SYDNEY, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Ogio passed away on Saturday at the age of 75.
The island nation's vice-regal had been dealing with illness for some time, and had just returned to the island after receiving medical treatment in Australia, with the official cause of death listed as liver, kidney and cardiopulmonary failure.
Speaking on Monday, his son Benedict Ogio, said his father was a great man, who was always willing to help those in need.
"Being my father, and also a leader, I will remember him as being open to everyone," Ogio said.
"He was not just my father, but a father to everyone."
Ogio said his father began as a primary school teacher, and rose through the education ranks before getting into politics in the 1970's; eventually serving four terms in office, before becoming the nation's governor general.
Commemoration services, or "haskurai", will be held in Port Moresby this week for the former governor-general.
