Relatives meet in Perth for a Manus style dinner and a yarn

By Joanne Kanau and Kanau Sion


It is always exciting for us when our relatives visit Perth because then it gives us the opportunity to meet, share stories and keep taps as to what is happening back in our village [Ndranou Yiringou] in the Manus Province [PNG] but more importantly the creation of an essential comfortable homely feeling. We reported earlier last year (2011) that Rodney Banama and his family were likely to get a job in WA and then be based here in Perth after a job interview with prospective

Joanne & kids fare welling Rachel Pipai

employer mining giant BHP. Well, we are now pleased to report here that this has exactly been the case and we were glad  of being there for them in some way to help them find their feet.Hence, Perth is now home to brother Rodney, his other half Rita and toddler son Juan. In a few posts in the past we featured another relative Pwapei Minol who is based in POM but frequently visits Perth, apart from his other Australian destinations, for work commitment. He has always been part of us as he is a regular visitor to Perth. Also in the early part of last year we ran a feature on a relative Rachel Pipai  who traveled from Adelaide to spend a long week-end with us and Joane reciprocating the visit.
On this occasion we all met again in mid November 2011 ... at the same time here in Perth.

Rodney & Rita

 We had dinner at our place in Kenwick and Rodney and family, Pwapei Minol and  Rachel Pipai  were invited and we were all too happy to play host. As usually the case when relatives meet, dinner was local Manus cuisine...fried sago with coconut shreds, fish & kumu cooked in coconut milk, taro, tapioka and all were part of the delight. It was an absolutely exciting and satisfying feeling that all of us from the same small village in Manus, closely related could meet in Perth, an Australian city far remote from were we originally come from.

Young Juan roller skating

 Who would have thought 20 years ago that this could happen today? It was indeed a homely feeling in all it's meaning. Absolutely amazing. In retrospect, it is no wonder our coming over to live in Perth is not a fluke. We will continue to recount this tale long after we have retired to our simple laid back village of Ndranou Yiringou when we individually decide to call it a day on what we do best.

Pwapei in Roushead - Fremantle