Mr Douglas John PARRISH (26 February 2003, aged 81 years)

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Doug enlisted in the AIF in 1940, and the middle of 1943 found him behind enemy lines in the Sepik as a sergeant with a guerilla force known as Mosstroops. The official war history relates how in one engagement Sgt Parrish and a companion were attacked by - but put to flight - six Japanese and a dozen armed natives. In early 1945 he was commissioned with the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit, and served as a field officer while the islands were still being cleared of the enemy.

In May 1946 he took his army discharge in Lae, and immediately joined the New Guinea Administration in Rabaul as a patrol officer. For the next 15 years he operated in widely scattered districts of what became the Territory of Papua New Guinea. The PNG Administrator, Sir Donald Cleland, considered him an 'outstanding' field officer.

He declined a posting as a district commissioner to take up the lesser, newly created position of industrial organisations officer, charged with developing a framework for industrial relations, embracing both unions and employers, and the development of workers' associations in PNG's main centres.

His success there led to his appointment as PNG's Secretary for Labour, where he energetically dealt with the myriad of industrial matters, including occupational health and safety, that were emerging because of major industrial development such as the giant Bougainville copper mine. There was no supporting legislation in place even for the operation of heavy equipment such as cranes, or for inspectors to enforce safety conditions. Among many other initiatives, Doug established a research and planning division, and a standards office to control weights and measures.

His dedication to his tasks was all the more considerable in view of a period of personal tragedy. On leave in Australia, he, Candy and their 10-year-old twin sons were attacked by a man while they were parked at midnight beside the highway near Taree. Having first shot and seriously wounded Doug, the attacker sexually assaulted Candy. Despite her own horrors, she saved Doug's life by driving him to the Taree hospital, where his blood loss was stemmed. When the bullet was removed in Sydney, he was told he needed to remain there for three months to recuperate. While there, Christopher, one of the twins, was killed by a car on his way to school.

In 1971, with PNG self-government and independence on the way, Doug and Candy reluctantly left PNG for Sydney. Doug then embarked on a second career as an executive with the Bechtel Corporation, which sent him to Indonesia for twelve months to oversee new projects. He later became administration manager for the NSW Employers Federation for eight years, and for another five he was consultant to them and the Confederation of Australian Industry.

Doug was energetically active in our Association for 30 years. He was elected president in 1986 while Fred Kaad continued in the position of editor of Una Voce. In early 1989 Fred went overseas for an extended period, so Doug did the editor's job as well, intending simply to 'fill in' until Fred returned. Then in 1992 Doug handed over the presidency to Harry West and was able to concentrate on Una Voce. During his seven years as editor, Doug transformed the journal - he introduced the regular sections we have today, and encouraged members to contribute stories of general interest and archival value. He also put in a great deal of behind-the-scenes work towards the publication of our book 'Tales of Papua New Guinea'. He had a fascination for computers and was always ready to help committee members experiencing computer problems.

Doug's wife Candy predeceased him. He is survived by a son, Craig.
 

Harry West (Una Voce - June 2003)