Tania’s Story
Monday, 16 June 2008
I was born in 1968. When I was little the slide night was in. There was no television in Port Moresby – or anywhere in the Pacific besides Australia.
These photos take me back to that time.
My beautiful mother comes from Finschhafen, in the Morobe Province. My handsome Australian father, met her at the ABC studios in Port Moresby and was smitten. Can you blame him? So, mi Finschhafen meri, but I am really a Moresby girl. It is where I was born and lived a wild and free childhood. I roamed barefoot around my neighbourhood of East Boroko, riding motorbikes and climbing trees with the boys down the road, playing in the drain, catching guppies until the sun went down and I’d bolt home before mum and dad or I’d be in trouble.
Twice a week, I used to run the 3 kilometres up and down a dry loose dirt track along a mountain ridge that ran from the back of my school, Boroko East, to the NBC, where my Dad worked.
Remembering this gives me a strange clash of emotions because I don’t know if a 12 year old girl would be able roam as free as I did around the streets and suburbs of Port Moresby today.
When I was 13 I went away to boarding school in Brisbane and for the next five years I was snatching moments in time in Moresby, travelling home twice a year for school holidays. Port Moresby was changing. There were curfews and road blocks. There was also opportunity.
I got my first job in Port Moresby, straight out of high school in 1986, aged 18. It was a once in a lifetime chance to be at the coal face when television first came to PNG. I joined EM TV six months before its first broadcast. My first big assignment was to come up with an idea for a daily one hour children’s program. I had no idea what I was doing but I did it, and Kids Kona is still going strong today.
In 1989, I moved permanently to Australia where my two sons were born. Thanks to the great start I got at EM TV, I have continued my television career in Australia. I never meant to stay away from home so long but that’s just how life’s chances unfolded for me.
And now the chance has come for me to come back. I am starting My Pacific Story in Papua New Guinea, my home.
Your Comments
mike , June 30th 2008
Hellow Tania,
You have reach the distination…….
Keep going and you will be a million
journalist .
cheers
mike
David Nalu , July 4th 2008
Am also from Butibam, Lae.
Stewart Abdul Yareki-Port Moresby , July 7th 2008
it was good to meet up in Port moresby.
All da best in the journey through the pacific
Zohannah Zoe , July 11th 2008
Meri Finch…Gutpela stori bilong yu
All the best…
Maggie Posu , July 11th 2008
Yes…Tania by just glancing thru your photos, I knew that you were Fide Bale’s daughter. That’s even before reading your story on your trip to Lae. You know why, well you are your mum, colour tasol em different, nogat yu meri Finch ya…
I remember your house at East Boroko (China Town), your place was the second house just after the gate to POMIS staff housing.
I can’t really remember if the Kimui’s were your neigbours at that time.
I use to come with my parents to support your mum when she was contesting in the election in those days.
Good old memories ah… Anyhow, all the best and keep PNG forever in your heart..
Pauline , August 28th 2008
I’ve been bbored with TV here in the US for some time now and I stumbled upon your show when browsing for something new and exciting….. How refreshing!!!
Dinh Thi Le from VietNam , August 28th 2008
Hello Tania ,
i watched you on TV , abcasiapacific network 4 years ago , …you are better now ! I know you have a strong motivation in TV educational program , i’d like to keep in touch with you because i wish to have such a TV educational program for my homeland-Vietnam, i had this idead just because of watching you and your network. How can i be your friend ? Keep good work ! Dinh Thi Le.
Srinivasan , October 28th 2008
Hi Tania,
I’m the great fan of yours. I like the way you present in the Australia network on Nexus. I like the way you talk. In fact i was trying to give presentation like you. I dont even miss your program even for the day. If i have some important work. I will record them and play them in the night. You are doing a great job. I hope you will continue this for a long time.
Warm regards,
Srinivasan
M: 0091 9845053576
Email : srin_ivasan@yahoo.com
jason brown , October 31st 2008
kia orana tania – congratulations to you and Clement on the new Pacific Pulse programme!
This is a huge step forward for the region and casts a long shadow on state media in New Zealand where broadcasters face privatisation if John Key gets in next month.
kia toa, bon courage, stay strong!
jason
editor
avaiki nius agency
gelab piak , March 10th 2009
hi tania, you are PNg’s hero, keep up the good work and who kowns , you might get rewarded for it. nevertheless, your reward, if you want to find it, lies in the heart of every Papua New Guinean. I would like to send you a story also, but you have tell me whether you’d wana see it or not.
Pisa Onno , September 4th 2009
Hi Tania
Thanks for the great memories.I totally agree with your recollections & sentiments.Those were the happiest carefree days of our lives.Mi hamamas tru.Despite living in Oz for all these years like yourself,my connection and sense of belonging to PNG,its people and my hometown Moresby is always strengthened every time I read similar positive articles like yours.
Regards
Pisa
Joycelin Leahy , June 27th 2008
Hi Tania,
This sounds interesting…looking forward to reading more.
Joycelin Leahy