Amphlett Islands 1965 – photos from Jim van der Kamp
The following photographs were taken by Jim Van Der Kamp. Jim joined the PNG Public Health Department’s Malaria Control Programme as a Field Officer in January 1965 after 18 months service in the Army as a Medico in what was then Dutch New Guinea (now West Papua) and a break back in Holland.
Following a few weeks in Popondetta and Wanigela, Jim’s first posting was at Bolubolu Patrol Post on Goodenough Island where he remained for 5 months. He then spent 14 months at Mapamoiwa on Fergusson Island, patrolling all the D’Entrecasteaux islands including Woodlark and the Trobriand islands. In mid 1966 Jim was transferred to Rabaul for further training at the then Malaria Institute. In January 1967 he was posted to Minj in the Western Highlands as District Malaria Supervisor, moving to Mount Hagen in 1969. September 1973 saw a posting to Kieta, Bougainville, as Provincial Malaria Supervisor. After six and a half years of extensive patrolling, Jim, in 1980, was transferred to Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province and took up the position of Regional Inspector covering most of the Highland Provinces. Jim went “finish” in February 1985.
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The Amphlett Group consists of 14 islands and islets that are arranged loosely in a ring shaped formation of 21 km by 16 km with a further 5 islands located 3.5 km to the east, outside of the main ring. The islands are hilly, rising to 586 m above sea level on Yabwaia and to 457 m on Wamea. The main islands include Wamea, Wawiwa, and Yabwaia.
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To view a ‘Google’ map of the Amphlett Islands, click here
On the beach - a group of Islanders
Woman from Nuagasi village, Nabwageta Island - the nose decoration is not a bone but a ground part of a clamshell
Same woman as previous (centre) with two younger women - the one on the left had contracted polio during childhood.
Note the woolly hair on this woman
I am using a local navigator to go from Island to Island doing Malaria Control work. Here we are approachingGumawana - the Trobriand people know it as Gumasila.
Women in front of sea-going canoes
Moving a canoe at high tide
Strong young man in 'Pandanus leaf' trousers!
Woman specialised in clay-pot making - note that the only tools used are sea shells
Food cooking in a clay pot
The clay pot maker posing with an unfinished pot
Some of the beautiful Amphlett claypots
The pots are used extensively in the traditional "Kula" trading
Balancing a heavy basket of breadfruit
The MASSIM Archipelago spans 18 island communities and in this respect is synonymous with a ceremonial exchange system known as the Kula exchange or Kula ring. It involves thousands of individuals with participants travelling hundreds of miles by canoe in order to exchange Kula valuables.
