Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday in Brisbane to remember the life of former Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare.
“The father of the nation” was the first prime minister after independence from Australia in 1975 and the longest-serving as well, having been in office for 17 years over three separate terms.
Sir Michael Somare in 2011.Credit:Nic Walker
Sir Michael died on February 26 from pancreatic cancer in Port Moresby at the age of 84, with a memorial held in Brisbane’s St Stephen’s Cathedral on Sunday.
David Tekwie gave the eulogy, detailing Sir Michael’s numerous milestones, including his positions as prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, leader of the Opposition, and governor of East Sepik province.
Mr Tekwie also mentioned several honorary doctorates, with the first being from the University of the Philippines in 1976.
Sir Michael was prime minister across three terms: from independence in 1975 to 1980; from 1982 to 1985; and then 2002 to 2010 and part of 2011.
“Somare had an interest and a pride in his background and culture,” Mr Tekwie said.
“Although his [tribal] initiations were interrupted several times by his career, he returned to his village regularly and completed them, culminating in his appointment as Sana, or peacemaker, a title inherited from his father and grandfather and conferred upon him by his uncle in 1973.
“Somare’s political style was both fiercely nationalistic and conciliatory, following the tradition of Sana, as he sees.
