75th ANNIVERSARY SERVICES RABAUL and MONTEVIDEO MARU – to be held in RABAUL on 22 JUNE 2017, the AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA, ACT, on 1 July 2017.

These services remember all those lost in the New Guinea islands in 1942.

Thursday 22 June 2017 – 75th anniversary service at the Montevideo Maru and Rabaul 1942-1945 Memorial. The Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Mr Bruce Davis, has accepted our invitation to attend the event.

The PNGAA Rabaul and Montevideo Maru group together with Susie McGrade and the Rabaul Hotel/Rabaul Historical Society are working to ensure a memorable few days in Rabaul visiting historical and fascinating sites. Rabaul Hotel has put together a package including accommodation, meals, tours and transfers for five nights. Please contact Susie McGrade at Rabaul Hotel on email: susie@rabaulhotel.com.pg. Details are also on both the PNGAA and RMvM websites: www.pngaa.org/site/ and www.memorial.org.au and Facebook. Airfares, drinks and any optional expenses are additional and to be organised and paid for independently.

Air Niugini – daily flights from Brisbane to Rabaul and return.
Three flights weekly from Sydney to Rabaul and return.
Please contact Andrea Williams M: 0409 031 889 for further information on airfares.

Saturday 1 July 2017 – 75th Anniversary Commemorative Service and Dinner, Canberra, ACT.

The service will be held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT, on Saturday 1 July starting at 1pm. All welcome – please let your family and friends know. Information on www.pngaa.org
RSVP to president@pngaa.net with the details below.
Dinner 6.30pm
Venue: Mercure Canberra, Corner of Ainslie and Limestone Ave, Braddon, ACT 2612
COST of dinner on Saturday 1 July – $75 for 3 course meal with soup – Payment will confirm booking.
EFT to PNGAA BSB: 062 009 Account No.00907724 (CBA) with email to president@pngaa.net advising details.
RSVP as soon as possible and prior to 8 June 2017.
To confirm, please contact Sara Turner E: events@pngaa.net or Andrea Williams president@pngaa.net and provide this information:

§ The full name of each person who wishes to attend.
§ The age of each person who wishes to attend (optional but helpful).
§ Any mobility issue
§ The full postal address, phone number (home and mobile) and email of each person who wishes to attend.
§ The relationship, if any, of the person to the events of 1942 (if you did not attend a previous event in Canberra).
§ The address and phone number, where each person intends to stay while in Canberra.
§ Any other people you are travelling with.
Even if you do not have all this information at this stage, please tell us what you can.
Further information on pngaa and memorial websites and Facebook.

 The PNGVR Association will also be holding its annual Montevideo Maru service at the Brisbane Cenotaph at 10am on Saturday 1 July – this year commemorating the 75th anniversary. Further information, please contact: Colin Gould M: 0424 562 030 E: pngvr@optusnet.com.au of Phil Ainsworth M: 0418 730348 E: p.ainsworth@kingco.com.au

Have you any old photographs or letters, stories, or historical documents of the service men or civilians who lived in Rabaul and surrounding islands before WWII?