Memories of PNG

A friend showed me the March 2023 edition of PNG Kundu, and I found it very interesting. Both my uncle, Bob Cole, and brother, Jim Sinclair, happened to be mentioned in it.

I first went to PNG in 1960 to visit my brother Jim in Wau where he was Sub-District Officer. Whilst there, the DC in Lae, Horrie Niall, needed a secretary for a short time so I went to Lae. His secretary was on two months’ leave so I thought my stay would be short.

I worked in Lae for a couple of years and met a patrol officer, married in 1963 and went to our first posting at Pindiu. This was the time when the first common roll was being drawn up prior to the election for a House of Assembly. I accompanied my husband on the common roll and the subsequent election patrols; an experience very few people are lucky enough to have.

Our other postings were in the Madang District—Bogia and Karkar Island. I have a strong love for PNG and its people and I treasure the 10 years I spent there. I am sure I will enjoy the connection being a member of the Association will bring me.
Renyl Willard

The Papuan Bugle Call 1939–1945: The War and its Ultimate Effects

Helene L Cronin OAM

Would you like a window into the past of Port Moresby during the Second World War? This book details the day-by-day experiences of (European) life in the ‘Port’ under military administration and in the face of Japanese aggression.

The author has created an A4-size coffee-table book dedicated to the capital’s enlisted inhabitants using war-time newspapers, photos and veteran memories. She has provided the ‘exploits of individuals’ staying in Port Moresby for short or long periods between 1939 and 1945.

War-time incidents (or accidents) in the capital area are presented in a snapshot on one page, sometimes two pages or more, with a patiently sought-after photo. These summaries have often been extracted from a wide variety of sources but, sadly, not always acknowledged on the page. One page might reflect multiple sources, whilst there are instances of valuable information from the author’s direct conversations with war veterans.

The original newspaper headings reproduced above each story are a feature of this book. A helpful Appendix shows the names of servicemen from Papua, mostly ANGAU officers, who are listed in the Army numerical sequence.

The author’s passion for Port Moresby is clear as is her research into her own family of servicemen and women. Readers can be grateful that the author has looked beyond her family to offer us tributes to many worthy servicemen and officials, for example, ‘Doc’ Vernon, Major Tom Grahamslaw, Squadron Leader John Jackson and the plantation owner, PJ McDonald. A bonus for the reader lies in the cameos that summarise the pre-war and post-war lives of all these worthy men and women.

Inevitably, in a self-published book of 538 pages, there are minor faults that an external proofreader could have remedied. The author strikes a balance between her descriptions of individual adventures and descriptions of the changing Port Moresby landscape.

There is, however, some imbalance in the handling of each year; for example, 1942 is covered by 202 pages, whereas 1944 has eight pages—demonstrating possibly the campaign action moving away from Port Moresby. But, as the author says, this is ‘not a conventional history book but a timeline’ which I found immensely interesting. There is potential here for these sources to be used thematically in a follow-up book.

Overall, The Papuan Bugle Call is an impressive and unique book and would make an entertaining gift for any family member interested in war-time Port Moresby.
Gregory J Ivey self-published (2024) 538 pages, photos, hardcover, RRP $80.00
Available: hcronin@bigpond.com

Help Wanted

Looking for Brian Pawley, who lived in Goroka in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the manager of Kamaliki Plantation just outside Goroka. If anyone can help, please contact Roy Clason at clasonroy@gmail.com

Kiaps Virtually Kicked Out

I disagree with John Quinn’s above suggestion in his letter published in the September issue of PNG Kundu.

John and I went to TPNG in 1959 as Cadet Patrol Officers. As independence approached in 1975, I, like many other permanent officers who still remained working for the Australian Administration, received a letter of invitation co-signed by Michael Somare and Administrator Les Johnson.

These letters were offers of continuing employment. Mine offered me a contract with the about-to-be independent state to continue as a kiap (Deputy District Commissioner).

I accepted PNG’s offer and remained in the country until after I retired, aged 60, in 2001. During those 26 years, I was offered and accepted further contracts in three other positions.

Kiaps’ roles probably started ‘winding down’ in the mid-1960s. Australia had already ceased recruiting permanent officers and offered contracts only—some up to six years in length.

After the report of the 1962 visit of UNO’s Trusteeship Council (led by Sir Hugh Foot), followed soon after by the Derham Report into the administration of justice in TPNG, it became clear that ‘direct rule’ could not last. Kiaps could no longer expect to continue indefinitely as policeman, magistrate and gaoler as three of their many duties. Some field officers started to ‘specialise’ in areas such as local government, business development and government liaison positions. Many moved into other ‘specialist’ departments. Some went into the private sector or left PNG and sought a new career in Australia or elsewhere.

A modest compensation package was offered for the ‘loss of career’ to remaining permanent officers. It was designed to encourage such officers to remain if they received offers of continuing employment. The package also consisted, in part, of re-settlement assistance to those who wished to leave.

Many officers, particularly those married with children, chose to take the resettlement package and left PNG.

Kiaps who remained in PNG, some of whom had already moved into various very senior positions, continued working in those positions. Others continued in field positions and, like me, moved with the times, with some taking up positions in other departments in the years after independence.

WT (Bill) Brown wrote about roles filled by former kiaps in very senior (some very sensitive) positions during and after the transition from Australian rule to statehood. The article may be accessed in Keith Jackson’s ‘PNG Attitude’ site dated 2 March, 2020: Kiaps-PNG didn’t push us out – Keith Jackson & Friends: PNG ATTITUDE. It was repeated on the ex-kiap site on 24 August 2024.
C Warrillow