Mr Peter John GRIMSHAW, OBE, OAM (2 March 2003, aged 71 years)

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Peter grew up in Adelaide and in 1947 went to Port Moresby as a schoolboy when his father was appointed Superintendent of (what was then) the Royal Papuan Constabulary and New Guinea Police Force (a position later reclassified as that of Commissioner.) Peter joined the Department of Civil Aviation and about this time became involved with the PNGVR. During this time Peter designed the original brass badge of the Constabulary which was worn by officers attending the Coronation in 1953. In 1954 Peter married Diane, also from Adelaide, and the couple moved to Cooma where Peter worked for the Snowy Mountains Authority. In 1964 the family moved to Canberra where Peter became business manager responsible for two of the four Research Schools at the ANU. He retired in 1997.

Peter never forgot PNG and made numerous visits there from 1964-97. He was indispensable with support at Canberra for the New Guinea Research Unit at Moresby until its hand-over by ANU to the new government on independence. He enjoyed his inspection visits and once walked up to the lakeside laboratory on Mt Wilhelm (at 11,500 ft) to the surprise of resident scientists. Peter took up a similar 'godfather' role with the North Australia Research Unit. He fostered a credit union and held a director's position until recently. His work in this area was recognised with an Order of Australia in 2001. He was made MBE for services to his university, later elevated to OBE by the PNG Government. Up until his death, he was also involved with Aboriginal history. In his spare time he successfully studied for a BA and M.Ed (Admin.), and completed a history of the PNG Police titled Policing in Paradise: A history of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, 1890-1975 before his fatal heart attack.

Peter is survived by his wife Diane, and sons Phillip and Geoffrey and their families.
 

Jim Toner, Max Hayes and the Grimshaw family (Una Voce - June 2003)