Jimi River: Robert Blakie
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...
Category: Political Development
Sharing Histories: Kiap tribute event
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...
The late Ken Brown, kiap: Jim Toner
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....
Sixty years on: Bill Brown
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,...
The kiaps in a time of change: Donald Denoon
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...
Sorting the mail at Olsobip (Western District): Philip Fitzpatrick
(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...
On being a kiap: Jim Sinclair
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...
My kiap medal conundrum: Graham Taylor
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...
Yes, we brought them shell: the best shell they ever had!: Jim Sinclair
“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,...
Official Australian recognition of Kiaps’ services
On 5 November 2008, Chris Viner-Smith submitted a paper to the Australian Government seeking formal recognition of the services of Kiaps (patrol officers) in the development of the independent state of Papua New Guinea,...
Boiled puddings: Paul Oates
When I set up a permanent Base Camp at Mindik in the middle of the Huon Peninsula in1970, I arrived with the usual Patrol gear (Kerosene stove, canvas shower bucket and a “bedsail”. The...
Bob Cole and the thirty police badges: Chips Mackellar
When Bob Cole was Commissioner of the Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary, it was customary for kiaps passing through Port Moresby on posting or on leave, to drop in and pay their respects. So...
Career with a future, career with a challenge: Chris Warrillow
So read the heading on one of the pages of a booklet for school-leavers circulated when I was completing my “Intermediate” (Year 4), the year after I had arrived in Melbourne as a Pommie...
A career kiap’s wife: Nancy Johnston
Speech given at Sharing Histories: Kiap tribute event at the National Archives of Australia, 20 November 2010 In March 2002 Chris Viner-Smith commenced a lone campaign to have the service of Kiaps formerly recognised...
We’ve come for the money: Adrian Geyle
(Published in Una Voce, December 1998, page 16) Adrian Geyle was CPO for two years at Lake Murray, Kiunga, Gaima and Daru, Western District; PO OIC Green River, Sepik District; PO H/Q, Madang District....
