When the Paeroa Croquet Club had its first day of play for the season, Hellen McHardy went dressed head to toe not in her sports gear, but in traditional Papua New Guinea attire.
The opening happened to fall on the same day as her homeland’s 50th Independence Day, and while she still played a round of croquet, she also shared her culture with her clubmates.
“I had to wear my traditional clothes to go down to the club and play,” she told The Profile. “Everybody said ‘wow’. They kept clapping their hands and they said, ‘we’re going to recognise you, so come and explain’, so I explained it to them.”
Papua New Guinea’s Independence Day is celebrated annually on September 16 to mark its independence from Australia in 1975.
Hellen has lived in Paeroa with her husband Gary since 2003. Together, they own 100% McHardys along the main street, and she hopes one day to bring the Independence Day celebrations to the town.
“One day, this might be just a dream, but one day I would like to bring the culture – just for September 16 – so people in Paeroa can see.”
Originally from Ialibu, a small township in the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, Hellen comes from a village called Pouka.
She explained that the country upholds the Wantok system – a cultural value that acts as a social glue, fostering altruism and community.
“You see, in our culture, we have to give back to our community and our people, like my parents. It’s just a specific way of helping. We call it the Wantok [one talk] system,” she said.
“Your community helps you, your family helps you, then when they are in need, you help them back.”
From their home in New Zealand, Hellen and Gary have sponsored the education of three young people in Papua New Guinea, supporting them through university and into employment.
They also continue to send help back to the village, particularly in times of need, such as when someone dies.
“It’s a big, connected culture,” Hellen said.
That’s why it was important for her to mark the country’s 50th Independence Day and why, on September 16, she proudly donned the colours of Papua New Guinea – complete with a headpiece Gary had worn on their wedding day back in 1998.
“Papua New Guinea’s got 800 different languages, and every language comes with different cultural attires,” she said. “For example, Paeroa would have its own language, and the same with Waihī, so it’s very hard to communicate with each other.
“I really miss just being up there in Papua New Guinea,” she said, “and for Papua New Guinea Independence Day, they not only celebrate it.. it’s more the people come to life.”
BY KELLEY TANTAU
