Have you ever wondered how an island can be named after a bird? Looking at Manubada Island, also known as Local Island, you might just get it. The island is a small, low-lying island situated in Walter Bay near Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. In the Motu language, Manubada means “big bird,” due to its shape that resembles a bird in flight. Nestled within the harbour, Manubada Island was once a military outpost for the Australian Army. The story goes that during World War II, the island was used for bombing practice. Unsuspecting fishermen often stumbled upon unexploded bombs on the island. Ray Fairfield, a resident of Port Moresby, recalled the days he searched for these bombs on the island. He was a member of a SCUBA club and they would often find these bombs in the shallow water. They would mark them with a demolition charge and “light the blue touchpaper”. This small island with its fascinating past stands as a reminder of the battles fought and the scars left behind. Today, the island is a popular spot for swimming, fishing, and picnicking and a gentle reminder of its captivating past.
Paga Hill Telikom Tower
“A useless place of rocks and stones” they called it. Yet here we stand before the Paga Hill Telikom Tower