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Jack BRAMMELL (15 October 2004, aged 92 years)
Further details next issue.
Linden George (Jim) CAVANAUGH (4 March 2004, aged 86 years)
Born at Murwillumbah, Jim worked in a forestry survey gang in
the Lands Dept all over Queensland before being recruited to go
to East New Britain by the Intelligence for his tracking and
bush skills. There he worked for the Lands Dept as a surveyor, a
cover for his intelligence work for the Australian Govt looking
into the activities of the German missionaries in 1938.
When war started, Jim joined the NGVR and was attached to
several units. He was a major player in the successful NGVR raid
on Salamaua in June 1942 (see page 30, Una Voce, December 2004).
After the war, Jim chose to work in the newly formed Office of
Forests in NG rather than in intelligence, managing the
government sawmill at Keravat to produce the timber to rebuild
the town of Rabaul.
He married on Boxing Day 1946 and brought his new bride, Pat
(Masters) to Keravat in early 1947 to live in the bush in a
‘paper’ house. Moving to Bulolo in 1949, their daughters were
born in the Wau Hospital. The years in Bulolo saw Jim start the
survey of the PNG forestry estate that took him into the bush
for months at a time and which would become his legacy to the
people of PNG.
The family moved to Port Moresby in 1959 where Jim continued
surveying the forestry estate and was promoted to Chief of
Division Resource Management in the Dept of Forests, Konedobu.
When Jim retired from the public service at age 55 in 1972, Pat
and Jim took an extended overseas trip. On their return they set
up a forestry consultancy for ten successful years.
In 1983 they settled on the Gold Coast and continued travelling
and enjoying their life together. Jim is survived by his wife,
Pat, and daughters Linda and Sally.
Linda Manning
Index
David Stanley COLLINS (10 August 2004, aged 75 years)
After serving in South Australia Police between 1944-1948 and
1951-1954, he joined the RPNGC in 1957. He served at Boroko,
Madang, Wewak and finally at Lae, when he left RPNGC in 1963 to
take advantage of the development then occurring on
Bougainville. There he was a camp manager for Bechtel WKE for
some years.
With the phasing out of the construction period he moved to Port
Moresby, where he was a manager for Wridgeway Removals. There,
he met his second wife Ursula and they married in 1973. In 1974,
they moved to Adelaide, and later to Darwin where he was
security officer for the Darwin Hospitals Group. Deteriorating
health eventually caused him to settle in Nambucca Heads.
He is survived by his second wife and five children from his
first marriage.
Max Hayes
Reginald Williams COLLINS (13 July 2004, aged 84 years)
Reg was born in Heidelberg, Victoria. He enlisted in the 2/2
Motor Ambulance Convoy and was captured by the Japanese in World
War II and became a prisoner in Thailand. He was one of those
working on the Thai Burma railroad construction, but Reg was
most reluctant to discuss a recall of those dark times. He was a
great mixer and liked to do things his way. He was, after the
war ended, reluctant to resume the Victoria rural lifestyle and
joined the Public Health Services of the Provisional
Administration of New Guinea as a Medical Assistant.
He was posted to the Sepik district and served at various
stations. Whilst at Wewak Hospital he instituted Aid Post
Orderly Training. In his capacity as Field Medical Assistant he
met in Wewak a Cadet Patrol Officer Neil Grant and the latter
states that ‘He was always very friendly and congenial and a
great host’. Reg established the Aid Post Training School for
the New Guinea Mainlands Region at Malahang, Lae, and was
assisted by a New Guinean, Muttu Gware OBE, who was later
honoured by his family and friends with the naming of a wing of
the Lae General Hospital as the Gware Memorial Wing.
Reg advanced in the development of the Health Department
Services at Lae; he later went to Port Moresby to head the
Administrative Division of Community Health prior to his
retirement.
Albert Speer
Index
Harold CROPP (aged 83 years)
Harold was born in Boscombe, England. When war came he joined
the Royal Engineers and became a model maker of various air
force targets for the Fleet Air Arm. Harold emigrated to
Australia in 1953 and worked on a property in NSW until Burns
Philp offered him a position as Junior Manager on Bougainville.
He flew to New Guinea in a Qantas flying boat which was an
experience he loved to talk about. Marrying in 1963 Harold and
Betty lived on Iwi Plantation for six happy years. Later on they
lived on Fanning Island, an atoll in the middle of the Pacific.
Harold and Betty settled in New Zealand in 1983.
Betty Cropp
Michael (Mick) Richard GALLEN (17 August 2004, aged 86 years)
Mick was born at Gympie QLD and joined the Queensland Police in
1940. Whilst stationed at Gordonvale he met and subsequently
married his wife Pat and over the years eight children arrived.
In 1947 he joined the Royal Papuan Constabulary and New Guinea
Police Force as an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police. As a
Police Officer he served in Samarai, Lae, Bulolo, Wau, Kokopo
and finally in Rabaul from where he resigned in 1965 having
attained the rank of Superintendent 1st Class. He was awarded
the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in recognition of
his long and excellent service to the community. In later years
he rejoined the Reserve Constabulary as a police constable,
being the only ex 1st Class Superintendent ever to do so. He
never worried about rank or status, he just felt that he could
best contribute to the community in this way.
Mick resigned to become ’Mine Host’ at the Kavieng Hotel in New
Ireland. He later added a tavern at Namatanai to his business
interests. After retiring and moving back to the Gordonvale area
and then to the Atherton Tablelands Mick was actively involved
in the community and became well known in the district as being
always ready to lend a helping hand.
In PNG Mick was liked and respected by all sections of the
community. As a police officer he invariably acted in a humane
and commonsense manner, setting an excellent example to younger
officers. He had a natural talent for all sports and excelled at
rugby, tennis, cricket and later golf. His occupation sometimes
attracted undue attention on the rugby field from characters who
saw the game as an opportunity to sort out a cop, but during his
QLD years Mick had learned to accommodate such individuals when
the need arose and never worried about it. He became the Club
champion at golf in Kavieng and later at Gordonvale, and had a
handicap of 19 when he played his last game in early 2004.
Mick will be remembered by those who knew him in PNG and in
North Queensland with respect and affection as a kind man
without prejudice, possessed of a droll sense of humour. Whilst
not being overtly religious he believed in and kept his faith
throughout. He is survived by his wife Pat and their four sons,
four daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Neil Watt and Max Hayes
Index
The Hon John GREVILLE SMITH CBE (26 August 2004, aged 84 years)
John went to PNG in 1955 as the Crown Prosecutor. He became
Public Solicitor, and then Chief Crown Prosecutor before
departing PNG in 1974. He returned as Judge National and Supreme
Courts from 1978-1981. John had very fond memories of the years
he spent in PNG and the many friends made there.
Joan Smith
John (Jack) Joseph HART (1924-2004)
Jack was born in Toowoomba, one of seven children, and became a
well-known Rugby League identity in both PNG and Toowoomba. Jack
joined the Australian Air Force in about 1943 and served in PNG
and Irian Jaya (then Dutch New Guinea). He survived two air
crashes while on overseas service.
Jack went to Port Moresby in 1950 as Foreman refrigeration
mechanic with the Commonwealth Department of Works (Comworks).
He captained the Paga and Papua Representative Rugby league
teams throughout his football career in Moresby. Upon retirement
as a player in 1954 Jack was elected a Vice President of the
Papua Rugby League and appointed a Papua selector. He continued
in these roles until his transfer to Brisbane with Comworks in
1967, returning to Moresby many times to attend Rugby League
football finals.
In the early 1970s Jack was in a plane crash near Toowoomba,
sustaining major burns to his arms and upper body. He and
another passenger survived the crash but the pilot died despite
Jack’s valiant efforts to rescue him from the burning wreckage.
For his courageous action he was awarded Queensland’s highest
bravery award. No stranger to aircraft and vehicle accidents, it
is said he survived at least 17 without serious injury.
In retirement Jack devoted his time to nurturing his many
friendships, particularly football colleagues, fund raising for
community projects and travel to China. Jack’s funeral in
Toowoomba included former members of Paga, Hawks, DCA and Magani
football clubs as well as Toowoomba and Australian Rugby League
and other sporting identities. Maureen O’Rourke’s simple
personal eulogy reflected the thoughts of his many PNG friends.
His brothers Nial and Brian survive him.
Derek Baldwin
Index
Terry (Thomas Joseph) KANE (3 June 2004, aged 72 years)
Brother Terry began life as a Marist brother at 14 years of age.
In 1962 he joined the Marist community at St Xavier’s High
School on Kairiru Island, PNG. His innovative teaching methods
were inspiring to both his students and his peers and he
continued to maintain a keen interest in news from PNG after
returning to Australia.
Info from Herald Sun 11 October 2004
Keith MATTINGLEY AO (28 September 2004, aged 80 years)
A senior manager with the Herald and Weekly Times and related
companies for more than 30 years, Keith held posts in Melbourne,
Perth and Port Moresby. He spent two years as personal assistant
to Australia’s High Commissioner in London, Sir Thomas White in
1952-53, returning to work in Melbourne with The Herald as chief
sub-editor, then feature services manager until 1965. Keith was
then given the task of developing the industry in PNG. He was
the first editor-in-chief of South Pacific Post newspapers, and
later managing director, at all times encouraging the emerging
indigenous role in newspapers. Whilst he was Managing Director
of West Australian Newspapers for the HWT in the early 80's, he
guided the introduction of computer technology. Whilst in Perth
he was also Warden of the Anzac Memorial in King’s Park.
Keith Mattingley was awarded the Order of Australia in 1984 and
became an officer AO in 1991. He used his profile and wide array
of contacts to assist community works.
He is survived by his wife Janine, two sons, three daughters and
10 grandchildren.
Info from Herald Sun 29 Sep 2004
Index
Robert Leonard PULSFORD (22 July 2004, aged 88 years)
Bob grew up in Sydney, his father a Congregational minister
dying when Bob was 7½. Soon after he spent a year in hospital
but recovered and after school years, spent three happy years at
Hawkesbury Agricultural College. He later worked as a jackaroo
on three properties in NSW. He enlisted in the AIF in 1941 and
served for a year in PNG at Port Moresby, Buna, Finschhafen and
Madang in a Malaria Control Unit. After demobilization he
completed a BA at Sydney University graduating with honours in
Anthropology.
He began his service in PNG in April 1950 with DASF based first
at Boram near Wewak, and then at Urip near Dagua, 30 miles west
of Wewak, where he managed the Dagua Rural Progress Society
producing rice and peanuts as cash crops. He married Mary Upton
in April 1953 and their children were born in the Territory, Ian
in Wewak and Susan in Lorengau. In 1955 he was transferred to
Manus, as District Agricultural Officer, where copra was the
main economic crop, and in 1958 to Taliligap in the Gazelle
Peninsula where he was in charge of a training centre whose
focus was on cocoa production. Following two years in Rabaul as
District Agricultural Officer for East New Britain, he changed
careers and in 1963 became the first Lecturer in Sociology and
Anthropology at the newly formed Papuan Medical College,
teaching medical students and nurses, a position he held until
his retirement in December 1973 by which time the Medical
College had been converted into the Faculty of Medicine of UPNG.
During this period he co-authored ‘Health in a Developing
Country’ with Prof John Cawte.
After retirement he was awarded an MA degree from Sydney
University for his thesis on ‘Changing Attitudes to Illness and
Misfortune amongst the Motu – Koita’, the result of ten years
study in Pari village near Port Moresby.
His retirement interests were varied including seven years in
the photography department of the Australian Museum as a
volunteer, years as a volunteer in bush regeneration near his
home in Northbridge, bee-keeping, bush walking, member of a book
discussion group and Probus Club. All his life he was a man of
faith, a skilled ‘Mr Fixit’ and his story-telling gifts
enlivened many gatherings.
Bob is survived by his wife Mary, his children Ian and Susan and
four grandchildren.
Mary Pulsford
Index
Robert George STEWART (5 June 2004 aged 81 years)
Bob was born in Sydney and served 4½ years in the 2/6 Australian
Armoured Regiment (with seven months in PNG) during WWII. He
returned to PNG in the late 1950s with his wife Joy and children
Jennifer and Lilla. His first posting was at the Medical Store
in Rabaul as a pharmacist where he took great pride in the
efficient distribution of supplies to hospitals and aid posts in
the area. He was secretary of the Kokopo Rifle Club during this
period. Bob was transferred to Mt Hagen to set up a Medical
Supply depot for the Highlands region in 1964. In 1966 he
transferred to Pt Moresby with the Health Dept until 1975. He
was recognised as a true pioneer in his field.
Bob was a champion rifle shooter having been awarded the
Champion of Champions at Anzac Range, Sydney, in July 1958.
While he was stationed in Mt Hagen, the British Empire and
Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica. The PNG Games
Committee established a six-person team with Bob as secretary.
He won a silver medal in the Rifle Shooting. This was one of the
highlights of his life and kept him involved with sporting
organizations in PNG until the 10th British Commonwealth Games
in 1974 where he proudly once again was a member of the PNG team
in Christchurch, NZ.
Bob and Joy ‘went south’ in 1975 although it was hard leaving
the jobs they loved and the life-long friends they had made.
They purchased a pharmacy in Sydney before retiring to Brisbane.
Bob suffered a stroke in 1998 but at all times maintained his
dignity and devotion to his family and friends.
This was compiled by the Stewart Family and given to Bert Speer
in Sydney at a luncheon with Joy and daughter Lilla and school
friend of Bob’s, Mr Don Dunn.
Albert Speer
Index
Paul TOHIAN QPM (13 May 2004, aged 54 years)
The son of Henry Tohian who joined the NG Police Force in 1940,
Paul himself joined the RPNGC in 1968 as a Cadet Officer,
proceeding through Commissioned Officer ranks until he was
promoted Assistant Commissioner of Police in 1987 responsible
for operations in Bougainville before being promoted to
Commissioner of Police in 1988. During the following two years
he was controller of the state of emergency on Bougainville
which was in conflict with the central government.
He supported a military solution to this ‘war’ which was
estimated to have cost around 10,000 lives, including many from
police and army. Unhappy with the political situation when the
central govt signed an agreement with the Bougainville
Revolutionary Army in 1990 which required police and army to
leave the island, Tohian ordered the Constabulary to assemble
outside Parliament House where he ordered the arrest of Prime
Minister Rabbie Namaliu and opposition leader Paias Wingti.
Tohian was later arrested and charged with treason, ending his
police career, but these charges were later dropped.
He then entered politics becoming the first Governor of New
Ireland Province in 1997 until his defeat in 2002, when he
remained in business in Kavieng. Given a full police funeral
attended by 5,000, he leaves a wife, Saraim and several
children.
Max Hayes
Index
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