NOTES FROM THE NORTHERN TERRITORY from Jim Toner

Duncan DEAN, former kiap and now president of the NT branch of the Australian Democrats, has in the past campaigned for seats on the Palmerston City Council, in the NT Legislative Assembly, and for the Federal House of Representatives without any luck. But he is a ‘If you knock me down I stand up again’ character and in November's national election he stood for the Senate. With the same result. ‘I guess you can call me an unsuccessful politician’ he commented.

Darwin now has a Kutubu connection in triplicate. It has been a considerable time since young Peter SANDERY left Fannie Bay to become a CPO - and in fact he has since become a PNG citizen - but he works alongside Mike PRESS, former Southern Highlands and Sepik kiap, who takes leave at home in Darwin every 28 days. They have been joined at the oil company's base by Rick GRAY, raised in Moresby and now retired from the NT Public Service, who is the son of Bob Gray, onetime stalwart of the Government Printery and Kone Club.

Peter LAMING, a Patrol Officer at Buin and and Kieta during the 60s, is now a registered psychologist in Darwin. He took time off in November to visit Kawana Waters for the Kiap Reunion and additionally whilst in Queensland visited both his cousin Bruce LAMING, who had become an Assistant Patrol Officer in 1971 and Terry KELLIHER who had spent several years in Darwin working for the Attorney-General following Native Affairs service in PNG. Another ex-kiap attendee from the Top End was Greg SMITH who had been living at Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula. A yachtie, he and his wife sailed their craft down the Queensland coast and then north again to Townsville where they await birth of a grandson.

In England ‘On yer bike!’ is a vulgarity used instead of the more Shakespearean ‘Get thee gone’. But it is now the slogan of Sir Julius Chan, Governor of New Ireland. His provincial government is to encourage citizens to make greater use of bicycles by meeting half of their purchase cost. But ‘revenue neutral’ is the political buzzword of the day so concurrently registration charges for vehicle owners are to be increased...

Arthur WILLIAMS, now 69 years old has returned from his Welsh birthplace to Lavongai (or New Hanover for aged readers) where he was a Patrol Officer 35 years ago and his reports to the ex-kiap website on current island affairs are fascinating. He says that the PNG High Commissioner in London, seemingly baffled, asked him ‘But why would you want to go back to Taskul, Arthur??’ He comments that time has not changed everything on the island. Querying a school teacher about documents supposed to have been sent across the water from the Education Office in Kavieng weeks previously their non-availability was explained ‘kanu imas kapsais’. Loosely, ‘the mail-boat must have sunk’. The old excuses are always the best....

During 2004 I mentioned that a Stock Exchange had been created at Port Moresby and would be using the catchy abbreviation POMSOX. But it is written: Wherever there shall be a stock exchange there will surely be insider trading. And so it came to pass at POMSOX. An increase in value of certain shares by 250% in a short period has aroused the interest of the Securities Commission.

It has been quite a while since we had penny and halfpenny coins weighing down our trouser pockets. The PNG Treasury is now to follow Australia in eliminating the 1 and 2 toea coins. However it is going its own way by printing a 2 kina note rather than creating a coin. Obsolete coinage still interests the numismatic fraternity and Paul OATES, when a kiap, collected TPNG 'holey' coins. Lacking a George V halfpenny and penny dated 1929 he recently sought to negotiate a purchase. He discovered that they could be had in America for 24,000 and 48,000 US dollars respectively. And that was from a 1965 catalogue! Start rummaging in that old patrol box now....

Wherever two or three kiaps are gathered together there may be heard stories, truthful, not wholly truthful, and some nothing like the truth. Recently there was discussion of roof-painting exploits in the Highlands. One case concerned Wilhelm Bergmann, a Lutheran missionary in PNG 1928-1968. The bulk of his time was spent in the Chimbu and he has left ten volumes of diaries which are being studied by an ANU researcher. However the rumour was that he painted a swastika on the roof of his mission during WW2. Whether to protect himself from passing Dorniers, somewhat off course, or the Betty bombers of Germany's oriental allies is unclear.

The other case concerned Finintegu airstrip, not far from Henganofi EHD. One theory is that Peter MAXTONE-GRAHAM painted Goroka on the roof of a shed at Finintegu thus persuading a RAAF DC3 to land on a strip fit only for Cessnas with subsequent major departure problems. An alternative allegation is that the afore-named and well-known Highland resident who unfortunately later drowned in the Wahgi deceived the RAAF pilot by painting Finintegu on the roof of the hangar at the Goroka airstrip. Possibly with the assistance of kiap Brian HEAGNEY carrying the paint pot. "What do you make of all this, Watson?" "It's a mystery to me, Holmes. Have another drink". ?
 

NEWS FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA – John Kleinig

Last November we had another of the great Adelaide PNGAA lunches. The assembled reunionists heard DR ROY SCRAGG talk about his time as Director of Heath in PNG from 1954 until 1974. It was a revealing speech and even though his power point presentation didn’t work, what he had to say was a valuable piece of history. Plans to work in Arnhem Land were replaced by a stint of 21 months in PNG which lasted 27 years. The task he confronted was overwhelming but during his time as Director, a viable and effective public health service was implemented. Roy paid tribute to Dr Gunther, the previous Director, and related an intriguing story of how he was passed the baton. Research carried out in PNG resulted in two Nobel prizes and at least another two should have been awarded. GRAHAM TAYLOR (former ABC Manager in SA) thanked Roy for the speech and then told the story of an Australian friend of his who worked as a PNG medical assistant and always included the letters –MA, LLD, PHD after his name. It’s a delightful story, even if you have heard it before, and Graham spiced it up to make it even more enticing. Other contributors on the day included RON STORER who delivered a non-medical piece of diplomatic advice to us all and DR CLIVE AURICHT who introduced the guest speaker.

With so much upper atmospheric disturbance this summer it’s easy to forget the torrential rains of Cyclone Guba that struck Oro Province last November. The result was widespread devastation with villages swept away, the loss of over 400 lives, road and bridges destroyed and tens of thousands of men, women and children displaced. The Australian aid, when it came, assisted in momentarily relieving a people in serious need. A small group of PNGAA members and friends moved by the plight of the Oro people have decided to volunteer their services and expertise. It is planned to highlight the village school at Hohorita, not far from Popondetta on the Kokoda Road, as the centre for community development. The school will become the focus for services relating to education, health and agriculture. Former PNG expatriates who have volunteered their expertise and advice include, EMERITUS PROFESSOR DR ANTHONY RADFORD previously at the Flinders University Medical School in Adelaide. Anthony is very actively involved in many aspects of health care in Asia including the preparation of health volunteers. PETER THOMAS from Nurioopta in the Barossa Valley, is an acknowledged expert for Rotary International in the fight against malaria in the Solomon Islands. DR MIKE BOURKE is a world authority on tropical farming systems and crop agronomy and is located at ANU in Canberra. All three, travel regularly in the region. A group of NSW School Principals will assist with education services. It’s an exciting project and further information can be obtained by emailing me at jkleinig@bigpond.com.
 

 PNG...IN THE NEWS


The Papua New Guinea Government declared Oro Province a disaster area after a week of incessant rain brought on by Cyclone Guba last November. The flooding swept away major bridges and roads and killed up to 200 people. Sources of food, water and power were destroyed. People feared outbreaks of water-borne diseases due to lack of clean drinking water and proper sanitation.

Mr Downer announced on 22 November 2007 that Australia would provide up to $1 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected.
The Chairman of the Kokoda Track Foundation, Patrick Lindsay, announced that the Kokoda Track Foundation immediately committed $20,000 worth of medical supplies to the Kokoda Memorial Hospital to assist in the prevention of likely water-borne diseases in the area.

MILNE Bay's reputation as a developing tourism province in Papua New Guinea will be further enhanced with the proposed K10 million redevelopment of its waterfront. The idyllic township of Alotau situated in the heart of the 20 kilometre long Sanderson Bay will be the main focus.
The provincial wildlife and conservation officer from the Oro province is concerned over the habitat of the largest butterfly in the world-the Queen Alexandra butterfly. Info from PNGTPA Kundu newsletter No 7 Nov 2007

THE busy Lae wharf will undergo a massive development program that will cost more than K500 million and take up to four years to complete. Under the program, which is expected to start early next year, new port facilities will be constructed rather than improving the existing port which has insufficient terminal area for efficient port operations. The existing berths have been built on a steep foreshore with increased risks from geotechnical instability, which consequently increases the financial risks for any port improvement project whereas the new project allows additional berths to be built at a relatively low marginal costs. Info from The Post Courier - 28th November 2007.

The renowned lime stone cave at Segayo village of Buwang in Bulolo district was opened for tourists late last year after being closed for the last five years. The famous cave has a glistering waterfall inside with stalagmites and runs for more than 5 km. It was opened in October after the road was upgraded through funds made available through the Bulolo district rural road maintenance programme initiated by the local MP Sam Basil. More than 20 tourists arrived at the village and were welcomed in a traditional ceremony. Mr Basil welcomed the tourists and Lae explorers club who organised the excursion, and said the cave will open its doors to the country and the world to attract tourism in the village. Lae explorers club guide David Wiliken said he was happy to come to the cave after some years. Fruits and vegetable with traditional Buwang artefacts were also on sale at the site for the tourist.
Info from The National - 29th November 2007

Peter McNeil MD of Frontier Resources says the proposed mine is "Nowhere near the original battle sites or the original Kokoda Track"...
Mining royalties will only help a small section of land owners along the track. The majority of landowners, guest house owners and porters will miss out.
The environmental damage to the area surrounding the track, surrounding jungle and rivers is very distressing. Tracks of jungle have been stripped for roads and camps. What was once pristine rivers have turned into murky dirty water, unsuitable for drinking or washing. Our Spirit Newletter Nov 2007
In the past 2 years alone, I have witnessed a massive change in the quality of water in the Offi Creek. It has gone from crystal clear drinking water to brown murky water that is not safe for consumption. Our Spirit Newsletter 5/12/07

A group of Tweed Rotarians recently spent time in the remote village of Kungim to finish work on a church which had started five years ago. The main goal of the trip was to bring in new skills while at the same time teach some of those skills to the locals eg showing them how to sharpen axes and machetes with an angle grinder. The Rotarians valued their time in this peaceful, subsistence community. Info from Tweed Sun 29 Nov 2007?