, 15, of Normanhurst, NSW, Elliser Chan, 13, of Strathfield, NSW; Junior — Casey Mowett, 8, of Leeton, NSW, Justin Norris, 7, of Stockton, NSW, and Rowan Ziesing, 7, of Wanniassa, ACT.
The contest was sponsored by Air Niugini, the PNG Government, Niugi ni Tours Pty Ltd, Robert Brown and Associates (Australia) Pty Ltd, the Au stralia-Papua New Guinea Society and the Geography Teachers’ Association of NSW.
Pacific Islands Monthly is proud to reproduce some of the winning en tries on these pages. D
Above: Middle Division winner Federica Rossi’s vivid itinerary. Left: A PNG villager as seen by junior winner Casey Mowett. Judges rated junior entries highly.