'Grams' Agatha Waramin

 

EARLY LIFE

Late Agatha Waramin was born Agatha Yowori Wakahanduo on 25th May, 1944 in Mawindoku village, Wewak District. She was the first child of Peter Wakahanduo and Cecilia Jaramanay. She lived with her wawo’s wife at Mawindoku while her family lived at Koiken village or small village called Havihasa and later moved to Koiken to attend school.

She attended Wirui Primary School, completing standard 1-6 and later went to Rabaul completing Standard Form 1 to Form 4 at Our Lady of Sacred Heart (OLSH) Vunapope.  She started her teacher training the following year at OLSH, Kabalio Teachers college and graduated as a Primary School teacher. She then returned to Wewak and taught at Dagua Catholic Mission Primary School 1962-1966. 

MARRAGE AND FAMILY

At the age of 22 in 1966, Agatha meet Clement Waramin. Two years later and 1968, they exchanged rings in Christ the King Cathedral, Wirui and got married. Eventually they had seven children: Edward, Late Louis, Daniel, Louis, late Robert, Sheila and Pierre. She followed her husband to Port Moresby in 1976 where they settled in Hohola 3 and raised their children. She continued her teaching career at the Hohola Youth Demonstration until 1983, when the family moved to Gerehu Stage 2 and settled.

Timeline of significant events in her life

HOBBIES AND SERVICES

She was very active in the church, community, local arts & craft market etc. She devoted many hours to arts and craft, apart from raising her children with her husband. Her designs become popular and she traveled to countries including Tahiti, Cook Island, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand and France for various shows and expos. She is also listed under Australian Prints + Printmaking artists, in the art search for her Bilum ‘Maranka’ design which was donated to the Redland Art Gallery in Australia.

 

Agatha Waramin Bilum (Kundu drum pattern) 1994 Acrylicfibre and wool yarn Redland Art Gallery Collection. Donated by Ross Searle,2017.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

·       1985, 1988, 1992 & 2000 Pacific Festival of Arts in Papeete, Tahiti; Townsville, Australia; Rarotonga, Cook Islands and Noumea, New Caledonia.

·         1992 First Prize at Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Port Moresby

·         1994 Tourism Promotion Authority Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Townsville during their Holiday and Travel Show

ILLNESS

In 1996 Agatha suffered a ‘stroke’ and was diagnosed as a diabetic. Despite her condition, she continued to sell 'brus' (local tobacco) and 'ice-block' (frozen cordial) at the market to support her family. This shows her determination, courage and unconditional love to continue to support her husband to raise their children.

She later developed Pneumonia in May 2018 and was admitted to Port Moresby General Hospital where she passed away after 9 days on the 22^nd of May 2018.

MEMORIES

I asked family and friends to tell me about what they remember most was about late Agatha Waramin. There are so many good memories;

One that I remember in particular is the time when I spent a few good months with her at their home at Gerehu in 2017. She is always sweet and caring and has something good to say to me, my siblings and cousins as her 'bubus'. She would criticize us on our choice of girls and always want to know who our girlfriends were! When we are having meals, she would tell us stories of when she was a little girl and how she met our grandfather. Those were some of my best memories with her.

SUMMING UP

Late Agatha Waramin was a remarkably thoughtful; hardworking; fun-loving person she was a person of great character, love, compassion, devotion and humor.

Above all she believed in family, faith, community and compassion.  One of her favorite saying was “Jesus laikim heart bilong you”.

In closing, I would like to share this poem with you.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I don’t sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am a diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

Gramms, thankyou for being part of our lives. We are all going to miss you.