Baker, Graeme (21 February
2004, aged 61 years)
Graeme went to PNG in 1967 to work in the Department of Primary
Industry as an Entomologist. His first posting was to Popondetta
where he was involved with the outbreak of the Pantorhytes
weevil on the Soldier and Smallholder Settlements in the
Northern Province and some in the East New Britain area. He also
worked in the Milne Bay, Morobe and Western Highlands Provinces,
mainly on grasshoppers and other pests.
He commenced work as a locust and grasshopper entomologist with
the Department of Agriculture, NSW, at the Biological and
Chemical Research Institute, Rydalmere in 1975 and remained
there until its closure in 1997.
Graeme recorded the history of all outbreaks of plague locusts
and wingless grasshoppers in NSW. He had incubation rooms in the
Institute where he bred parasites and recorded information on
their behaviour etc. He was well known for his research work on
the effect of parasitic nematodes on grasshopper populations in
Australia. Graeme was at all times very conscious of the
environment, although not entirely against aerial spraying of
insecticides; he was aware of the damage it could cause. He was
principal and co-author of over 30 advisory publications; one of
which, a book on Scelio, the publishers were awarded the Warkley
Award for the best scientific book of the year. Graeme was also
invited to many countries around the world to present papers on
his findings.
Graeme’s other interests included art - he enjoyed painting for
relaxation, was a good photographer, loved writing short stories
and had a wide interest in real estate. A valued committee
member of PNGAA, Graeme also designed the cover on our book
‘Tales of Papua New Guinea’.
Joe Nitsche and Ray Pigott
Index
Bourne,
Neville (12 May 2004)
Neville, a former Member of Parliament, passed away in Port
Moresby. He became the Member for Menyamya in 1982 and held that
seat for two terms. He also had the position of Minister for
Transport.
Index
Charles,
Alan (7 March 2004, aged 78 years)
Alan was born and educated in Goulburn, NSW. He won a Department
of Agriculture cadetship and earned his B Sc Agr with first
class honours from Sydney University in 1948, and won an award
to earn his M Sc from Cambridge. While he was studying in
England his fiancée, nursing sister Gwen Guymer, went over to
join him and they were married in Cambridge.
Alan returned to work for two years as an agronomist with the
NSW Dept of Agriculture before going to PNG in 1953 as Economic
Botanist in DASF. In his 18 years service with DASF he rose to
the position of Assistant Director (Research and Surveys), and
was acting Director on a number of occasions. He built up and
improved the research capabilities of his division and
contributed significantly to the crop development programs that
assisted both smallholder and plantation production and the
introduction of new industries in tea, sugar, oil palm and
pyrethrum. Outside work hours he was active in the formation and
development of the Boroko Baptist Church and MAPANG missionary
guesthouse.
Returning to Australia in 1971 he served the rest of his career
with CSIRO in Canberra, rising to the position of Manager,
Policy and Planning, of the Institute of Animal and Food
Production and Processing, responsible for more that 1500 staff,
including more than 500 scientists. He retired about 1990. In
recognition of his outstanding work in agriculture and research
administration, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian
Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology.
In his retirement he gave rein to his sense of adventure in
several demanding trips, hiking in the Himalayas, to Macchu
Pichu in the Andes, and through the mountains of Patagonia (at
age 77!); white water rafting in Africa; and cycling 800km
through southern China.
He is survived by his wife Gwen, two daughters, a son and eight
grandchildren.
Arthur Charles
Index
Chiverall, John Arthur
(20 April 2004, aged 68 years)
John was with the Department of Education in Port Moresby, later
moving to Brisbane. John is survived by his wife, Clare, and
their children Anthony and Paula.
Info from The Courier Mail 24 April 2004
Index
Coleman, Frank Robert (11
February 2004, aged 66 years)
Frank first went to PNG in 1956 after training at ASOPA. After a
week in Port Moresby he was sent to Rabaul and after some time
there was transferred to Madang. From Madang he went to Wewak as
Collector of Customs where he stayed until 1970. He then went to
Lae to take over as Collector when Jack Goad retired.
In 1962 he married Shirley and eight years later their twin
daughters were born. This caused much excitement in Wewak as
they were the first European twins to both survive for many
years. Shirley worked at Haus Wireless.
Frank was the first Collector of Customs to be replaced by a
local officer and the family left PNG in May 1975, settling in
Chatswood where Shirley remains today.
After Frank retired in 1994 he did some voluntary work with the
Vietnam Veterans and the Chatswood RSL. Frank always remained
very interested in PNG as he had enjoyed his time there. He is
survived by his wife Shirley, two daughters Yvonne and Ruth,
their husbands and three grandchildren who were his pride and
joy.
Shirley Coleman
Index
Drover Dr Donald (15 March
2004, aged 76 years)
A respected member of the PNGAA Committee, Don grew up in
Narrandera. He later graduated from the University of Sydney
with a B Science degree, continuing on to the University of
Dundee in Scotland. He then became Senior Lecturer in Soil
Chemistry at the University of Western Australia in Perth during
which time he published around 40 technical and research papers
and was awarded his Doctorate. In 1960 Dr Drover became
Professor of Agriculture, Biochemistry and Soil Science at the
University of Khartoum in the Sudan, spending five years there.
In 1966 he became Foundation Professor of Chemistry at the newly
established University of Papua New Guinea.
Donald and Christine were married in 1969. The following year
Don was the Organising Secretary for the 42nd Congress of the
Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of
Science held in Port Moresby. He was awarded the Papua New
Guinea Independence Medal in 1975 for his service to the
University of PNG. After leaving PNG in 1981 Donald held
positions in Darwin, Sydney and Perth. In addition to being a
fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and Chairman
and Sydney Chairman of London based Royal Society of Arts he was
an executive member of a Sydney Rotary club which developed a
project called Preserve Planet Earth. Brimming with understated
dry humour, Don’s international academic successes never
overtook the importance of his Narrandera roots. Donald’s wife,
Christine, predeceased him. He leaves behind his three children,
Alison, Camilla and Angus and three grandchildren. Angus Drover
Index
Dutton, William ‘Bill’
(1924 - 15 February 2004)
Having grown up on his parents’ farm at Maleny, Queensland, Bill
joined the 5th Light Horse (later to become the 5th Motorised
Regiment). Advancing his age from 17 to the required 18 years,
he enlisted as a Trooper to commence military training and was
subsequently posted to New Guinea with the 19th Brigade where he
saw action in various areas along the North Coast of New Guinea.
After his discharge in 1946 he embarked on a career of contract
building in Western Queensland before taking up an appointment
with the Commonwealth Department of Works (CDW) in 1950. Whilst
with CDW he received postings to Losuia, Samarai, Rabaul and
Kavieng where he was involved in building projects. In 1955 he
secured an appointment as Building Inspector with the Department
of Civil Aviation (DCA) and shortly after was transferred to
Madang. In 1956 he joined the Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
(PNGVR) and served with this unit until 1961 when he returned to
Port Moresby.
In 1961, whilst on leave in Brisbane, Bill married Sister
Vivienne Champ. They returned to Port Moresby and took up
residence in a DCA ‘Hawksley’ in 1st Street Boroko. In 1966 they
moved to Perth, Western Australia, where Bill had been promoted
to Chief Building Inspector. Another promotion, in 1969, saw
Bill back in Brisbane where he subsequently had considerable
input into the construction of the new Brisbane airport.
Retiring in 1984, he was able to indulge his passion for
fishing. Bill is survived by his wife, Vivienne and children
William Jnr and Anne Marie.
Jim Dutton
Index
Huggins, Denis (22 March 2004,
aged 79 years)
Denis grew up in Ashbury and when he completed his schooling he
began an apprenticeship training to become a Fitter and Turner.
He was 15 years old when the Second World War began. When the
war ended, Denis travelled to Rabaul to attend the wedding of
his sister Peg to Matt Foley. He then worked as a mechanic for
Matt in his hire car and trucking business. He met and married
Pauline; Ray was born and as a family they remained in New
Guinea for 30 years, only leaving after Independence. Denis and
Pauline then moved to Sydney where they ran two service
stations. After Pauline’s death in 1981, Denis moved to
Caboolture to be with his New Guinea mates. He would frequently
tell his visitors stories about life in Rabaul.
Denis was always fascinated by advances in technology and, a few
years ago, bought a computer and tried to learn as much as he
could by reading books and joining a computer club. Also, he was
always willing to help out those not as well off as himself – he
spent several days a week assisting with Meals on Wheels in
Caboolture. When he moved back to Sydney recently he donated all
his furniture and household goods to the Salvation Army and the
Vietnam Veterans Association. Denis is survived by his son Ray
and his family. Extract from eulogy as read by Neil Hickling
Index
Knight,
Stanley (16 April 2004, aged 77 years)
Stanley went to the District Office in Rabaul in 1946. In 1948
he transferred to Daru for two years from where he went to DASF
in Port Moresby until he left PNG in 1955.
Index
Lang,
Malcolm (16 March 2004, aged 72 years)
Mal spent most of his youth in the Bathurst district where he
developed a love for an independent outdoor lifestyle and the
natural environment. After attending boarding school in Sydney
he joined the PNG Administration as a Cadet Patrol Officer in
1953. He remained in the public service in PNG for an unbroken
period of thirty years. When he declined a further contract in
1983 he was Advisor to the fledgling Central Province Provincial
Government. His achievements whilst participating in initial
contact patrols in the Koroba area of the Southern Highlands in
1956 were described in books written by Jim Sinclair, and many
will remember the wonderful dustcover photograph of Mal leading
a patrol down the broken bottle country of the Strickland River
Gorge. Mal continued to work in PNG until 1990 - for a company
which provided labour and camp management facilities for
international oil companies.
In 1970 Mal completed, mainly by correspondence, a Bachelor of
Laws degree with the University of Queensland although he never
subsequently attempted to practice it. He also became a licensed
pilot and was always a keen sportsman – even representing New
Guinea against Papua in Rugby League.
After retiring to Manly he enjoyed a full and varied lifestyle,
part of which was being involved with the surf and sailing clubs
there. He maintained his proficiency in the French and German
languages by borrowing books from the local library as well as
maintaining a strong interest in matters historical, political
and environmental. Mal is survived by his partner, Elizabeth,
and his son, Scott.
Harry Redmond
See
Chips Mackeller's postscript - Patrol Post in the Sky
Index
Mann, Lady (Yvonne Ella) (20 April
2004, aged 89 years)
Devoted wife of the late Sir Alan Mann former Chief Justice of
Papua New Guinea.
Much loved Mother of Vanda, Elizabeth, Caroline and Trischa.
The Australian 23 April 2004
Index
McGrath, David (March 2004,
aged 46 years)
David went to PNG at the age of three with his parents and spent
15 years there. While living in Goroka he was the only
non-indigenous member of the First Goroka Scout Troop and this
experience was always special to him. Ten years after leaving
school David started an Asian Studies degree and became fluent
in Mandarin. He then helped build Australia’s relationship with
China through his diplomatic postings and work with the
Department of Foreign Affairs. He was instrumental in the
successful bid to provide $25 billion of Australian gas to China
which, at that time, was the biggest resource contract in
Australia’s history. He returned to PNG in 1998 as a diplomat
and was married in 2002. David frequently visited his mother,
Laura Webb, in Perth. David is survived by his wife Annmaree.
Info from The West Australian 19 May 2004
Index
Nitsche, Flora (21 May 2004,
aged 100 years)
(The following was written by Flora's son, Joe, to celebrate
Mutti's 100th birthday)
Mutti was born in Selecia, Germany (now Poland). She was the
youngest of 4 girls and 2 boys. As a young girl she moved to Alt
Kuenkendorf, a small village about 80 km from Berlin, to be
governess to the children of her sister Eva. There she met her
husband to be, Hugo. In 1932 Mutti made a long and arduous
journey alone through Poland, Russia, along the Caspian Sea,
Azerbaijan to Tehran to marry Hugo, who was working there. This
was where Gisela and I were born. In 1941 our parents decided to
return to Germany as the Russians were advancing, but this
changed dramatically when my father was interned by the British.
The trip back to Germany was horrendous; the Russians plundered,
leaving us with only the clothes in which we were travelling.
We returned to Alt Kuenkendorf, and moved later to the nearby
town of Angermuende; but by 1945 the Russians were again
approaching so women and children were evacuated – in our case
to Duingen, which was later part of West Germany. It was a
difficult and stressful time for my mother, having to cope with
food and clothing shortages, living in crowded accommodation
while trying to do the best for her young family, never giving
up. With no close relatives and my father away she lived in an
atmosphere of fear and anxiety.
In 1949 our family was briefly re-united in Australia before my
father departed to PNG to take up his appointment as an
agricultural officer. Our mother followed later and they lived
at Aiyura Agricultural Station in the PNG highlands. It was a
happy time, and many of the friends they made there were here to
share her birthday with us. My father retired in 1964, and sadly
he died in 1965. By then I also was a didiman in PNG, and Gisela
was married to Terry – they were both teaching in country NSW.
Mutti lived on her own until 1998. She had 3 grandchildren, 5
great-grand-daughters and one great-grandson. We say OUR MUTTI
was the best. God bless her.
Mutti thoroughly enjoyed the celebration of her birthday,
but unfortunately developed pneumonia a few days later. Sadly,
Mutti passed away on Friday 21 May 2004.
Index
Palmer, Gwen Esther (23
April 2004, aged 78 years)
Gwen Esther, late of Southport, Wynnum and formerly of Lae,
Papua New Guinea.
No further details - Info from The Courier Mail 24 April 2004
Index
Siaguru, Sir Anthony (16
April 2004, aged 57 years)
Sir Anthony, a PNGAA member, was a former prominent Papua New
Guinea MP and anti-corruption campaigner, and a member of the
first class to graduate in law from the University of Papua New
Guinea in 1971. His great contribution to the development of PNG
began with his pioneering role in becoming the first secretary
in the newly established Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
both before and after Independence. He continued to hold many
roles in the private and public sectors as well as in the
community; also being a leading company director and lawyer. Sir
Anthony was elected to parliament in 1982 and served in various
ministerial posts until 1987. In 1990 he was knighted for his
contribution to public and community service. In that year, too,
he became the highest ranking PNG diplomat as Deputy
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
Sir Anthony is survived by his wife Lady Whilhelmina Siaguru and
sons Steven, Stanley and Daniel.
Info taken from Post Courier and Brisbane’s Sunday Mail
Index
Stevenson, Beatrice
(12 March 2004, aged 77 years)
Beatrice, who worked for Treasury, originally came from Hobart
and married John at the Rabaul Memorial Church in July 1963. In
recent years they lived at Wyong. She is survived by husband,
John, and sons Martin and Alan.
John Stevenson
Index
Tomasetti, William Thomas
(4 April 2004, aged 85 years)
Bill joined the PNG administration in early 1946 after
distinguished wartime service with the 2/22nd Commandos behind
enemy lines in Timor, and first served in the Morobe District.
Of academic inclination he became a specialist in Community
Development and from 1960 to 1962 trained at London University
and had comparative experience in India and the Phillipines.
His 32 years in PNG were split evenly between practical grass
roots work amongst the rural people and academia. He was a field
officer from 1946 till 1963 and then with the Administrative
Staff College till his retirement as a Senior Lecturer in 1978.
In the middle of this period however he had 5 important years as
Dean of Students at the University of PNG, when he did much to
bridge the cultural gap between the student body and the diverse
academic staff.
In his long retirement at Wentworth Falls, Bill involved himself
in local affairs and for a time was President of the Upper Blue
Mountains Area Health Board. He also translated Professor Peter
Lawrence’s book ‘Road Bilong Cargo’ into Pidgin English. Bill
was very proud of his competence in both the Pidgin and Motu
languages. He is survived by his wife Fredagard, and daughters,
Josephine and Stephanie from his first marriage to Leslie.
Harry West
Index
Walker, Muriel (15 April
2004, aged 87 years)
Muriel, wife of member John Walker, had two spells in PNG. The
first was in 1947-48 when she joined Johnnie in Port Moresby
after several months’ separation. They lived at “Taldora” out
near the aerodrome and had legendary “dings” most weekends.
Daughter Susan, just over one, was very spoilt by all the men
separated from their families, but it was a difficult time with
not much fresh meat and vegetables. “Taldora” had wooden
shutters, cement floors, no ceilings and an outdoor dunny, so it
was hardly a palatial residence; nevertheless it was a very
happy time. Muriel loved the climate and lifestyle of PNG and
was very happy to return in 1957, when Johnnie was posted by DCA
to Lae. They lived in Coronation Drive (13th Street) and enjoyed
sundowners at the Lae Club and catching up with old friends from
Moresby. Susan finished primary school and had two years of
boarding school during their stay. Later on Susan and family
returned to Port Moresby and Muriel and Johnnie were able to
visit and see how things had changed.
Susan Woodward
Index
