Marshall Bennett and Laughlan Islands – Milne Bay Province – 1966 – Photos from Jim van der Kamp

Jim Van Der Kamp commenced employment as a Field Officer with the Public Health Department’s Malaria Control Programme in January 1965 after 18 months in former Dutch or Netherlands New Guinea as a Medico and a break back in Holland. Following a few weeks in Popondetta and Wanigela, Jim’s first posting was at Bolubolu Patrol Post on Goodenough Island where he remained for 5 months. He then spent 14 months at Mapamoiwa on Fergusson Island, patrolling all the D’Entrecasteaux islands including Woodlark and the Trobriand islands. In mid 1966 Jim was transferred to Rabaul for further training at the then Malaria Institute. In January 1967 he was posted to Minj in the Western Highlands as District Malaria Supervisor, moving to Mount Hagen in 1969. September 1973 saw a posting to Kieta, Bougainville, as Provincial Malaria Supervisor. Following six and a half years of extensive patrolling, During 1980 Jim was transferred to Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province as Regional Inspector covering most of the Highlands. Jim went “finish” in February 1985.

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The Marshall Bennett group of islands are located in the Solomon Sea region of south-eastern Papua New Guinea and are situated between Woodlark Island (41 km to the east) and the Trobriand Islands (83 km to the west) and comprise Gawa, Dugumenu, Iwa, and Kwaiawata Islands. Gawa, the easternmost and largest island of the Marshall Bennett group, is an oval-shaped island of 5 km by 3 km. The island shows evidence of having been geologically uplifted in the past – probably a former atoll formation – the former reef rim now stands as a steep to vertical escarpment that rises to a flat-topped plateau (the former lagoon floor) within the interior. A narrow fringing reef surrounds the entire island. The Laughlan Islands are further west and lie to the east of Guasapa (Guasopa) on Woodlark Island.

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To view a ‘Google’ map of the general locality, click here.

Approaching Gawa Island

Gawa Island - nothing but steep cliffs with a village on top

The only landing place - a small beach with a canoe house

On the beach securing the dinghy with the MV Hekaha anchored off-shore

A Gawa Island woman

The Chiel's daughter (Gawa Island)

Girls carrying items from the village down to the beach

To the Laughlan Islands where the sand is as white and fine as talcum powder (and very hot). Two young girls of Budi Budi village on Bodaluna Island

Assembling for anti-malarial tablets. Note that the girl in the dress (far right) was a passenger on the MV Hakeha

Women and children on the beach at Budi Budi

Awaiting the distribution of anti-malarial tablets

Pig feeding time