GOROKO UNI LAUNCHES BOOK ON PACIFIC HISTORY

By ZACHERY PER (The National, July 10, 2013)

UNIVERSITY of Goroka vice-chancellor Dr Gairo Onagi yesterday launched a new book on the history of the Pacific at the 2013 National Education Conference in Goroka.

The book has presentations made at a Pacific history conference held at the UOG from Sept 12-16, 2010.

Photo: Vice-chancellor Dr Onagi (right) with co-editor Dr Kari launching the book Pacific at the Cross Roads on yesterday. – Nationalpic by ZACHERY PER

The sub-themes of the conference featured in the book are history and learning of Pacific history, health and wellbeing of Pacific societies, cultural heritage in the Pacific, global issues and history’s influences on our future and history of mining and resource development in the Pacific.

Onagi congratulated those involved in the production of the book as it would preserve valuable historical information on the Pacific, including Papua New Guinea.

He reminded academics of their responsibility to create knowledge through research, hold conferences, documents and publish books that would strengthen the future.

Onagi, who wrote the forward for the book, said the launch was timely as it encouraged policy makers and education stakeholders to collaborate in publishing similar books.

Co-editor Dr Sam Kari said the book was composed of presentations and papers of the 19th biennial Pacific history conference at UOG.

“If you want to know the history of the Pacific you have to get this book. I thank the AusAID, the Australian High Commission and all those who contributed towards the publishing of this book,” Kari said.

A historian at the launch Dr August Kituwai told participants and presenters it was the first time a Pacific history conference had been held in the country.

He said the biennial event attracted historians from around the world who shared findings, knowledge and interacted with each other.

“The Pacific History Association has membership from all over the world,” Kituwai said.

The book is selling for K50 and will increase to K60. It was printed by local company Kim Printing of Goroka.