Western Highlands Province – Photos from Jim van der Kamp
The following photographs were taken by Jim van der Kamp. Jim joined the PNG Public Health Department’s Malaria Control Programme as a Field Officer in January 1965 after 18 months service in the Army as a Medico in what was then Dutch New Guinea (now West Papua) 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. After six and a half years of extensive patrolling, Jim, in 1980, was transferred to Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province and took up the position of Regional Inspector covering most of the Highland Provinces. Jim went “finish” in February 1985.
Western Highlands is a province of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital is Mount Hagen. The province covers an area of 8,500 km², and there are 440,025 inhabitants (2000 census), making the Western Highlands one of the most densely populated provinces. Tea and coffee are grown in the Western Highlands. Mount Wilhelm, the tallest mountain in Papua New Guinea, is on the border of the Western Highlands.
Kukukukus at the 1967 Mt Hagen Show
Sing-sing group coming on to the Showground - Mt Hagen Show 1967
Mount Hagen in 1967
At the Baiyer River pass with a nephew looking down at the river below. The Baiyer River basin in far distance approximately 2,000 ft lower than Mt Hagen
Bamboo foot bridge
During Preliminary Malaria Survey at PABARABUK, Nebilyer Valley, Western Highlands, December 1967 (taken by one of my staff)
A Nebilyer woman
Kimel Malaria Control Base, Mid-Whagi Valley 1967 - note Landrover before change-over to Toyotas
Clay covered tribesmen and women in mourning over the killing of a Councillor and his son as a result of a land dispute at Keraldung between Mt Hagen and Ogelbeng. Kiap Van Ruth resettled these people elsewhere and a College was later built on this site but the fighting lasted 10 years
Yarramanda villagers resting on the side of a deep gorge dividing Baiyer River and Lumusa - looking towards Enga Province
An Elder with seashell and 'Kina' decorations.
Ceremonial place but details not known
Same place as previous photo. Note the "Omaak" on the man's chest - each bamboo stick represents either a pig he owns or is owing to him - a personal 'bank account'!
Attending a wedding ceremony at Tombil near Minj (apologies for blurred photo) - note the paper money (part of the 'bride price') on the woman's arm (second from left).
At the wedding ceremony - one of the brides.
A fine young Highland man
Mid-Whagi Valley - tea plantation in background
Mount Hagen Show - Kagamuga Showground
On the showground with old faithful Landrover
Woman wearing a very large Bailer Shell
At the Hagen Show
Time for socialising at the Show
Lass from Nondugl - Danga Goi who worked in the Malaria Service Entomology Unit at Minj.
A Wigman at the Hagen Show
Another Wigman at the Show
A group of 3 Wigmen visiting the Hagen Show
A mutilated dead body following a tribal fight - Minj (1967)
'Fluit' players (sharing the same flute) at the Hagen Show
My wife, Sowama, getting used to the Highlands and its people
A girl from the Minj area
At Minj, adjacent to the airstrip - girl carrying a stick of sugarcane
Malaria Control spraying
Spraying a typical Western Highland dwelling
An example of malnutrition
Grinding an axe blade
In front of a sing-sing, Minj area
'Karimleg' ceremony - Minj area
An elaborate 'bride price', indicative of the wealth of the area
Next stop the sing-sing
Whagi Valley boys and girls
The old Highlands Highway, mid Whagi - Brian Jones (hands on hip) is the PWD Road Supervisor
Note the various type of shell ornaments
The nasal septum is pierced at a vey young age
Official opening of the new Nazarene Mission Hospital at Kudjip in the mid-Whagi Valley
A Chimbu (Simbu) girl at Kup near the Westen Highland and Chimbu border
The girl in the previous photo standing on a Marsden Matting bridge
My carriers preparing shelter for the cold night ahead - foot patrol from Djek in the Whagi Valley to East Kambia over the Kubor Range.
Overnighting under canvas at Tondon Camphalf-way up the Range
The Gurku Pass, Kubor Range, altitude 13,000ft. Couldn't see much because of the mist!!
Even though you are under canvas, you still have make sure the camp is as 'wind tight' as you can make it especially at high altitude.
Looking down on Miru village - the first village to cary out an Infant Parasite Survey
Here we are actually standing in the Chimbu district - the teams from Minj covered this area as it was easier to access than from Kundiawa
On a second patrol into this area I took a proper tent (rather than a tent fly)
Unfortunately out of focus however this was a rehearsal for a sing-sing. You can 'see' the swaying of the 'pulpuls' to the chanting and beating of the drums.
A Mount Hagen (Medlpa) girl
A young woman at the Nebilyer river - note that the glistening pig fat emphasises her dark skin
A Nebilyer Valley mother and baby at Ulga
A young girl with plaited hair - Ulga, Nebilyer valley
The road through the treacherous Baiyer Pass with one of the frequent landslides at centre
Women and girls helping to clear a landslide - Baiyer Pass
Mock attack at Yarramanda, Baiyer river. The speartip is made from a bird's beak
The men are unanimous in their absence! Still clearing the landslide
Men at Ruti, Lower Jimi River (probably from the Schrader range between the Ramu and Jimi rivers) - said to have journeyed to see the airstrip under construction in the lower Jimi
Close up of one of the men in the presious phot
Another close-up
And again
Another close-up of the group - we were unable to communicate with them except by sign language. Note the bamboo sticks or slivers through the nostrils.
A Mount Hagen couple
Not strictly the Western Highlands. Self and wife, Sowama, talking to baroness Theresa van der Feltz who was visiting PNG with her husband, Baron Robert van der Feltz the Dutch Ambassador to Australia. The Baron is conversing with James Yanepa, the Eastern Highlands Provincial Commissioner (1981)
Representatives from Australia, PNG, Indonesia, Solomon Islands and the Philippines (Manilla) at the South West Pacific malaria Conference, Kundiawa, 1969
Senior Lecturer Bill Jeffery presenting a paper at the Kundiawa Conference
Self back in the cool of the Highlands in 1980 after 6 1/2 years on Bougainville
Mount Giluwe, Southern Highlands
Mount Ialibu, Southern Highlands
Group of children at Pangia, Southern Highlands
At the Pangia Health Centre
Back in Goroka at a sing-sing with daughter Rhonda
The Goroka sing-sing again
And again
Tari - Southern Highlands. Admin Subaru Utility on a road built by the Australian Army based at Mendi
Self with a Tari man
At Tari, Southern Highlands
A Tari wigman
With a Tari couple
Two Tari brothers
Malaria Conference held at St Theresa's Hospital, Hohola, Port Moresby in 1974
