3, 2, 1

[traditional PNG war dance]

These kids are celebrating the culture of their country, Papua New Guinea.

There's arts and craft, traditional outfits, a coconut cracking competition, and even a

coconut race! It's all their way of celebrating an important moment in their country's history.

Hi I'm Isobel, Hi I'm Jemimah, and I'm Mason, we're all grade 6 students from the Ela Murray

International School in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

We're celebrating the independence of Papua New Guinea, which took place 40 years ago.

It's all about when PNG gained their independence, and when they took the Australian flag down

and put the PNG flag back up.

Independence Day here celebrates the moment more than 700 tribes of Papuans united to

form a single independent country, Papua New Guinea.

Before then, this beautiful region had been controlled by many nations, including Australia!

After these islands were discovered by Europeans, Britain and Germany set up colonies there.

They were called German New Guinea and the Territory of Papua, which ended up being controlled

by Australia. During the First World War Australia also seized German New Guinea, renaming it

the Territory of New Guinea. After the war ended Australia set up plantations and gold mines.

But big parts of the region stayed the same because the thick tropical jungle and high

mountains made it hard to get around. In the Second World War those thick forests became

an important battleground in the Pacific.

The Japanese invaded the island. But the thick, hot, wet jungle here on the Kokoda trail made

it hard for them. So it was there that the Australians, Americans and local Papuans helped

push the invaders back. It was one of the most important victories in the war in the

Pacific and the Papuans that took part are still remembered for saving many Australian lives.

After the Second World War Australia remained in charge of the area. But in the early 1970s

the territories of Papua and New Guinea combined, held elections and then in 1975 became an

official independent country: Papua New Guinea. Since then PNG has grown and changed a lot.

If PNG wasn't independent we wouldn't have different cultures and we wouldn't be celebrating

things every single year.

[Carl] They still embrace the traditional way of life in the region. But PNG has also kept

a close relationship with countries like Australia. In fact these guys say there aren't that many

differences between the two nations!

[BTN Intro Music]

At this school they even watch BtN!

We’re officially BTN’s biggest overseas fans. Each and every Friday we watch BTN rain,

hail or shine - and we just love it.

After each episode of BTN we play quiz masters where we post BTN questions to our class mates

and teachers - here’s an example right now.

Hi BTN fan’s, I’m Kenneth with your quiz fact of the weeeeek. FACT, did you Aussie

kids know that PNG has 800 spoken languages? EIGHT HUNDRED!? That’s a lot of dictionaries

my green and gold friends.

Think what I like most about BTN is how we learn about world news

in a really really fun way.

And I’m really like the sport because I live and breath sports.

But the best thing about BTN is how they always make the news interesting and fun.

I just want my big head on television!

We love our island home of PNG, but it's great to find out news from our neighbour country

Australia, and the issues that shape our world.

[Carl] They say they're excited to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of PNG's independence

and they hope Australians will celebrate with them!

So if you ever pop into Port Moresby, make sure you pop into TEMIS as well and say hello!

Bye bye!