16/8/2007 - DEATH NOTICE

Citizens & Friends of Ratavul

The Wingu and Bodger families of Port Moresby announce the untimely passing of their nephew (Mamel younger sister’s son) who was killed during a tragic workshop incident in Lae.

Our son is a student @ Vunabosco Rabaul but was on his practical in Lae when this tragedy occurred around midday yesterday.

Mamel Wingu is planning to travel to Rabaul on Friday to attend burial arrangements.

A final gathering is planned to take place at Dianne’s  place @ Gordons Five-Kitogara Street on Thursday night.

Our deepest condolences to the relatives and may God grant us comfort during this time of grief and loss.

This toksave is relayed on the request of the immediate relatives

Our prayers and support in kind will be appreciated.

For more information please contact Deirdre Bodger-Gisa on 3012934

William

16/8/2007 - Rant & Raves

I attended my 1st "Varaap ceremony" recently not knowing what to expect of this "custom wok".
After recieving my e-mailed invite, I couldn't wait for the working day to be over so i could go see
some reli's to find out what it was all about. A  kind Tambu(inlaw)  was gracious enough to explain
that it was a Tolai custom  reserved  for fathers of families, a "thank you" ceremony of sorts, reserved
for  fathers whose children  were reaching  some important stage in their lives. These  "Varaap"
ceremonies are usually held in conjunction with other events such as boys initiations,  Brideprices  or
just simply children leaving the family nest to continue with their lives as adults.

In this case it was the latter reason,the oldest daughter was leaving the family nest  and preparing  for marriage and a life of her own with her partner. The "Mausman" (MC) started the ceremony with a word of prayer and a brief of the proceedings. He, being a member of the wifes family stated that they had felt it was time to hold the "Varaap"   seeing as the Oldest girl was leaving the family nest. Despite the fathers initial protest( for economical reasons) as he didn't want his tambu's to go to lengths with the cost of organising the ceremony. Nevertheless, his tambu's persisted and said he had no choice and just had to accept what was already planned for him.

The "Mausman" explained that at home the ceremony was conducted, to quell talk by villagers -  especially the tambu's,  that the wife's family was ungrateful to the man who had  payed a handsome brideprice and raised the woman's family. But more importantly, the mausman stated how genuinely grateful his family was to the father for accepting his family.

This was then followed by a presentation of gifts of "Tabu" (shell  money-which is still used in our home province for purchasing land, brides and food) along with  cash  donations  which were layed  before him on a "Kurit"(mat) at his feet This was  followed by emotional speeches by a couple of relatives , the wife, the daughter and husband which brought the gathering to tears and a chorus of "sniffles". Yours truly, was no exception ! The short ceremony was eventually wound-up with some last words from the  hausman followed by a short prayer before we all "dug into" some traditional "kaikai"(food) which was provided for by  all the relatives present.

1/8/2007 - Toksave

Advise for Friends and relatives that Ia Mamu, natu ToVura, wife of

ToIvat and younger sister of Hosea ToVura(Telikom - Moresby)sadly lost her 2year battle with paralysis on Saturday 27th July at 5am after she was discharged from Nonga on the Friday 26th.     

1/8/2007 - “Deadly combination”

The brothers Puipui, started plying their trades soon after the 1994 eruption at Toleap Junction. The older of the two, ToUlul had decided to take up Voluntary retrenchment after a lengthy career at Works & Supply Port Moresby and wanted to set up at home. David also longed for home and decided to call it quits from his life at sea as a marine engineer. By the time ToUlul had gone home in early 1995, David had already established a small but eager clientele.

Working alongside each other at home, they slowly built a name for themselves as a “one stop shop” for mechanical and panel beating work. By 1998, the brothers were fully established and had a hectic stream of customers-with customers coming from all over the Gazelle Peninsula. The word of their expertise had reached outer stations such as The Bainings, Warangoi, Taubar and Ralalar.

By 2002, the workshop proper was built with two separate workspaces, by the brothers themselves. The “deadly duo” continue to serve the community to this day, along with a underground water supply business that David established. The brothers have no Regrets for making the move, only that “oli nogat malolo” and are thankful that the people of the Peninsula observe Sunday as a day of rest.(well, most times-anyway!)

1/8/2007 - The Reconciliation (August 6-15th)

31/7/2007 - Ulual ToBebe

Ulual is 25 years old, single and works in retail in Rabaul.

So what's so interesting about Ulual?

Ulual won the Rabaul Individual Darts Championships this year, 2007, and will be making his way to the National Championships in Lae. He is currently trying to get sponsorship for his K300 levy which will go towards his travel and accomodation in Lae.

24/7/2007 - Toksave

20/7/2007 - History

There is no written history to our village, just what has been passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation. Grace Tiden of the Post Courier, last year complied a story in her newspaper (Feb17-19th '06) which is probably the first written historical data that we've ever had of our village. She got this data from Clansmen Elders at the unveiling of a Monument in Honour of Ia Pele Lavinia , the clanswoman who was responsible for bringing Christianity to our village. This is an exert of that article-which delightfully surprised some of us city folk who had no idea of their origins.

Some 300 years ago, two sisters - who fled their village-ended up at Ravaulai Beach(what is now the mission station of Ratavul). They decided to settle in the interior of Ratavul at Kurakukup. Six generation later Ia Pele lavinia was born. In November05, her clan members unveiled a monument to honour her efforts to bring christianity to the village.

After being chased from their North Baining Village for reasons unknown, the two sisters Ia Manaka and Ia Ngarau got married in Ratavul and their clan extended to other villages in the Gazelle Peninsula of East New Britain. Six generations  Later Ia pele Lavinia was born into a family having two male siblings To Rokome and To Igoro who have namesakes in the clan to this day. 

Ia Pele , while visiting relatives in Matalau Village became a Christian after George Brown of the Methodist church introduced the faith in 1875. She brought the “new Magic” as it was known at the time to Ratavul. She paid the church at Matalau with Shell money and along with two missionaries(a Tongan and Fijian) set off for Kurakukup. 

A house was built at Kurakukup to house the two missionaries. Ia Pele provided them with food and security since people at the time were hostile and cannibalism was still  Widely Practiced. While the two missionaries would sing hymns, pray and read the bible, they soon won the admiration of the people and that’s how the church was born in the Area, by God’s grace.

The first lot of people who were converted were Ia Pele and her close relations followed by the rest of the village. The mission station was made at Ravaulai where the two Baining sisters had come ashore from .  Also, the the two missionaries who lived their Lives at Ratavul died and were buried there. But their graves were destroyed during World War 2. The original church buildings have since been destroyed but service is still Conducted there in a Hall and Fundrasing is underway for the construction of a new Church building. 

15/7/2007 - Pastor Vetuna & Marama Serah

14/7/2007 - Toksave

1   Reconciliation event between Fiji and the Tolais has been scheduled for the 15th August at the location of the original event "Tung Na Parau"

2   The late Simeon Puipui's "Git Na Vudu" feast has been scheduled for the 25th August.

3   Congratulations to all the Ratavulians who voted for Dr. Marat who was declared winner of our electorate (Rabaul).

4   As of the 16th of July 2007, Ratavul has mobile coverage. So for example, if you're in Australia and own an Optus or Telstra phone, you may now SMS your relies in the cocoa gardens in Ratavul.... hahahah.

14/7/2007 - CHURCH DONATIONS

Ratavul Community Hall 

This is the community hall which is currently being used as the church.

We have received donations totalling K21,000 (AUS$10,000). The church is grateful to Mr Allan Marat for his kind gift. This will go towards the building of the new church.

14/7/2007 - POST ERUPTION 1994

During the early days of the 1994 eruption, when people were looking for drinking

Water , “ Rakewer pump” at Ravalian became a focal source of water for many along

NCR and “Paparatai-mero (which includes villages from Tavui to Matalau)when water sources dried up or became affected by the eruption. People would literally walk for miles with water containers to get water.

When the Gazelle Restoration Authority (GRA) was formed to restore Rabaul, Blocks of land were given to some of the villagers in Asing near Sonoma Teachers College. The constant upkeep of blocks in Asing and in other freehold land in places like Vudal and Vunapalading means there has been a shift in population from the village to people’s blocks, but people still tend to rotate between their land and the Village.