The 2025 cohort of the Australia Awards PNG scholarship program has been given the honorary title of the Australia Awards Somare-Whitlam 2025 Scholars, in honour of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) 50th anniversary of independence. The honorary name was launched on 24 October in Port Moresby.
The Hon Kinoka Feo, Minister for Higher Education, the Hon. Lucas Dekena, Minister for Education, the Hon. Ano Pala, Minister for National Planning, the Hon. Joe Sungi, Minister for the Public Service and Australian High Commissioner, John Feakes, joined the family of Prime Minister Somare and alumni at the Australian High Commission to officially launch the honorary name.
The experience of studying in Australia is special, not just for yourself as recipients of the award but for your spouse and children that will go with you. The experience is rich and rewarding,” Minister Feo said.
The honorary name change was initially announced by Prime Ministers Marape and Albanese in their joint Leaders Declaration in February 2024, during Prime Minister Marape’s visit to Australia.
“At Papua New Guinea’s independence celebrations in 1975, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam said ‘Australia wants the closest possible relationship with her nearest neighbour, the new nation of Papua New Guinea. A relationship of equals, based on mutual respect, understanding and trust.’ This sentiment still holds true,” Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, said in remarks delivered at the event.
Naming the 2025 Australia Awards cohort as the Somare-Whitlam scholarships recognises the immense contribution and legacy of these two great leaders to create a foundation for the modern PNG-Australia relationship. It also recognises the enduring friendship that was formed in September 1975, on which our contemporary PNG-Australia partnership now stands – with our shared history, shared culture and a shared vision for a better future,” High Commissioner Feakes said.
Australia High Commissioner, John Feakes addressing 90 Australia Awards Somare-Whitlam 2025 Scholars during the launch.
“The Somare-Whitlam Awards program is a momentous and prestigious opportunity that our country and people are being gifted with – once again by our closest traditional friend and now partner, the Government and people of Australia,” Dulciana Somare-Brash said.
The family of Prime Minister Whitlam echoed these sentiments: “From the time he entered Parliament, Gough exhibited great interest in the affairs of Papua New Guinea. Earlier this year Prime Minister Marape recalled Gough’s statement that: ‘If history were to obliterate the whole of my public career, save my contribution to the independence of a democratic PNG, I should rest content.’ We derive great satisfaction at this recognition of Gough and his friend, the late Michael Somare. We know that our father would have felt flattered and honoured too.”
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