Just when the country is looking forward to celebrating 50 years of Independence, our great nation of Papua New Guinea is hit with the passing of the last man standing, the Right Hon. Sir Julius Sungmen Chan GCL GCMG KBE PC. At the age of 85, the late Sir Julius peacefully passed away today at 12:30pm at his home at Manmantinut, Huris in New Ireland Province. Born on August 29th, 1939, on the Tanga Islands North-East of New Ireland, Sir Julius first became actively involved in politics in the 1960s. He was elected to represent the Namatanai district of New Ireland province in the pre-independence House of Assembly in 1968 and was re-elected in 1792, 1977, 1982, 1987 and 1992. Sir Julius first became Prime Minister on 11th March 1980, succeeding the country’s first Prime Minister and Founding Father the Late Sir Michael Somare He served as PM from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He was Knighted as a Knight Commander of Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1981. As a political icon, his legacy will remain forever in the pages of our history books and more so in the hearts of so many. The late Sir Julius is survived by his wife Lady Stella Chan and children Vanessa, Byron, Mark and Toea.