Members of the media, families, relatives, and friends farewelled veteran journalist Simon Papage in Honiara on Saturday, during his funeral service.
Papage, who hailed from Makira-Ulawa Province, died suddenly last Tuesday at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara after a short illness.
His body was sent to his home village for burial.
The late Papage started his media career in the early 1970s before the country gained its independence in 1978.
That was after studying journalism in New Zealand.
He worked on the government newspaper then, the News Drum.
When the newspaper was closed before independence, the late Papage and others moved on to work with what is now the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC).
Papage served SIBC as a senior news reporter for many years before he retired around 2010.
At the time of his passing, he was a part-time sub-editor with the Solomon Star.
Media friends remembered the late Simon as a hardworking and humble journalist, who loved his profession.
Solomon Star editor Ofani Eremae said the late Papage is not only a journalist, but also a teacher.
“We engaged Simon as a part-time sub-editor not only because of his experience, but also because we want him to teach our young reporters the proper way of presenting news,” Eremae said.
“Simon has with him a wealth of experience both as a radio and print journalist. It was on that basis that we decided to engage him to share his experience with our young reporters,” he added.
Others remembered the late Papage as a great family man.
Relatives who spoke at yesterday’s funeral service said despite the nature of his job, which often required the late Papage to stay for long hours at work, he always prioritised his family.
Others remembered him for his humorous side of life.
“Simon has a basketful of jokes. He can crack jokes with you the whole day without running out of his jokes,” said a SIBC staff.
The late Papage is survived by his wife, six children, and 22 grandchildren.
By LESLEY SANGA
