Picture: [email protected]
On Friday June 4th 2010 Roz rowed into the harbour at Madang, Papua New Guinea, to a rapturous welcome by 5000 people.
Jan Messersmith writes about his encounter with Roz: http://www.messersmith.name/wordpress/2010/06/03/the-soaring-spirit-roz-savage/
Sir Peter Barter wrote:
Roz Savage arrived in Madang this morning at 0800.
The former Governor of Madang Province, Sir Peter Barter, said she was escorted in by a flotilla of 100 traditional canoes from all the villages around: “They had leis and flowers and guided her into the harbour.”
More than 5000 men, women and children, many in traditional dress, lined the entrance of Dallman Passage and Kalibobo Village, waving as she moved slowly into the dock at the Madang Resort, where Roz will stay as a guest for four weeks.
On arrival she was met by customs, immigration, quarantine and officially cleared and then welcomed by the Governor Sir Arnold Amet. Literally hundreds of people shook hands with Roz, and had pictures taken.
Sir Peter welcomed her, explained the purpose of her visit, and Roz then spoke saying she chose Madang on the advice of Jean Michel Cousteau who visited Madang in the 80′s with his father, Jacques Cousteau, the famous family known for their underwater research and filming, both of whom spent several months at the Madang Resort with their famous vessels making a film.
Picture: Peter Barter.
Roz spoke of the millions of strokes and together she had crossed an ocean; she went on to tell the people that they too could make a contribution by many people doing small things to look after the environment.
She told the crowd that during her stay she would visit schools, meet the students and talk to them about protecting the planet, our only planet!
Numerous people presented bilum bags, yabob pots and other gifts as an appreciation and the formal welcome was done by children from Milne Bay and students of Krangket Island.
