13. Staff
Farm Alstonia was a little united nations of PNG. It's people came from everywhere. While the core staff were islanders from New Britain and New Ireland, Kulaka, Yuti, Layu and John were Hulis from the Southern Highlands, Dulland from Bulolo, Lester from Sepik, Freddie, Kedo, Jerry from Milne Bay and Samon from Enga Joyce Pato had started the farm as a philanthropic venture 2007. Originally it was a kind of halfway house to assist young men who found themselves on the wrong side of the law. The farm became part home, part training centre, part job when they had served their punishment. When she and Rimbink bought the place it was a mixture of bush and kunai grass. Kulaka, a Southern Highlander, was Joyce's first employee. Joyce organised construction of a dormitory for the young men. Bit by bit she and Kulaka with the help of subcontractors built pig and chicken houses and other amenity blocks and houses. Joyce's niece Lyn Mantu planted the aboretum. M