27 March 2012
HOMs interview wtih ABC's Radio Australia in pijin on the Governor General's visit
•Q: Australia’s Governor-General is presently visiting the Pacific, how important is this visit in terms of Australia’s relationship with the region.
The GG is our Head of State, and there is no more powerful or practical expression of our interest in the region than by having such an eminent Australian visitor. This is where we live and largely, where we work. We have a shared interest in a stable, secure and prosperous region.
GG na hemi Head of State blo iume lo Australia, no eni wan moa hemi powerful or sa-ve givem moa practical expression lo interest blo Australia lo region osem hem taem hemi come and visit lo Pacific. Pacific hemi ples iume stap and hemi ples wea iume waka. Australia hemi garem shared interest lo stable and prosperous region.
• Q: Some are saying that this is the first time an Australia head of state has visited the Pacific, is that correct?
I'm aware that Governors General have visited the Pacific bilaterally, or perhaps taking in one or two countries per visit. But certainly, in my memory, this is the most ambitious visit by an Australian Governor General to the region. 8 countries in 8 days. It's quite extraordinary. And hopefully, it tells the region that it matters to the Governor General, and to Australia.
Me sa-ve Governor General hemi doim onefala bilateral visit before or hemi go lo onefala or tufala kandare lo one visit. But lo distaem me ting visit blo Governor General hemi wanfala ambitious wan tru wea Australian Governor General hemi visitem Pacific region. Hemi bae go lo 8 fala kandare inside 8 days nomoa and hopefully disfala visit hemi showem that the Pacific region hemi important lo Governor General and hemi important lo Australia.
• Q: The GG is launching of two booklets while you will be launching the second one, what are the booklets all about?
The booklets titled Women and Money Solomon Islands and Women and Banking Solomon Islands will help women learn how to budget better and save for their children’s and their families’ futures.
Oloketa booklets ya hemi titled ‘Women and Money Solomon Islands and Women and Banking Solomon Islands’ oloketa fo helpem oloketa mere lo Solomon Islands fo sa-ve how for luk aftam selen blo oloketa and save for future blo pikinini and families blo oloketa.
The booklets are produced by the West AreAre Rokotanikeni Association (WARA). Rokotanikeni means women coming together and that is what they have been doing since they started in 1999 with a handful of women. There are now 560 members, who have saved $290,000 (Solomons dollars) with the scheme.
Ol booklets ya oloketa lo West AreAre Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) na oloketa producem. Rokotanikeni hemi meanim oloketa mere come together. And hemi na wanem association ya hemi doim since 1999 time hemi start. Time ya no staka mere nomoa ya. Distaem association ya hemi garem 560 members wea oloketa savem finis $560,000 becos lo scheme ya.
It is very important to acknowledge that all the work done so far by the WARA women is voluntary. There is no office. There are no paid staff. Simply a small group of strong women who want to make a difference. And we wanted to help them. They have received support from the International Womens Development Association (of which Governor General Bryce is also Patron) and the Australian High Commission
Hemi important tumas fo iume sa-ve dat evri waka wea WARA hemi doim hemi voluntary waka nomoa. Ol mere ya no garem office. Oloketa no garem paid staff. Oloketa small group of mere wea oloketa laek mekem difference. And mefala laek helpem oloketa. Association blo oloketa receivem support from International Womens Development Association (wea Governor General Bryce hemi also Patron lo hem) and oloketa receivem help too from Australian High Commission.
• Q: You have had a long working history in the Pacific, could you tell us about that?
The Pacific is a fantastic area in which to work. There are as many challenges out here as there are cultures, but the rewards are both frequent and humbling. I’ve been lucky to have helped negotiate a weapons disposal agreement in the shadow of a volcano on Bougainville, travelled in a dug-out canoe to attend meetings on the majestic Sepik River in PNG, and been co-opted to Samoa’s National Disaster Management Committee to help implement Australia’s response to the September 2009 Pacific tsunami. Put simply, I reckon I’ve got one of the best jobs in the world.”
Pacific hemi nice ples tumas for waka lo hem. Hemi garem staka challenges lo here becos lo staka cultures, but reward blo hem, hemi staka and mekem me feel humble tumas. Lo experience blo me lo Pacific, me lucky tumas for help negotiatem onefala weapons disposal agreement lo kolsap onefala big volcano lo Bougainville, me go insaet lo onefala dug-out canoe for attendem meetings lo Sepik River lo PNG, and me co-opt lo National Disaster Management Committee lo Samoa fo helpem implementem response blo Australia taem Tsunami hemi kasim Samoa lo 2009. Lo ting ting blo me, waka blo me hemi nao onefala best one lo world ya!
• Q: What were your first impressions of the Pacific?
I first visited the Pacific in 1990, when I was deployed with the Australian Army to Tonga. Back then, I found a region with an amazing mix of cultures. I met the King of Tonga as comfortable on a tapa cloth with his people as he would have been in Buckingham Palace. I found a place of stunning natural beauty, and a people who cared deeply about their past, and their future. They made me feel at home. And I have never forgotten that feeling.
First taem me visitem Pacific hem lo 1990 time oloketa deployem me wetem Australian Army go lo Tonga. Time ya, me surprise tumas lo mix blo cultures lo there. Me meetem King blo Tonga wea hem comfortable lo custom kaleko blo hem and oketa people blo hem osem hemi stap lo Buckingham Palace! Me findem natural beauty and people wea oloketa care tumas lo past and also lo future blo oloketa. Oloketa people ya mekem me feel at home. And since datfala taem me no forgetem datfala feeling ya.