Lumi Village in Sandaun Province receives huge boost in both telecommunication and training facilities, during World Environment Day.

For the first time, locals in the remote Sandaun Province communities of Lumi District will have access to important health, education and scientific information courtesy of the world wide web.

Two new facilities were opened during this occassion, the VSAT Internet and the Community Training Centre.

The VSAT Internet Satellite Dish was funded by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and unveiled by David Peter a representative of WWF, after the releasing of butterflies to signify the importance of World Environment Day.

the other facility was the Community Training Centre funded by New Zealand Aid and opened by Sustainable Development Program, Board of Member Trish Caswell.

Tenkile Conservation Alliance's communication systems now included a VHF radio, satellite telephone and internet system which will provide locals with access to a broad range of information that up until now was unheard of in this part of the District.

Speaking at the opening ceremony at the TCA Base in Lumi via Skype, was Professor Tim Flannery, a Conservationist based in Australia who had initially discovered the Tenkile or Scott's Tree Kangaroo in the Torricelli Mountain Range in 1989.

Professor Flannery thanked the people of Lumi for their assistance in helping the work of research and conservation of the Tenkiles and he congratulated Jim and Jean Thomas for their efforts and involvement within the communities for the past seven years, through implementing, reseach, conservation training and sustainable livelihood projects.

Other speeches of acknowledgement towards the work of the Tenkile Conservation Alliance were from the Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Mr. Chris Moraitis who on behalf of the Australian Government congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Thomas for their work and the people of Lumi for their advancement in telecommunications. Dimity Fifer, CEO for Australian Volunteers International also gave her speech via U-Tube.

TCA Project Manager, Jim Thomas said that with the availability of the newly built Community Training Centre it will be used for Conservation Area Management Training workshops, Research Officer Trainings, rabbit and chicken farming workshops, HIV/AIDS Training and also a meeting place for village business.

The Tenkile project has been existent in the Lumi area for over seven years now and has been generously supported with funding made available through such agencies as the Sustainable Development Program (SDP), New Zealand Aid, Australian Volunteers International (AVI), Zoos Victoria, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and KK Kingston.

Other dignitaries present to witness the occassion was Governor of Sandaun Province Simon Solo, Provincial Administrator Joe Sungi, District Administrators, Representatives from the office of the Member for Aitape-Lumi Electorate, Representatives from the Freda Mine and many others.