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" 

That was my story with my "radio annoucer" friend - GC Sir Michael Thomas Somare.

 RIEP  Chief! Till we meet again.