Isurava, Northern (Oro) Province, April 25, 2024 – Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has commended the Biage people of Northern (Oro) Province for the significant role they played in World War II up till today.
He said this at an emotional ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Isurava along the Kokoda Trail today attended by the Biage people, Australian Prime Minister Hon. Anthony Albanese, Northern Governor Hon. Garry Juffa, Australian High Commissioner H.E John Feakes, members of the Australian and Papua New Guinea defence forces, Australian and PNG officials, alongside 200 Australian trekkers making a pilgrimage and their porters.
The Dawn Service was the highlight of a two-day trek by the two prime ministers from Kokoda to Isurava and was the first time ever for the Biage people to see two prime ministers together at the same time.
Prime Minister Marape said the Biage people were a peaceful people forced into a war that was not their doing and greatly assisted Australia forces during the dark days of WWII. Governor Juffa also spoke about the remarkable role of the Biage people, who he said formed the bulk of the ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’, during WWII.
The Biage people, to this day, continue to show their peacefulness and hospitality by being guides and porters in the lucrative Kokoda trekking industry, PNG’s biggest tourism product.
The Biage people are from rugged and unforgiving country in the Kokoda Trail villages of Isurava, Alola, Hoi and Kovelo. They also come from Abuari, Haela, Felai, Kaile and Hagutava villages along the Felai-Abuari Track and Savaia, Ebei and Kanga villages in the Kokoda flatland.
Isurava was the site of a significant WWII battle and now one of the most-sacred sites along the trail.
During the period from August 27-30, 1942, under almost constant attack, soldiers of the 39th Australian Militia Battalion and the 2/14th Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, with the help of the 2/16th Battalion and the 53rd Battalion, held back the advancing Japanese at Isurava.
It was here that Private Bruce Kingsbury of the 2/14th Battalion was post-humously awarded thefirst Victoria Cross ever won on Australian territory, as Papua then was, for bravery.
“I want to appreciate the Biage people, chiefs, children, those who were here past, present and those who will continue on living with the memories of this place,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“I want to say thank you to the Biage people for your continued hospitality.
“The Biage people are peaceful people who live peacefully up till today.
“They stand watch, on this solemn occasion (ANZAC Day), every year gone by up till today.
“They teach us, the rest of PNG, and the world, about peace at all costs.”
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