Freestone Pagei 1964/75 – Photos from Trevor Freestone
Trevor Freestone was an Education Officer in Papua New Guinea from 1964 to 1975. His postings included Ambunti in the East Sepik District, Pagei in the Sandaun (West Sepik) Province and postings at Bena bena and Watabung in the Eastern Highlands Province. Trevor completed the 5th “E” Course in 1963. His initial two year posting was to the Ambunti Primary School located on the Sepik River. Still in the Sepik he then spent two years at Pagei PS which is on the Indonesia border. From there he was posted to the Sigerehe Primary school at Bena Bena (Eastern Highlands District). After a year he was transferred to Watabung Primary school where he stayed until the end of 1974.
After a stint in the Department of Education HQ he left PNG in early 1975 but returned to help celebrate PNG Independence Celebrations in Goroka where he did the pyrotechnics for them. Trevor returned to Watabung in 2008 where the community changed the name of their school to the “Trevor Freestone Primary School, Watabung” in order to acknowledge the work that he did for their school and community.
PAGEI PATROL POST :
Pagei was opened as a patrol post in 1963 to observe the border with Indonesia. It was hacked out of the jungle and the timber from the trees cut down was used to build the houses and school. As a border post it was classified as secret. Refugees coming across the border were interrogated then returned over the border. Some of their stories were horrific. My house boy could speak their language and thus I found out about some of their stories. I was posted there in 1966.
We took the children on an excursion to the Catholic Mission at Ossima (1967).
A village group saying farewell as in 1968 I was being transferred to the Highlands.
Teaching the children folk dancing.
School assembly held once a week.
Class assembly.
Abu (a student) at a dance one night.
Noap and Somea with their uncle at Amoi village.
A village hunter - Amoi village.
This and the next slide - our Christmas party in 1966. A real feast with dry biscuits, rice, bully beef and sweet tea.
Our Christmas party in 1966. A real feast with dry biscuits, rice, bully beef and sweet tea.
This and the next slide. Dancing group saying goodbye. Goodbyes were always very sad for one came very fond of the children who worked so hard to create a better life for themselves.
Dancing group saying goodbye. Goodbyes were always very sad for one came very fond of the children who worked so hard to create a better life for themselves.
The Oenake waterfall where we had a rest stop on our way to Vanimo.
Cooling off in the river on our way to Vanimo. We checked for crocodiles before allowing the children to go in the water.
Starting on our way on our excursion to Vanimo. Once we left the station we were going to be on our own. But we were prepared and these were jungle children.
This and next slide. Pagei school kids. The material for the uniforms was provided by the government who wanted to keep the people on side. I had to sew the uniforms on my treadle machine.
Pagei school kids. The material for the uniforms was provided by the government who wanted to keep the people on side. I had to sew the uniforms on my treadle machine.
The dress rehearsal for our marching team which was to compete at the sports day in Vanimo. I made the flag.
Nambis Village. Five villages were moved to be near the station so as to be better supervised by the patrol officer. They did not want them to become friends with the Indonesians who had patrols just over the border.
The rain forest from the air. This is the forest we had to make our way through to get to Vanimo.
This and the next slide - aerial views of Pagei.
Aerial view of Pagei.
Entrance to Pagei School. I always believed that the school grounds should be attractive and a good place to be.
Folk dancing.
Inside the classroom
This and the next slide - in 1966 I took Sissi and Una to Sydney to experience Australia. They returned and told everyone in a way they could understand all about Australia.
In 1966 I took Sissi and Una to Sydney to experience Australia. They returned and told everyone in a way they could understand all about Australia.
Wapi in traditional costume.
