I think the Aussies, having read Naomi McPherson's article on childbirth, thought they were following cultural ways when they set this thing up. However, it has never really gotten off the ground. The building stands, but it does not function in its intended purpose. The women still deliver on the beach, often without telling anyone they are in labor. There are no more expats in Gloucester.
School is probably one of the few things that has improved over the years.
The first was at Bambak in 1995, and in 1996, another at Apising to serve both Kokopo and Gurisi. The idea at that time was to have west Bariai go to Bambak and east Bariai go to Apising. Akonga at first agreed to send their kids to Bambak, but then later started their own. In 1997 the villages from Bambak to Alaido broke off from Bomai and started their own community school, which rather quickly became approved by the province as an elementary school with a primary school for grades 3-8. Even though Akonga is now the only village sending their kids to Bomai, they also have recently been granted elementary status with permission to go up to grade 8.