Australian High Commissioner Jon Philps (left) sharing light moment with the White Cane band members Maggie Mami, Michelle Muru and Kamen Wasup during Christmas of 2020 in Port Moresby, |
WHITE CANE BAND IMPRESSES AUSSIE HIGH
COMMISSIONER
WHITE CANE BAND IMPRESSES AUSSIE HIGH COMMISSIONER
WORDS
& PICTURES By BIG PAT
With
the North Pole getting icy cold and lapun old Fada Krismas ramping up his rusty
snow balled sleigh to head south for the warmer climes of the equator, Port
Moresby is slowly weighing down on its Christmas trees.
December
being playful Rudolf the red nosed reindeers favorite month of frolicking amid
delivery of presents, the glitter of tinsels and jingle bells are out to mark
the coming event.
In
a small, almost forgotten corner of the Port Moresby general hospital
yesterday, the sound of Christmas came early for the Assembly of Disabled
Persons, their supporters and family in Port Moresby.
Celebrating
the International Day of Persons Living with Disabilities, the White Cane Band
reminded all in attendance of Christmas when they harmonised Dolly Parton and
Kenny Rogers famous hit duet rendition of 'Dawn is slowly breaking'.
Hearing impaired students Boni, teacher Rose, Ruth and Allan.
Dawn is slowly breaking
Our friends have all gone home
You and I are waiting
For Santa Clause to come
There's a present by the tree
Stockings on the wall
And knowing you're in love with me
Is the greatest gift of all
Their
very important guest at the ceremony was the Australian High Commissioner to
PNG Jon Philps who was blown away by the sweet sleek voices of the three vision
impaired singers.
To
the accompaniment of keyboardist Kaman Wasup from Mendi, the silky vocals of Maggie
Mami from Sepik and Michelle Muru from Morobe had the HC tapping his foot to
their Christmas spirit.
Asked
what he thought of the performance of the White Cane Band, HC Philps said:
"I think they are terrific, I hope we can work with them at some point,
I'll come back and meet them again."
The
Australian Government, through its Incentive Program and Australian Awards
Scholarship Program, does spend a lot of time and funds in improving the lot
for persons and especially kids living
with a disability in PNG.
Two
people at yesterday's gathering were Rose Launch, a sign language teacher, and
Peter Wasape, who is vision impaired.
Through
Australian Government scholarship, Launch completed a three years Degree in
Disability and Community Inclusion from the Flinders University (2017-2019)
while Wasape holds a double degree in Social Justice and International
Relations from the University of Southern Queensland (2016-2019).
AHC Jon Philps greets Patrick Samar, a speech impaired person.
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