Return to New Ireland: Leen van Lien
In 1963 I qualified as a health inspector but did not get a job until a year later with the NSW Government. As a newly appointed officer I had to go through an office...
Category: People & Places
Lombrum: Jerry Lattin
From 1963 to 1965 I was in command of the small naval cargo ship HMAS Banks in PNG waters. Later, in 1970, I had a year in HMAS Aitape commanding the PNG Patrol Boat...
A didiman’s diary: David Montgomery
A good while ago I said to the Editor of Una Voce, “there are always stories of Kiaps in our magazine, rarely news of Didimen”. Her prompt response was, “that’s your problem!’’ I said...
The Evennett family and Samari: Jeff Evennett
The name “Evennett” is familiar to anyone who has spent time in Samarai. Ernie Evennett’s forebears lived in Essex, England. Sometime around the middle of the 19th Century, three Evennett brothers migrated to Australia....
A tribute to Peter Figgis, MC: Patrick Lindsay
Patrick considered it ‘a great privilege’ to be asked to pay tribute to Peter Figgis’ remarkable wartime service at Peter’s funeral. He said: ‘I hope I can do justice to an extraordinary man’. The...
PNGAA 2009 Adelaide reunion: Graham Taylor and Jan Kleinig
The guest speaker at the annual Adelaide Reunion Luncheon, on Sunday 25 October 2009 at the Public Schools Club, was Peter Routley, Headmaster of Keravat Senior High School from 1975 to 1977. Guests were...
A thumbnail sketch of my past: Fred Holland
PNGAA member Claire Inchbold has kindly provided a memoir of life in New Guinea prepared by her father, Fred Holland. As it was not intended for publication, she has requested that access be restricted...
C.O. (Bill) Harry: Frazer Harry
Bill led an extremely interesting and varied life in both PNG and Australia. He died in Melbourne, after several months of ill health, on 4 January 2011, aged 94. Bill started life in a...
Gwen Dyer: Barry Dangerfield
From the Eulogy delivered by Rev. Barry Dangerfield on behalf of the family Gwen married Keith Dyer in 1948 and they sailed to Taskul, New Hanover, Papua New Guinea, where he was the Patrol...
Some biographical notes on pre-war New Guinea administrative staff: Philip Selth
I am writing a biography of John Joseph ‘Mangrove’ Murphy (1914-1997), New Guinea Patrol Officer, Coastwatcher, POW, District Commissioner. As part of my research into John Murphy’s life, I am endeavouring to prepare brief...
Biographical notes on pre-war PNG identities: Philip Selth
Jack Eric Daymond was born in Launceston on 26 April 1904. He was an active sportsmen, and played senior grade with the Launceston Football Club and pennant cricket with the Esk Cricket Club. At...
Harry West’s eulogies: Andrea Williams, Bill Brown and Ross Johnson
These are eulogies from the funeral of Harry West, OAM, held on 21 July 2015 Andrea Williams Harry was a dear friend to so many of us and we miss him. He was humble...
Chu Leong: Rod Noble
During WW 2, after the Pearl Harbor attack, when Japanese forces were rapidly conquering Pacific islands, the Australian Government decided to evacuate expatriates from its Papua and from its New Guinea mandated territories: but...
A visit with King Cam of Kitava: David P Eyre
I was a Medical Assistant and part of an Anti-TB team that visited the Trobriands to find people with active tuberculosis and to protect susceptible people with BCG vaccine. If my memory serves me...
Captain RR Cole, MC: Bob Harvey-Hall
1968 Igam Barracks L-R: Capt Bob Cole wearing the rank of Colonel as Hon Col of PNGVR, Lt Col Don Ramsay CO 2 PIR, Brig Ian Hunter, Commander PNG Command, Lt Col Mal Bishop...
