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Deidre Lillian
ALLEN, nee Wright (19 July
2004)
Born in Sydney Deidre applied for entry to ASOPA as a cadet
education officer as soon as she completed the Leaving
Certificate at Fort Street Girls High but was ineligible
because of her young age. She reapplied and in 1965
commenced training with the first group of high school
education officers. On graduation from ASOPA in 1966 she was
sent to Sogeri for prac teaching and from there was posted
to Popondetta and then Kerawagi at which school she held the
position of Deputy Principal. Deidre married the late Cliff
Allen in 1969 in Sydney and daughter, Lauren, was born in
Moresby in 1971 with Toby born in Lae in 1973. In 1974 the
family moved to Sydney where the marriage ended. Deidre
moved to Canberra to be near old friends from her ASOPA and
PNG days, and in 1992 she married ex kiap Norm Wilson, one
of those old friends. Deidre was an exceptional personality
and had many talents. She was a top pianist and for most of
her working life continued academic studies, completing a
Psychology degree in 1996, a Masters degree in Education in
1997, and achieved registration as a psychologist in June
2004, just prior to her sudden death. Deidre never lost her
love for and interest in PNG. Her friends will miss her
enthusiastic and often impromptu entertaining. This
particular friend will remember her whenever a champagne
cork pops. She is survived by her husband Norm, daughter
Lauren and family, and son Toby.
Heather Morgan
Index
Joseph William
BACKHOUSE, WX 4711/WX 500762 (13 Dec 2004, aged 89
yrs)
After war service in the Middle East, Borneo and New Guinea,
Captain Backhouse, after being part of the war crimes
investigation team investigating Japanese atrocities against
servicemen and civilians during WW2 in New Guinea, was
appointed to command the 1 Australian War Crimes Compound at
Rabaul from Nov 1947. Part of these duties required him to
be in charge of firing squads of condemned Japanese war
criminals, a duty which he did not relish. He spent some
time at Manus at the 3 Australian War Crimes Compound until
late 1949 when he separated from the Australian Army. He
returned to Brisbane, but decided that New Guinea presented
opportunities. He then returned to Rabaul, and for almost a
year was employed by John Stokie MC (a pre-war TNG police
force warrant officer and war time Coastwatcher) who had
acquired several plantations on New Britain. Towards the end
of 1950 he purchased a run down plantation called Nambung in
the Bainings from a Mrs Wood, the widow of the pre-war
owner. Together with his wife, Sylvy, he built this up to
become a very profitable plantation. In 1972, they returned
to Brisbane, leaving the running of the plantation in the
hands of a manager. He was invited back to Lassul Bay for
the Independence Day celebrations on 16 September 1975 and
sold Nambung to the local people in 1980. His wife
predeceased him and he is survived by relatives, one of whom
Kym Osley wrote his biography, "Uncle Joes's Story, a
biography of Captain Joseph W. Backhouse" published by Print
on Demand, University of Queensland, 2002.
Max Hayes and the ‘Courier Mail’
Index
William (Bill) James
BATES (13 January 2005, aged 75 years)
Bill was born in Belfast, Ireland, and was one of twelve
children. When he turned 18 he migrated to Australia. He
worked in and around Melbourne for a short time before
applying for a job in PNG. His application was successful
and within a few days he was on his way to a new life in
PNG. His first job was at the timber mill at Bulolo.
Following this he was employed by the Commonwealth Dept of
Works in Pt Moresby. He then took some time off and went to
New Zealand where he obtained an aircraft pilot’s licence.
Back to PNG he took up a position with Dept of Works and
Supply, spending time in Rabaul and then Manus where he met
his future wife, Eunice. In the early 1960s he was in Pt
Moresby and was offered the District Works Manager position
at Daru where he stayed until 1974 when he was transferred
back to Moresby. He worked for a time at PWD Headquarters,
Boroko, and was then offered a job with the Dept of Health.
When the Western Provincial Govt was suspended Bill was
given the job of Administrator. This was followed with
stints in Mendi as Oil Projects Liaison Officer and then
another Administrator job in the Enga Province. He left PNG
early 1995 and took up residence at his home in Clayfield.
He passed away suddenly and is survived by his wife Eunice,
daughter Andree and son Michael.
Ian Pendergast
Index
Jack Bertram
Charlton BRAMMELL (15 October 2004 aged 81
years)
Jack grew up in Brighton-Le-Sands with his mother and sister
while his father spent a great deal of his time working in
New Guinea – where Jack would later spend 31 years of his
working life. He worked in his uncle’s abattoirs after
leaving school. Jack then went to work in New Guinea;
firstly as a Patrol Officer prior to the war, then as a
District Commissioner and later a Land Titles Commissioner.
In 1940, at the age of 28, he returned to Australia to join
the RAAF to become a pilot flying Catalinas. The Second
World War brought him home to visit his mother, now living
in a flat at Rose Bay. Here he met his future wife who lived
in the same block of flats and in 1946 Jack and Pat were the
first white couple to marry in Port Moresby after the war.
They then lived in many isolated regions of NG with Jack
often away from home. Jack worked to have schools and
hospitals built in some of the more isolated regional areas
of NG. They lived in placed like Kikori, Rigo, Popondetta,
Rabaul, Lae, Madang and finally Port Moresby before
returning to Australia in 1967.
Jack then began a new ‘career’ as an upholsterer for the
next 15 years. His life was full and rewarding. He was an
explorer and an adventurer with a great deal of initiative
and a tremendous sense of humour. He punctuated the lives
around him with amusing anecdotes from his past about the
dangers he and Pat faced. Throughout every aspect of his
life he was supportive of those around him. Jack and Pat
were married for 45 years when she passed away in 1991. Jack
is survived by daughters Reioni, Shane and Tina.
Index
Ronald John CARTER
(27 October 2004, aged 73 years)
Ron was born in London. He was with the Royal Air Force
before joining the Metropolitan Police in 1951 and then the
Essex County Constabulary. He joined RPNGC as a Contract
Officer in 1967 with rank of Sub Inspector and served in
Port Moresby, Lae and Mount Hagen. After leaving PNG in 1974
he joined the Australian Commonwealth Public Service and
worked in the Family Court and Parliamentary branches.
Max Hayes
Index
Robert Brian DANIEL
(1 January 2005, aged 59 years)
Born in Ballarat, Victoria. After three years service in
Victoria Police, he then served two years National Service
in the Military Police of the Australian Army, before
joining the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary on 5.2.1968
on contract for 12 years. He served at Port Moresby, Lae,
Goroka and was O.I.C. Henganofi for 18 months. With
impending Independence, the conditions of contract officers
were changed and he resigned in Feb 1974. On return to
Australia he was personnel manager for Alcoa at Geelong,
Victoria, and later in charge of revenue protection for
Victorian Public Transport Corporation. He settled in
Queensland, and had only moved into a new house six weeks
before his sudden death. He is survived by his wife Marilyn,
and three daughters. Max Hayes, D.T.Bell, M.Baker
Index
Tau Justina DOYLE (21
November 2004, aged 49 years)
Tau was from Witu Island, WNB, and lived at Langu Plantation
for two-thirds of her life. She married Dick in 1972. After
copra and cocoa prices crashed, Tau would often have to look
after Langu when Dick went away on business/tourism
services. Tau enjoyed several trips to Singapore as well as
visiting Malaysia, Philippines, USA and Queensland. Many
visitors were fortunate to experience her love of cooking
which was inspired by both PNG foods and those from
countries she had travelled to. Tau had a strong sense of
what was right and the sight of this tiny lady berating a
six foot nephew (or other wrongdoer) was always entertaining
for those fortunate to witness. A proud moment in Tau’s life
was the 1994 crowning as Miss PNG of Tania. She was also
proud to have three daughters contributing to the PNG
economy, all holding jobs in a difficult employment
situation. Tau was buried on the small cliff overlooking
Langu Anchorage, near the 1946 grave of Gladys Baker, a
previous owner of Langu. Tau is survived by her husband,
Dick, their three daughters, Melissa, Tania and Nancy, and
five grandchildren.
Dick Doyle
Index
Dr Paul ENDERS(13
February 2005, aged 86 years)
(We hope to include details next issue)
Index
Peter Noel HARBECK
E.D.; L.S.G.C.M. and bar (both PNGVR medals) (7 December
2004, aged 78 years)
Born in Deniliquin, Peter later decided he did not wish to
pursue a career as a chemist and went to PNG, joining the
RPC & NGPF in 1949 at Police HQ in Konedobu. In late 1950
Peter was seconded to the PNG Vulcanologist, Tony TAYLOR G.C.
for a period of three months at Sangara Plantation, near
Higatura, where he organised the evacuation of locals when
the settlement was wiped out in the Mount Lamington
explosion of January 1951. He later served at Bulolo and
Madang, resigning from the RP&NGC in 1956 to establish
TOITUBU coffee plantation at Banz in the western highlands.
He later became the agent for SHELL Petroleum Company, Gibbs
Sepik Airways, Talair, and ran Banz timber and joinery along
with other small businesses. Peter joined the PNG Volunteer
Rifles in 1951, where he carried out a distinguished 22 year
military career in which he rose through the ranks to become
Major, commander of Charlie Company. He saw active service
in the Vietnam War.
In 1981 Peter and Lucy returned to Australia, settling in
Brisbane for two years. In 1984 they went to Goondiwindi and
operated a SHELL road house from Boga Billa until 1988, when
he retired. They then moved to Cooroy in the hinterland of
the Sunshine Coast QLD. In 1991 he joined the Noosa Coast
Guard and in 1998 was elected Commander which he fulfilled
until he resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Peter and Lucy
returned to Brisbane in January 2002 to be nearer family and
better medical facilities. Through all these years Peter was
still very much involved with PNGVR. Peter is survived by
Lucy, 4 children – Tom, Brett, Grant, and Janet, two
step-children, Neil and Pia, and 9 Grandchildren.
Lucy Harbeck
Note: Max Hayes and Tom Dowling, whilst also writing
about Peter, advised that Peter’s funeral service was well
represented by members of the PNGVR ex members association,
and the eulogy was delivered by Colonel Harry N. Green,
M.B.E.; E.D.
Index
Most Reverend John
IGNATIUS O.F.M., D.D., D.Ph. Bishop Emeritus of
Aitape (17 September 2004, aged 96 years)
>From a humble beginning at Rydal near Bathurst NSW, and
early training for the Priesthood at Holy Cross College,
Ryde, NSW, Father Ignatius, as he was for so many years
affectionately known, sailed to Europe in March 1927 for
eight long years of study. First at the Franciscan’s
Novitiate at Killarney in Ireland, then at the Gregarian
University in Rome, where all courses were in Latin, and
finally the Zouvain University in Belgium, where classes
were in French. He was ordained a priest on 02 July 1933 and
returned to Australia in April 1934. For the next 12 years
he was involved in advanced teaching at Franciscan
theological colleges in Victoria and NSW. In Nov 1946 he
sailed to New Guinea on the MV Montoro as superior of eight
young Australian Franciscan priests, to face the long war
torn strip from Aitape to Vanimo and its hinterland and
establish a Vicariate, ‘The Mission of St Francis SALANUS,
Central New Guinea’. Hardship and isolation were the order
of the day in this remote part of PNG, at the time. In 1956
Father Ignatius was consecrated Bishop. After decades of
service on the Aitape coast he retired to the Star of the
Sea Friary, Waverley NSW. Harry West
Index
IaKirara KAPUTIN (9
December 2004, aged 95 years)
IaKirara was the mother of nine children, including Sir John
Kaputin, a PNG politician from 1972 to 2002. Her husband,
Daniel, pre-deceased her.
Post Courier 11/12/04
Index
Peter Andre Charles
KELLY (5 May 2004, aged 90 years)
Peter arrived in Port Moresby in January 1958. He was
Officer-in-Charge at the Out Patients’ Department at Taurama
Native Hospital. While there he also patrolled the Koiari
District at intervals. He was transferred to Bomana Hospital
as relieving officer for approximately 12 months. His next
consignment was as Principal of the Medical Nursing College
at Rabaul and he also took part in a medical patrol of New
Britain. From Rabaul Peter returned to Port Moresby, to the
position of Principal of the Medical Nursing College in
Boroko before leaving the Territory for Australia with his
family in February 1968. Peter is survived by his wife
Breda, son Peter, daughter Anne, grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
Breda Kelly
Index
Rev Fred KEMP (19 Feb 2005,
aged 88 years)
Served with the Methodist Overseas Mission at Misima,
Kiriwina and Port Moresby from 1948 to 1968. His family are
keen to hear from anyone who knew him. Please contact Anne
Tanner Ph:02 9449 5211
Index
Nigel Chee Fai LEE(early
Jan 2005)
Son of Wilbur and Anna Lee of Buka Passage.
Courier Mail
Index
Val (Hooley) SHEPPEARD
(late 2004, aged 78 years)
Living in Redcliffe, Qld, she was known by choice as
‘Hooley-Dooley’. Hooley spent 27 years in PNG from 1962-1989
– in Madang, Goroka, Bulolo and Mt Hagen.
Jo Corrigan
Index
Eric A SUTHERLAND ROSS
(10 January 2005, aged 90 years)
Eric first went to PNG in 1921. In over 40 years there he
lived at Sapphire Creek, Koitaki, Eilogo, Hisiu, Port
Moresby, Misima, Kikori, Daru, Salamaua, Wewak, Wau and
Kokoda. Eric joined the RAAF in 1940 and was with them until
1945. He left PNG in 1966, living at Springwood in
Queensland and then Carbrook.
Index
Frederick David THOMSON(17
December 2004) was born in Sydney on 12 September 1931. He
worked as a station hand and an apprentice electrical fitter
for several years before joining the NSW Police in 1956. He
joined the RPNGC on 9 October 1964 serving in Port Moresby
and Lae. Fred was designated Police Armourer but spent his
early service in the uniformed branch and CIB in Lae. In the
latter capacity he was also the station photographer. He
retained his interest in guns all his life. He transferred
to Special Branch in 1969 and left the RPNGC with the rank
of Inspector 2nd class in 1971 and joined the PNG Security
Intelligence Organisation, where he remained until June
1975. Fred and his wife Kath operated a motel at Chillagoe
for several years and subsequently spent many years working
on cattle stations in the Northern Territory and North
Queensland. Fred was a fine professional police officer,
well respected among his peers, and made many friends during
his service in PNG. He is survived by Kath, three children
and ten grandchildren. Derek Bell and Max Hayes
Index
June Gwennyth TURNER
(11 December 2004, aged 81 years)
June had been involved in radio presentation, theatre (both
on and off the boards) and dances in Melbourne before
joining her husband John, a Medical Assistant at Kerema, in
April 1950. As with many others, she experienced a massive
culture shock! Following Kerema they were posted to Mumeng
and with three daughters they next moved to Kokopo followed
by Kavieng, where June took a job with New Guinea Company.
Finally they moved to Rabaul where June remained working
with New Guinea Company and later Planters’ Association.
June grew to love and respect the country and its people and
also enjoyed learning a number of dialects. On retirement
the family moved to Forestville, Sydney, still playing host
to expats; many lifelong friendships that had been forged in
PNG. June’s remaining family consists of her three
daughters, their husbands, seven grandchildren and one great
grandson.
Lisa, Sara and Jane (Turner)
Index
Nari Elspeth
Hamilton WATKINS nee Campbell, (28 Nov 04, aged 78
years)
Nari was born in Rabaul where her father, Cam, was the
manager of the first Commonwealth Bank there. After two
years the family moved to Raua Plantation, an isolated
property in Bougainville, where she was the first white
child ever seen by many of the people. Nari was eventually
sent to boarding school in Melbourne. She was 17 when war
came to Bougainville. With the Japanese invasion expected
Nari found herself heading south on the MV Macdhui, with
other expatriate women and children being evacuated, leaving
her parents behind on the plantation. On arrival in
Australia however, Nari heard a radio report that the
Japanese had invaded New Britain and were expected to move
on to the Solomon Islands. She decided to join the war
effort instead of going to school; but a girl had to be
twenty-one, or have her parents’ permission to join up. Nari
ran into the engineer of the old steamer who used to visit
the plantation every six weeks and got him to convince the
draft board that she must have been easily 21 and she was
in. In the service Nari learnt to drive trucks, eventually
driving important personalities, most notably Bob Hope,
around. Because of her knowledge of Bougainville she was
drafted from the WASBEES for a time to service in
intelligence in Townsville to help with the battle of
Bougainville, during which time her parents escaped the
Japanese by American submarine. Nari was then sent to India
with the WASBEES where she met and married an Englishman,
Captain Peter Forster. With her parents they returned to
Raua to rebuild it after WWII. A son, Michael, was born but
unfortunately Peter was killed in an accident a few months
later. Later, after her father’s death, a family home was
set up in Moss Vale and Nari returned to Raua to run the
plantation. Farnborough, a dairy farm, was later bought for
the family in Moss Vale. Nari travelled between the two but
eventually returned to live full-time on Bougainville. She
met Les Watkins and they married in 1960, with Diana born in
1961. During this time Nari wrote her first semi-fictional
novel, Laua Avanapu. Nari and Les contributed to developing
PNG as independence approached, with Nari very involved in
matters cultural. A home in Moss Vale meant that time could
be divided between the two places. Nari returned to
Bougainville for one last time after Les passed away in
1982. She spent the last two years with daughter Diana and
her husband Toby on a farm in Wallendbeen, near Cootamundra.
Nari is survived by Diana, Michael and four grandchildren.
Diana Bassingthwaighte
Index
Arthur Ernest WILKINSON
(13 August 2004 aged 101 years)
Ernest was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, in 1902. He migrated
to Australia in 1922 and worked on station properties in
Victoria and NSW as well as four years with Parramatta
Hospital. He joined PNG Health Service in 1930, working in
native hospitals in Manus, Wewak, Kavieng, Aitape, Angoram
and Salamaua. In 1940 he joined the AIF from Salamaua and
sailed in the Queen Mary in 1940 for the Middle East. On his
return to Australia and after completing a Malaria Control
course he was posted to NG, Indonesia and the Celebes. After
returning to Australia at the end of the war he married and
went back to PHD in NG working in Rabaul, Sohano and Goroka.
Retiring in 1972 he returned to Australia to live in
Collaroy with his family and spent happy years playing golf
at Long Reef. He joined the Collaroy RSL and Beach Club, and
Probus Club at Mona Vale. He had a great collection of NG
stamps and native artefacts. Ernest is survived by his wife
Flo, his children, John and Anna, and four grandchildren.
Flo Wilkinson
Index
