Funeral for PNG plane victim as Australian bodies returned
PHOTO
The wreckage of an Airlines PNG Twin Otter aircraft lies in the jungle near the Kokoda Track and north of the Papua New Guinea village of Isurava, August 15, 2009.
Emma Pollard, Liam Fox
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The first funeral service for one of the Papua New Guineans killed in a plane crash near PNG's Kokoda track, has been held.
Around 300 people gathered in St Paul's chapel in Port Moresby to farewell Kingsley Eroro.
Mr Eroro was among 13 people, including nine Australians who died when an Airlines PNG flight crashed in rugged terrain near Kokoda a fortnight ago.
The 55 year old plant foreman was described as a religious man deeply committed to his family and community.
One of his four children Daisy Eroro fought back tears as she described her father.
"He is the roof over my head, the food on the table, the education I've gained," she said.
Mr Eroro's body will be buried in his birthplace at Kokoda.
Bodies return to Australia
Earlier, the bodies of the nine Australians who were killed in the crash, arrived in Australia.
Two of the Australians were from the state of Queensland; the other nine were from Victoria.
An Australian Defence Force Hercules aircraft carrying the bodies touched down at Queensland's Brisbane Airport at about midday on Wednesday.
Two coffins were unloaded from the aircraft before it continued on to Melbourne, in Victoria.
Memorial services will be held in Queensland in the next week for sports physician Dr June Canavan and her friend Keith Gracie.
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