Lae, Morobe , Thursday, 8 May 2025 – In a deeply moving and historic return to Lae, 89-year-old Fred Stolz, the founding principal of Balob Teachers College, stood before an emotional crowd of students, staff, and alumni on Thursday to deliver what may be his final address on Papua New Guinean soil.
Stolz, who founded the college in 1965 and left in 1979, spoke with heartfelt emotion as he recounted the humble beginnings of Balob — now one of the country’s most respected teacher training institutions.
Choking back tears, the elderly educator declared, “Coming to Papua New Guinea in 1965 was the best thing I ever did… It changed my life for the better.”
With his wife Lois and four children — Theresa, Michael, Graeme, and Steven — by his side, as well as grandchildren Brenton and Matthew, Stolz was visibly overwhelmed as he reflected on the legacy built from what was once a dusty construction site in the early 1960s.
“In 1965, we started with just 93 students — 20 of them women. We were delighted when 58 graduated as qualified teachers at the end of that year,” he recalled. “Since then, more than 10,000 teachers have been trained at Balob. This is an amazing achievement.”
He praised the Lutheran Church, the Anglican Church, and international partners including Germany and Australia for supporting the vision of a unified teacher training college. He paid tribute to his former colleagues — many now passed — and spoke fondly of the students who went on to serve across the country, especially the women who defied early doubts about their longevity in the profession.
Stolz remembered one such woman he met in 2005 who had spent 35 years teaching in remote areas. “This pleased me immensely,” he said. “It showed how seriously our students took the college motto: To Serve.”
In one of the most poignant moments of the ceremony, Stolz announced that friends and family in Australia had raised K20,000 to support the college’s future. “At my age, this will probably be my last visit… but I’ve learned to never say never,” he said.
Stolz also proudly noted that his grandson, Brenton Kanowski, is now the Australian Consul-General in Lae—bringing the family’s PNG story full circle.
“Lois and I are delighted that our family and grandchildren are involved here. It keeps us in touch with what’s happening in this beautiful country.”
As Papua New Guinea celebrates its 50th year of independence, Stolz offered a powerful reminder of the importance of education in nation-building: “My prayer is that Balob will continue this tremendous contribution of service to the country and community.”
The anniversary celebration was not just a tribute to the past — it was a passing of the torch, a reminder of the foundations laid by pioneers like Stolz who believed in Papua New Guinea long before independence.
And as he took his final bow, his voice trembled with gratitude and conviction: “I said I would always be a supporter of the Papua New Guinean people. I believe I’ve kept this promise.”
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