Every Grand Chief deserves a crown

We learned today that two former parliamentarians and a former police commissioner are recipients of the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu in the 2012 New Year honours list. The award carries with it the title of grand chief. They are Sinai Brown, former member for Gazelle in East New Britain, Sir Akepa Miakwe a former member for Unggai-Bena in Eastern Highlands and former police commissioner and former chief ombudsman Ila Geno.

Now that this special Order of the Grand Chief (Poobah) is growing, we feel it is time to introduce some heraldry and, at very least, a hat.

Having spent some time will milliners, set decorators and museum curators over this, a few possibilities present themselves. We could always follow custom and go with a more secretive, or exclusive, would-be Duk Duk look.

Or we might spare a nod to the Commonwealth, which of course is what these honours are all about.

Certainly some of the copper and nickel mines facilitated by our Poobahs could be asked to contribute. And of course, still on the Commonwealth theme, we might consider a nice fascinator, again with a flora/fauna focus.

But it wouldn't be PNG if we didn't propose something alittle more syncretic---both utterly modern, and completely traditional at the same time.

Quite a few Poobahs of the region have borrowed the kumul feathers of our home to create their own pomp and circumstance.

And there is no dearth of local options.

There is of course a traditional of highlands wear during the Queens Honours.

And yet some of the more wistful possibilities are definitely lowland.

Yes, I know, we all have our favourites. Whom amongst us wouldn't want to see the first and the new Grand Chiefs donned in sulus and great balsa wood headdresses? But in the end, I do believe that simple is elegant, and nothing could be more in keeping with the irony of multiple Grand Chiefs than a beautiful and democratic headdress of the least exclusive order.

Comments

[Dorothee Bourquin Caulfield]

Nancy,
How delightful to see your fun and work! It's so nice to see where you live and move and have your being.
Bless your work and you.
Dorothee Bourquin Caulfield