Oil Search Pacific Games Relay on Fly River, Western Province

Today The Oil Search Pacific Games Relay travelled down the Fly River to the remote government stations of Aimbak and Suki, on the way to Daru.

The first stop was on the banks of the Fly River at Aimbak. The station in the Middle Fly district is very remote and surrounded by small hamlets rather than the larger villages found elsewhere in Papua New Guinea. The station is known locally as river mile number 252.

500 people had made their way to the station to greet the Relay and community leader Richard Zumoi had arranged for the youths of the area to carry the Baton around the station.

Next stop was Suki, an island in the middle of the Fly River, and located at river mile 152 in the South Fly region.

The community travelled by canoe, banana boat and foot to see the Baton, after OTML had done Toksave to advise the people of the Relay coming to visit.

At each stop the Relay team and mascot Tura handed out community partner UNICEF Pacific Games piksa buks and crayons to the local schools to be used as teaching tools.

From there the Relay landed in Daru for a Relay around the island and town. It seemed like the whole town came out to have a look at the Relay and be part of the journey.

Tomorrow the Relay will do some school visits in Daru and then the Relay heads back out to the islands region, with visits to Manus on Monday and arriving in New Ireland on Tuesday.