PNG at 50 🇵🇬 | Unitech Reds Inspire Unity Through Rosso Lae Community Clean-A-Thon

Lae, Tuesday, 6 May 2025 – The Unitech Reds Rugby Union Club took the lead in the Rosso Lae Community Clean-A-Thon on Saturday, 3 May, mobilising students and local residents in a strong show of civic pride and social responsibility.

Beginning at 6am, players, Unitech student groups, and residents from Stone Gate, East Taraka, and West Taraka joined the club for a clean-up drive stretching from Unigate bus stop to Limki (Kuima Base).

The Unitech Reds, an affiliate of the Morobe Rugby Football Union (MRFU), is made up of students, university staff, staff dependents, and members of the surrounding community around the university campus. As a club rooted in the heart of the University of Technology, it plays an important role in shaping positive attitudes both within the campus and in the neighbouring suburbs.

Club President Sael Pennington praised the cleanathon initiative and reflected on the deeper purpose behind the effort.

“This is a positive step towards creating a peaceful and civilised society,” Pennington said. “As a sporting club based within the university community, we see it as our duty to instil positive mindsets—not only in our student body but also among our neighbours.”

The club coordinated the effort with the kind of discipline and unity they bring to the rugby field. Their involvement was not just about collecting rubbish, but about reinforcing a culture of ownership, leadership, and service.

“We wanted to lead by example. Actions like this teach our players and youth that respect for the environment and community begins with small steps,” Pennington added.

The Rosso Lae Community Clean-A-Thon continues to grow as a grassroots movement across the city, showing how teamwork and civic action can contribute to a cleaner, prouder Papua New Guinea—especially as the country celebrates its 50th year of independence.