48 Years of Independence
On 16 September 1975, the nation of Papua New Guinea achieved its independence from Australia and we, the members of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia, in reflecting on the past forty-eight years,...
Category: Political Development
My Education Journey from Jiwaka to UPNG
Robert Mek I was born in Gulka (Kimil), one of the remotest villages in Jiwaka Province. Gulka is situated between Jiwaka and Western Highlands Province, so as I grew up, I learned the cultures...
Building on Robust Foundations: a constitution for the next half century
HON. Duncan Kerr SC Planning for Independence for Papua New Guinea initially was too slow and then it came rapidly. The Australian officials who had administered Australia’s colonial territories from the end of World...
How I Ended Up at Brandi High School – by Ian Willis
The three years that Margaret (my wife) and I spent at Brandi High School near Wewak began with a newspaper advertisement about August 1964. At the time I was running a one-teacher bush school...
Life and Times at Sighere T School 1969 – 70 – by Diana Plowman
After three years at Bowali Peter thought the Highlands might be a pleasant change. At least they would be cooler. So, he put in for a transfer and we were told we were going...
After 80 years, is this ASOPA’s last stand? by Keith Jackson
It looks like the heritage of Australian School of Pacific Administration, ASOPA, will be bulldozed in the NSW government’s enthusiasm to monetise and commercialise the valuable public land at Middle Head in Sydney...
Update on PNGAA Scholarship Fund – 9 April 2023
Greetings everybody, I am writing to provide a quick update on the PNGAA Scholarship Fund. As you will be aware, since commencing down this path, we had to change tactics following the decision by...
Life at Daru in the Fifties
Ken McKinnon AO When we returned from leave to Port Moresby in May 1956, the information was that I was to go immediately to a new posting in charge of education in the Western...
Kiaps in the mining industry of PNG
In the March 2023 issue of PNG Kundu Peter Wohlers has a story about former kiaps who worked in the mining industry in PNG. In his story he refers to a list of the...
Early Teaching Postings
Ken McKinnon AO Arriving in Port Moresby in 1954 after three months at the Australian School of Pacific Administration (ASOPA), I began my career in the Department of Education of the Territory of Papua...
Madang Yacht Club
Ron Austin In 1964 I arrived in the Territory of Papua New Guinea to fly for Trans Australia Airlines (TAA). As I was dual endorsed for flying DC3s and Bristol Freighters and would be...
A Summary: Patrolling in Western Papua CHRIS WARRILLOW
As described in the previous article—in late 1963, in what was probably one of the last great patrols in the Territory of Papua—Patrol Officer Bob Hoad set out to explore the country east of...
Saving Kwato Island
English missionary, Rev. Charles William Abel (1862–1930), began work at Port Moresby in 1890 and in 1891 he joined Rev. FW Walker on the mission station at the island of Kwato, about 3 km...
PNGAA Visit to Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway
PNGAA members and friends have an opportunity to visit the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Concord. It will be a pleasant morning stroll on the Sydney Harbour foreshore at Concorde. We will see their...
The Bilum Story – a virtual premiere screening of the film available to 10 March 2022
Bilum & Bilas are excited to have been included in a new short film celebrating the creative economy for inclusive economic development in PNG. For thousands of years, bilum weaving has been handed down...
