Our children : School life and fun

By Kanau Sion and Joanne Kanau


Joanne and I have been blessed with 5 wonderful children- all girls. Leanne was born on the 30th of December 1998. Lydia came along on the 7th of April 2001 and just over a couple of years later saw the birth of Lulu on the15th of August 2003. Lois arrived approximately one year later on the 29th of December  2004 and finally, taking up the rear was Leila to complete our set of 5Ls.

Our children showing of their sports awards

Although we had always wanted a boy, luck was not on our side and so we have settled with our fabulous 5L girls...no qualms.    Initially, prior to arriving in Perth in 2008 we sat down and contemplated long and hard about how the kids would settle in and what it was going to be like for them in Australia. The kids had never been taught by a white man or woman before, let alone by a foreigner prior to coming to (Perth) Australia. We were worried about how well and how soon they would get along and befriend their new class mates, school mates and respond to their teachers. As parents it was pretty concerning given that an Australian school environment is different to a Papua New Guinean one. It was going to be a huge challenge but it was important too for them to experience something new. We agreed it was going to be tough for them to settle in but it would be rewarding when we return to PNG.

Lois (in the blue hat) with her classmates.
In the PNG cap is Ludwina.

I had arranged in advance for them to attend East Kenwick Primary School because it was within walking distance from where we live in the South East Perth suburb of Kenwick. Furthermore,  my thorough exploration demonstrated it was a multicultural school which was suitable for the kids, and  that everything needed to support a child's educational, physical and social needs while attending school was spot on.

Rachel Pipai & Joanne walking the kids from school