Category: Political Development

One of the world police forces’ simplest yet effective form of handcuffs was in use in Papua New Guinea for over half a century. This was about a metre of ordinary brass chain such...

Being Queensland born, I thought I could do with some tropical warmth when I read the advertisement in the Hobart Mercury. It was a cold winter’s day and the ad was for Patrol Officers...

With thanks to Ross Wilkinson, Paul Oates and the many people who have contributed to this Honour Roll. Died in the service of Australia: 1878 November 27 – William Bairstow Ingham, Government Agent for...

Reading Paul Oates’ article on Communications rekindled memories of Christmas, 1968. I was in Kieta, Bougainville. After many months in the bush (incidentally equipped with an A510 radio), escorting CRA geologists out of Panguna...

Paul Ryan’s most interesting account of his tours of duty in the Jimi Valley of the Western Highlands District in 1968 (click here) brings to my mind the time I was required to carry...

Speech by Paul Oates at the National Archives of Australia Kiap History day, 20 November 2010 Senator Lundy, Maj. Gen Jeffery, High Commissioner Lepani, Director and staff of the National Archives, fellow former kiaps,...

In 1956 and 1957, I was posted to Minj in the Wahgi Valley of the Western Highhlands as a Patrol Officer. It was during this time that Barry Griffin was sent to establish a...

National Archives of Australia, 20 November 2010 More than 2000 Australians served as patrol officers (Kiaps) in Papua New Guinea before the nation’s independence in 1975. Ex-Kiaps and others with an interest in Papua...

Ken died on Anzac Day aged 85. We had met when he was made ADO Rabaul sub-district in 1962 and I worked for him with pleasure when later he became Actg/DO West New Britain....

1952 was not an easy year for Harry West, transferred from Goroka to take over the Kainantu Sub-district, and thrust into responsibility for the road from the Highlands down to Markham valley floor. Highlanders,...

Historian Donald Denoon outlines the unique relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea, and the changing role of the kiaps. When civilian administration resumed in Papua and New Guinea after World War II, and...

(Published Una Voce, September 2002, page 38) Fitzpatrick, Philip 1997- 2002 – Barracuda Seismic Surveys, Fogoma’iu and Kaiam, Oilsearch, surveys for oil and gas drilling in Western Province PNG. Social mapping Omati, Aure PNG...

Notes for panel discussion, National Archives, Canberra, 21 November 2010. It must be emphasized that my experiences were shared by many kiaps, and were not in any way unique. I have decided to talk...

Reading the commentary about medals for Kiaps afflicts me with conflicting points of view especially given that as an immediate post WW2 Kiap I might be qualified to receive one. My first point is...

“One cannot spend over 27 years in Papua New Guinea and fail to experience sadness and regret when forced to leave it, particularly when the circumstances are beyond one’s control,” writes J. P. Sinclair,...