Dorothy Tekwie shares a memory of how she came in contact with Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

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, now 96, was the Station's "Powaboi" - he operated the Station's large Generator that provided electricity to a dozen houses at the station from1965-1969.

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 1967-68 when Michael Somare actually did visit Amanab with some white "radio announcers" from Australia to talk to refugees who crossed the border about Indonesian army bombed their base 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 announcers. My father had to keep 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 were interested in the "radio announcers" 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 announcers" 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 cannot 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 "Dispelaem Radio Wewak, mausbilong 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 ileksen. Ol man Sepik tok bilas long mi. Ol tok Somare painim man long sanap long haus man na givim spia bilong em long ol meri" (You must win this election. The Sepik men are laughing at me. They are saying, Somare can’t find a man to stand in parliament so he’s giving his spear to the women). 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 noted of 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 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 bilong rausim dispela waitman em tok bilas long mi". I told Sir Michael, "support John Tekwie as mi givim spia bilong yu long liklik brata na em bai win" (I have given your spear to younger brother and he will 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 a two-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 spia na kilim abus" (You are true Sepik woman. You know how to throw the spear and kill the animal).

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

RIEP Chief! Till we meet again.