Gudi! Yes, it's been quite a while since I've posted anything on the blog, from Oct.- Dec. last year, we were flat out. What with a major international conference (SPREP-the biggest Alotau had ever seen let alone hosted!), canoe festival and a zillion kids for camps (ok, a few hundred!), xmas functions hic... etc....there just wasn't enough time in the day to sit in front of the computer and update you on all the headaches and fun I was having! So here's a quick flash back to Sept. last year and I'll try not to bore you with too much text, enjoy the piccies!Father’s day: Sunday 2nd September
MBTIG (Milne Bay Tourism Industry Group) hosted a Father’s Fun Day at Island Adventure Tours Recreation Park at Divinai (about 25mins drive East of Alotau). The event was held to assist the Milne Bay Tourism Bureau to raise funds to promote the province at the PNG Tourism Expo in Port Moresby (Holiday Inn,11-15 Sept.'07).
The Dads-as long as the beers are there, they're happy.
The day was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all, especially the Dads. Napatana Lodge, Alotau International Hotel, Milne Bay Magic Tours, Education Milne Bay, Driftwood, Masurina Lodge & Island Adventure Tours put in a combined effort to ensure everyone had plenty of good food and drinks. Since it was a fun day, we also set up some games for the Dads just to ensure the rest of us were entertained! It was a great day, probably the best Father’s Day I’ve ever been to! We even managed to raise a fair amount of money on the day, it was certainly nice to see the local business community turning up to show their support. Long after the guests had left, the MBTIG members stayed well into the evening to tidy up (errrrm…..and polish off the last of the wine!) before heading back into town. The drive back took a little bit longer (blame it on Pat and her toilet stop!) but was just as entertaining with everyone singing (well, some of us were trying to!), laughing and complaining about me hitting all the pot holes!
Island Adventure Tours Recreation Park- Divinai
The jetty with view of Kellerton Island in the distance. 
The little haus win by the sea
The mums (except Christine from Masurina 2nd from the left)
The boys jamming at the back of the ute! Go Miah!
Ahh Miline Bay Gels......da way you smile!
Beautiful flowers from Napatana
Pam's scrumptious week-end biccies!
Bruce, ever ready with the wine!
Ai ai time!
Member for Alotau Open and Minister for Culture & Tourism Hon. Charles Abel also took part in the fun & games!This one's the 3 coconut relay.
Coconut scraping was a bit of a challenge for some!
Bring it on!
Jayesh & Peter, before the 3-legged race & looking slightly tipsy.
Jayesh & Peter, after the race!
MBTIG members: (L-R,Back) Maxine,Jayesh TN,Pam Swanson, (L-R,Front) Christina Aule, Maleta Tokwakwasi & Patricia Sinyoi (missing is Rita Tarumuri)
Tyson Neville also celebrated his birthday with a huge cake
Independence Day - September 16 2007
Alice Wedega Park, Alotau
Habona-acting police man!
Beautiful Bilums & Cane baskets from Ialibu in the Southern Highlands Province
"Kapwa" Charlie Graham and coconut! Not only is this Misiman guy hilarious and a great friend, he is also a wealth of information on anything to do with Milne Bay.
Beautiful Milne Bay faces
SPREP Conference 22-26 Oct.2007
More than 500 participants arrived on our shores from throughout the Pacific,Europe and the US to attend the conference. It was a huge challenge for a small town like Alotau and a mammoth task trying to accommodate everyone, but despite all the hurdles, it turned out to be a highly successful event with a lot of positive feed back from the participants, many of whom were initially scared to come to PNG. After a few days in Alotau experiencing our hospitality and friendliness though, they were happy they came.
(South Pacific Regional Environment Program Conference)
Wanigili Centre
The haus win was used as a meeting place for the many break out sessions.
The Closing Dinner at Wanigili -. Milne Bay style feast. We hosted the dinner for over 600 people and decided on an authentic Milne Bay theme. The guests sat under the stars on woven coconut mats,ate from coconut woven baskets and used their hands or coconut forks to eat. They loved it! It was funny seeing all these dimdims (foreigners) sitting on the ground, but they felt right at home and I was so proud (and relieved!) everything went off without a hitch. This is how we eat at home during village gatherings.
Vivien -the bird specialist from New Caledonia digging into the local cuisine.With the assistance of the church groups we prepared several roasted pigs, traditional claypot food cooked over the fire, sea food galore, fresh fruits, vegetables and salads.
New Guinea Islands Dance Troup
Kate Brown from Samoa-SPREP Conference Manager.
Kate is an amazing woman, she was an inspiration to work with, not to mention a tonne of fun, along with Vainuupo Jungblut, Ruth Pune and the rest of the SPREP team.
