March 2009

In December the PNG-Australia Social & Cultural Group held its Christmas BBQ Picnic Luncheon on Darwin's foreshore but, sadly, dodgy weather limited attendance.

A cricket season spent in Darwin on loan to the Nightcliff Club has paid off for Papuans Jacob MADO and Vani MOREA, who have been selected for the PNG team, called the Barramundis, to go to Argentina and compete in the ICC Division 3 league. They will play in one-day matches against such as Afghanistan and the Cayman Islands but also against Uganda which knocked them out of the World Cup qualifiers at Darwin in 2007 with an annoying 50th-over victory.  If PNG can succeed in Buenos Aires they will travel to South Africa in April to meet stronger countries in Division 2.

National Seniors Australia announced its NT Policy Group for 2009-10 which includes a couple with PNG experience. These are Kevin DIFLO from the Education Department, survivor of an aircraft crash at Kainantu in 1970, now located at Tennant Creek and Dr Rolf GERRITSEN with Charles Darwin University who, when a doctoral aspirant with ANU, researched in PNG. I doubt if in those days they ever contemplated being eligible for free travel on NT buses but they are now.

Journalists liked to trail PM John Howard on his morning power walks around Kirribilli but I wonder if their PNG counterparts similarly pursue their Governor-General on his 'Monthly Health Walk'. Assembly at Government House is at 04.45 hrs .... and Sir Paulias Matane then leads an ascent of Tuaguba Hill returning by 06.00 hrs for refreshments.

Port Moresby's road traffic has grown somewhat since 1973. It now has 1500 taxis which were obliged to have meters fitted by 1 January. This has provoked protests from many owner-drivers. Also the National Capital District government is talking of introducing parking fees in the city estimated to collect over 50 million Kina annually! More protests can be anticipated.

I have applauded the ascent of women into the highest ranks of PNG government but when one of them as Attorney-General said that her department "would be tasked to operationalise" a project it gave me pause. Still I suppose if you are going to walk the bureaucratic walk you must also talk the talk.

If asked to provide an example of a non sequitur PNGAA members such as one time District Finance Officer Terry Turner might offer the following: a teenage girl is assaulted by a man in Yangoru while walking to the District Treasury office with the result that her angry relatives attempt to burn down that Treasury office....??

Of the seven District Commissioners for whom I clerked Robert Rothsay COLE was the first. I count myself a fortunate young man. The last time I saw him was in 1969 when, in Police Commissioner's uniform, he alighted from a plane at Mendi airstrip accompanied by his replacement, the highly credentialed Raymond Whitrod. Bob had been touring the Territory introducing the future Commissioner to his officers and letting the other ranks see their new nambawan. Unfortunately the time and effort expended proved to be for nothing as within twelve months Whitrod had resigned in order to take over the Queensland Police Force. In a personal communication Bob told me of his regrets for this outcome. He would have had other disappointments in his life but having believed Whitrod was the right man to lead the RPNGC into the future this was a major one.

Significantly in an episode of Australian Story on ABC TV Ray Whitrod (d. 2003), when asked to sum up his PNG experience, replied "Well, it's a short story because it was stupid of me to go in the first place". To be fair to the Commissioner whilst absent from Moresby his wife, then 60 years of age and new to the Territory, awoke one night to find an intruder in her bedroom. Her scream brought the hauskuk galloping to the rescue preventing any harm but it is certain that domestic pressures can cause officers to amend their career plans.

Bob's story (Una Voce, March 1993) of his wife's tribulations travelling from Sydney to join him in Buin in 1947 is also short but an unforgettable record of what many women had to endure to start or resume married life in post-war PNG. It was well known that Bob Cole's favourite dessert was apple pie and ice cream but it was only a rumour that he dined on this 365 days per year. Never the less there's a tip for readers wishing to live to the age of 95. RIP Sir.