(Published in Una Voce, December 2003 page 9) A tribute to those who followed in the tradition and footsteps of the pre-war ‘outside’ men in penetrating and establishing law and order in the primitive...
Like all good stories, this one starts “long, long ago and far, far away” The great bird island to the North of Australia dozed in the tropic seas for millennia until, in the mid-1840s,...
I was saddened to read of Don Vincin’s death in the March 2011 edition of Una Voce. The mention in his obituary of the Maramuni area stirred memories of one of the most satisfying...
I was interested to read the articles in the latest Una Voce regarding the role of kiaps in pre-independence Papua New Guinea. I was especially interested in the statement that Cadet Patrol Officers were...
PNG’s location on the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire was given bad press with the death and destruction at many locations, including pre and post war Rabaul, Mt Lamington and Manum and Kairiru Island....
Being Queensland born, when I read a Government advertisement for Patrol Officers in PNG, in the Hobart Mercury newspaper (and it was a cold winter in Hobart), I didn’t hesitate to reply. Another incentive...
A good doctor is one who can diagnose an illness where the person does not drink or smoke, and is not overweight. In August 1952, Jack Baker and I were on patrol in the...
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...
Geoff Littler was an Official Member of the Second House of Assembly, TPNG The story of the crest and flag commenced during the life of the first House of Assembly when the Select Committee...
1953: Auster on take-off crashed into Vanimo Harbour. The pilot was killed and passengers District Commissioner Ian Skinner and Assistant District Officer George Wearne were rescued from the submerged aircraft. 1955: Dragon on take-off...
A very short list of examples to illustrate the working environment of many former kiaps The correspondence on the Kainantu attacks on Burge and Brown is digitalized on the National Archives website. As many...
(Published in Una Voce, September 2005) Dave Tarrant In 1975 there were many expats leaving PNG and I was one of them. As an Industrial Relations Officer with the Dept of Labour I...
Some 2000 young Australian men served as Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea between the end of World War Two and Papua New Guinea Independence in 1975. They were known by Papua New Guinea...
Compiled and edited by Nancy Johnston Dedicated to the memory of William James (Bill) Johnston 1 October 1924 – 12 September 2001 A Kiap of the Territory of Papua & New Guinea Bill...
