Elias Nanau Scribes: Dorothy Tekwie writes about a a popular voice from Radio Wewak

THE MIGHTY VOICE ON RADIO WEWAK

‐-------Liklik Stori blong "trupela meri Sepik"

MICHAEL SOMARE OF RADIO WEWAK - MY RADIO "ANNOUNCER FRIEND"

Believe it or not, his voice the first voice I came to hear of a national radio announcer (they called them those days).

The Tekwie Family was based in Amanab Government Station from 1966-1969 where my father Joachim Tekwie (96) was the Station's "Powa boi" - he operated the Station's large Generator that provided electricity to a dozen houses at the station from1965-1970.

My father had this old transistor radio and always turns it on at 5.30pm to ensure he goes and starts the generator at 6pm and turns it off at 10pm. Both times were important for him as those were the times for starting power (6) and turning it off at 10pm. He didn't have a watch or clock so we got used to his turning radio on and off for telling time. We also got used to listening to radio between 5 and 10pm and found it interesting because there was this radio announcer called Michael Somare whom our father said was his "friend" - of course our father never met him but he was his friend because he used to "tell him the time" to go and turn power on or off. We had thought it was true as our father did his training at Wewak Power House and later at Rouna 2 Station in Central Province.

They did meet in about 1966-68 when Michael Somare actually did visit Amanab with some white "radio announcers" from Australia to talk to refugees who crossed the border after Indonesian troops bombed OPM bases on the other side of the border.

Our house was next to the District Office where the refugees were held and interviewed by the Kiap and the radio annoucers. My father had to kept the power running during the day for the kiap to use his "two way radio" (VHF) to communicate with Vanimo. My sister Petronella "Petra" , brother John and I were interested in the "radio annoucers" who had their cameras and tape recorders. I was the most "wild child " of the three of us and would always hangout with my father as he works with the kiap.

During that visit the kiap was under pressure to fix the portable generator that he used to power the VHF radio and so I went along to watch. While there all the "radio annoucers" came out and my father met his "friend" who also shook my hand and from that time on Michael Somare was my friend too. I can not remember what he said to me now but I saw him interviewing the refugees in the small court house and later my father told us to listen to the news on Radio Wewak by "our" friend Michael Somare. We would hear Michael Somare saying "dispela em Radio Wewak, maus bilong Sepik"

In 1987 the Leader of PANGU Party was looking for a candidate for West Sepik Provincial Seat after the incumbent PANGU MP Karl Stack left to form League for National Advancement (LNA) with Sir Anthony Siaguru and John Nilkare.

"Our" friend Sir Michael endorsed me as his Pangu Party candidate for West Sepik Provincial seat knowing I, a female would be up against men, money and conservative Sepik cultural attitudes.

Karl Stack and his Sepik supporters made fun of his decision. Sir Michael later told me during endorsement "yu mas winim dispela eleksen, ol man Sepik tok bilas long mi. Ol tok Somare painim man long snap long hausman na givim sipia blong em long ol meri" I told him I will try my best. I didn't win but was determined to make them eat their words. I returned to Port Moresby, got married, started family and got job as the National Program Manager for UNDP. Before departing for Port Moresby I handed my little brother John Talu Tekwie all my records and notes on all the people of West Sepik who shared food, put campaign houses for me, gave me funds, campaigned for me and prayed for me during 1987. I told John that I will go get a job and promised to sponsor him in 1992.

As we prepared for 1992 National General Elections I met Sir Michael during a UN event and we talked about 1992 NGE. He told me "mi laik tru blong rausim dispela waetman em tok bilas long mi". I told Sir Michael to support John Tekwie as "mi givim sipia blong yu long liklik brata na em bai win". Sir Michael didn't think I was serious and went and endorsed our Uncle Paul Langro. I rang Ted Diro than Governor for Central and Leader of People's Action Party . He listened to my report of work John had been doing since 1987 and endorsed John Tekwie but did not support him with campaign funds. I printed John's black and white posters and few dozen black and white T shirts. Our father used K11,000 of his 30 years retirement funds to help me sponsor John. John became 2 term Governor for West Sepik. 1992-2002.

I ran into Sir Michael after John won the seat and he called me over and shook my hands saying "yu trupela meri Sepik, yu save long tromoi sipia na kilim abus"