Popondetta

Ethel Dreda Arek - 00:43:35

Interview: 
Ethel Dreda Arek
Time: 
00:43:35

Ethel Arek explains that Paulus Arek submitted his constitution report for debate in the House of Assemby on 4 March 1971 and then stood again at the 1972 election. She remembers that after the 1972 election when he was made Minister for Information she and the children returned to Popondetta.

Ethel Dreda Arek - 00:41:22

Interview: 
Ethel Dreda Arek
Time: 
00:41:22

Ethel Arek explains her family's living arrangements, firstly in education house in Popondetta, and then when she was sent back to Wanigela in 1969 with her children to free her husband to travel.

Ethel Dreda Arek - 00:22:56

Interview: 
Ethel Dreda Arek
Time: 
00:22:56

Ethel Arek states that after the election loss Paulus Arek returned to teaching primary school in Popondetta where he became headmaster and also started the Northern District Workers' Association to support plantation workers. She also describes the foundation of the Popondetta Workers' Club to get control over workers' drinking and the running of the club.

Ethel Dreda Arek - 00:20:28

Interview: 
Ethel Dreda Arek
Time: 
00:20:28

Ethel Arek remembers the public service rules. She states that they went from Kerema to Daru and describes the beginning of Paulus Arek's political career and his choice of standing for politics in 1963 in Popondetta and the reasons he lost in the 1964 elections.

Ethel Dreda Arek - 00:13:45

Interview: 
Ethel Dreda Arek
Time: 
00:13:45

Ethel Arek states that she married Paulus Arek at Central Church in Port Moresby, and after three weeks they went to Baluan Island. She describes the work her husband did to sort out the problems between the mission schools and government schools there after which her husband was transferred to Popondetta.

Jean Kekedo - 00:12:56

Interview: 
Jean Kekedo
Time: 
00:12:56

Jean Kekedo recalls her posting to Popondetta in 1968 to work with Phyllis Clarkson. She relates a story about being on patrol on the Kokoda Trail without sufficient warm clothing and the lesson it taught her.

Jean Kekedo - 00:00:49

Interview: 
Jean Kekedo
Time: 
00:00:49

Jean Kekedo traces her early schooling beginning in a humble primary school in Kokoda, and her 75 mile travel to school in Grade 4 in Popondetta where she established gardens for her food. She describes winning an Australian government scholarship to St Mary's in Charters Towers, Queensland, attended by her two elder sisters, which she declined in favour of Rabaul High School.

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