Front Row: (Left to right): Brian Semoso, David Loyam, Norman Haiai, Sidney Suma, George Panao, Edward Ga’a, Cephas Kayo, Ian Tarutia and Linus Krewanty.
Back Row: (Left to right): Morea Vavine, Leon Buskens, Harold Duigu, Patrick Urum, Jeffery Yabom, Patrick Denton, Toua Geita, Dr Simon Mete, Daniel Javapro, Mark Umin, Benjamin Davis.

SOGERI OLD BOYS REUNION

ON the evening of Friday May 19 in Port Moresby, a group of people from all walks of life, gathered to renew a bond they forged almost four decades ago under the mountain pines of Sogeri.

Those who gathered were members of the Sogeri Senior High School class of 1984-1985. They came from all corners of the country – from the Southern, Northern, Islands and Highlands regions.

In the two formative years at Sogeri, the group was taught and learned to do many things as Papua New Guineans and shedding the shackles of tribal and provincial boundaries.

Harold Duigi, a senior manager with Ok Tedi Mining Limited, summed up the gathering aptly when he explained to his grandson why he had to leave hurriedly for Port Moresby.

“Bubu, I have to go and see a group of people that I last saw 39 years ago,” Harold told his inquisitive grandchild.

Leon Buskens (left) and Morea Vavine.

Included in the group were two former CEOs of super funds – Nasfund and Nambawan Super - Ian Tarutia and Leon Buskens respectively, a pilot with Air Niugini Mark Umin Dr Samson Mete, Patrick Urum from IRC, Brian Semoso and Jeffery Yabom from the Bank of PNG, Toua Geita, managing director of Tanorama Limited (a family company), Lieutenant Colonel Linus Krewanty and Captain Patrick Denton of the PNG Defence Force, George Panao of British American Tobacco and diplomat Cephas Kayo who flew in all the way from Washington DC.

All of them are married and have children and most have grandchildren. There were bear hugs all around, a few tears shed and a lot of cheers and smiles for the 20 odd bodies who showed up at the reunion.

Many stories of their journey after leaving Sogeri were also shared. Many shared tales of chance meetings with other group members.

Mark Umin told of how one of their members, James Tanis, former President of Bougainville, on an official visit to Port Moresby left many senior officials and other members of his delegation stupefied when he broke protocol and dashed off to meet a former Sogeri classmate he had seen in the crowd.

“I was waiting for my son who was on the same flight from Buka and Rabaul with James and his party. But James broke the line and came and shook hands with me leaving everyone wondering what was going on,” Mark said.

Harold Duigi (left) and Jeff Yabom catching up on goo old days of Sogeri.

Eddie Ga’a, another member of the class, told of how he had to call on Ian Tarutia to “help” fast-track the processing of his wife’s retirement cheque from Nasfund.

Panao and Sidney Suma got the ball rolling for the meet by starting a Whatsapp messenger site and adding members of Sogs 1984-85 group to it.

The site became an immediate hit and many photos including class group shots were shared.

He said the reunion was timely to get the group organised for Sogeri school’s 80^th birthday bash next year.

Thirty years ago, we were young. We are still young at heart.

Panao said in 1984, when they were in their first year at Sogeri, late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare visited the school to celebrate its 40^th anniversary. Sir Michael was an old boy of Sogeri.

The group, according to Panao and master of ceremony Leon Buskens, plans to “give something back to the school”.

Because the meeting was arranged in haste, women from the class of 1984-85, were not included. They will join the group as soon as it is formally set up.

The next meeting of Sogs 84-85 group is planned for sometime in June.

Ian Tarutia (left) and Linus Kennedy.