A sentimental journey – OH YES – and a very special opportunity.

Taking a day off ( a rare event for all of us), The Kingstons took me out on Tsunami to Salamaua – 45 min by boat from Lae.

It was a special moment, setting foot on the sands on the land where my father’s family come from. It is the quiet, tropical island paradise in your mind’s eye.

I can’t imagine what it was like in the 1930’s and before Japanese occupation and the evacuation of the area in 1942.

We walked through the village, meeting the local Salamauan’s enjoying a relaxing Sunday, and we also visited the cemetery. It has been so interesting to read up on my family history – and find out more about PNG and my connection to the country and the people.

Thanks to Keith and Michael for this very special day.

The ladies are all widows or abandoned wives, who are homeless, and have been sleeping at Pastor Bill Page’s Church until accommodation, could be found for them.

Say no more – just look at those happy faces.

Commodore Peter Illau and Sue Liu

Of course I can’t tell you what we discussed – because that’s CLASSIFIED Information – TOP SECRET! I put this photo in – because I LIKE it!

Zulu’s client NCS is a key service provider to PNG DF! Commander Illau was the guest speaker at the NCS Conference in November and kindly granted me an interview at DF HQ in Port Moresby.

For more information about what NCS do for PNGDF – visit www.ncs.com.pg

On the edge of a Goldmine

On one of my recent trips to PNG for Zulu’s client NCS , I had the opportunity to visit the world’s 5th largest open cut Goldmine on Lihir Island in the remote north of the country.

I can’t show you much more – but the trucks are HUGE and the pit is HUGE – how much more eloquent can I be??

Lihir Gold Limited’s operation on Lihir – is supported by NCS, who provide the Camp Management and Catering Services for the 300o man operation!

Zulu Communications provides Strategic Business, Marketing and PR services to NCS – who has extensive commercial catering and camp management services across PNG. You can find out more on the NCS website ( which I built and launched in December 2008) by visiting www.ncs.com.pg

Here’s the story about crossing the Mumeng River in Papua New Guinea.

Watching the morning river crossing is a major spectator sport for the villagers

During my September trip to PNG and on one of our travel days – we were on the road at 7:30am to travel the 3-4 hours of mountain roads up to one of our mine sites – Hidden Valley.

The journey promised to be exciting and the day long – as we planned to visit two sites this day – which required us to cross the swollen Mumeng River about an hour out of town.

It had been raining hard all night and steadily spitting with rain in the morning as we left Lae.

As we crossed over the bridges on the way – we felt that it was a fair expectation that the river would be up and this major crossing where there was no bridge.

Arriving at Mumeng

When we arrived at 9:00am- we joined a queue of 4WDs and trucks on our side of the river – and got out to survey the scene. We watched the trucks and vehicles crossing and decided to give it a go and fang it across the river.

Hairy scarey or WHAT! We crossed – went up to Hidden Valley mine site – and were back on the nose of 2pm – racing the rain clouds in the mountain – to cross back over before the afternoon rains from the mountains made it to this part of the river, making the crossing impossible.

The big diggers are trying to build up the bed of the river so that the vehicles can cross

Surveying the scene and deciding whether to cross

I stepped the wrong way – ended up ankle deep in mud – and entertained the locals….

Then it's our turn

We're up next

ROCK AND ROLL – whoo hooo

I have only ever been mistaken for a “white” person once before – in Zimbabwe in Africa… and now here in PNG – it seems there is only black and white with no other shades or colours in between.

On my drive around the island of Lihir – we stopped half way around to visit a village on the beach who had just finished their church service.

I stepped out of our vehicle – and immediately spotted some children playing on the black sand beach.

I followed the kids down the beach – with my camera and was followed by more kids and we had ourselves a little photo session – most of them were fascinated!

One of the little boys in the group started to cry- and I was then told that he was scared because I am WHITE and he thinks I am a ghost. They don’t see any other people in this part of the island – so I am considered white and frightening.

Can you spot the ghost?

Here are some of the photos from my very short time with this village.

On route to Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea with my client early this month – a few things happened which would certainly stop most people in their tracks.

On arrival at Sydney Airport at 6:00am – I was informed that PNG’s national carrier had changed planes ( smaller plane) and that I didn’t have a seat on it. My client Marcus was already though immigration and in the Qantas Club having the ONLY real coffee we were going to get for 5 days……………………………

I was told that only after check-in closed would I know if I had a seat on the plane. There were 5 of us standing by the check-in counter in a quiet panic.

No amount of jumping up and down and panic stricken phone calls was going to make a hill of beans of difference in this situation. Long story short – we made it on the flight – getting our boarding passes one by one ( I was last) 15 minutes before the flight was scheduled to depart.

As punishment for getting on the plane – about – 20 of us didn’t receive our luggage at the other end.

So – I had arrived on a tropical island after a very long day of travel and set for 4 more days of intensive work – “sans luggage”.

Marcus had called ahead to let the crew know that I need to have in my room ” all the things that a woman needs”. They were told to prepare for a “small” woman.

When I arrived – there were indeed – all the toiletries in the world that a woman could want – AND more……….. and a pile of small clothes ( not a small pile of clothes – a pile of small clothes) on the bed. The girls had done their best at the local market.

They had also lovingly put a fruit and cheese platter in the fridge – SO thoughtful. That’s “rockstar” service if you ask me!

YOU’RE NOT SMALL……………..

Never have three words had so much impact on me – or made me laugh so much.

The first thing Tarama ( the girl whose task it was to create my room) said was – after looking me up and down :” You’re not small – they told me you were small – you’re not small”

To which I replied : ” I would have said medium myself”

I was introduced from then on as: “This is Sue. She’s NOT small”

SO here’s how it panned out:

• the clothes very thoughtfully selected for me ( from a limited local market selection mind you) and washed and ironed – would have fit a 16 year old girl – either that or I would have looked like a hooker wearing them.
• one very thoughtful staff member bought me a t-shirt and copped an absolute ribbing from the bosses for it. ( It was very sweet – you guys are SO mean)
• I was given a new pair of steel capped work boots to save killing my new leather boots on the rocky paths. TWO sizes too big tho – so I clomped around like “olive oyl” for a few days – the steel caps doing absolutely NO good if I had have tripped over and face planted the road.
• my luggage finally arrived Sydney -via Brisbane- Via Port Moresby – Via Rabaul -to Lihir afternoon of the 3rd day. I left at the break of day on day 5. Thanks Air Nugini……………………. NOT

Thanks though to NCS for such care and “rock star” treatment. I truly had a ball up on Lihir and can’t wait to come back!

Gathered together were perhaps 250 local workers who were on shift at that time to, amongst other things – find out who the employee of the month award winners were…………………………

STAFF CHICKEN AWARDS

That’s right – the employees of the month win a chicken!

The staff chicken awards are a serious incentive and reward program – not a joke! Most local employees live in village environment where food and supplies have to stretch across many people. A chicken reward is JUST what the “doctor ordered”!

I’ve never seen people so proud and happy to receive a chicken, and it’s so very, very simple, appropriate, relevant, meaningful, practical AND appreciated!

Giving: Zulu regularly gives special gourmet sauce as a gift – and most people receive a funky Zulu pen – and although small and low-priced items, both have big impact and is sincerely appreciated and remembered by all those who receive it!

Receiving: I often receive movie vouchers and scratchies, and one of Zulu’s associates has given gifts of LARGE boxes of handmade, delicious gourmet chocolates for successful referrals. I LOVE IT! One gift helps me switch off and be entertained, one gift could make me rich and one gift is sure to keep me happy during my 3:00pm slump!

So what works and what doesn’t work?

• What do you give as acknowledgements, incentives and rewards to your client or staff?
• What kinds of things have you received from your clients, associates or employers?
• Does the value of the spend need to equate to or reflect the level of appreciation?

I’d love to know what you think! Leave a comment on by blog!!

PS: The chickens are frozen by the way…. not live……………………..