September 2014

The sadly short list of ex-Territorians in Darwin may now be supplemented, indeed headed, by His Imperial Majesty King Roman the First, Royal Sovereign of the Kingdom of Europa, Grand Duke of Lithuania, etc. He will be better known to some wantoks as Ronald Mann, liklik kiap at the Sub-District Office, Ela Beach 1970-73.

Ron has an interesting c.v. Scottish born, service in the RAF at Aden before migrating to Victoria and a job in its Public Works Department. Then Port Moresby and patrolling in Central District before returning to UK and becoming a Customs Officer at Dover. Back to Australia and a desk job with the Commonwealth Law Department in Darwin until claiming through his father’s line the throne of not only Lithuania but also Latvia, Belarus and Ukraine. In July 2014, he informed readers of the NT News that he had written to the United Nations proposing to address its General Assembly.

Members seeking further information can Google “Ron Mann, Patrol Officer”.

A boat slumbering in Darwin’s harbour while its owner has been away is that of Ray Lanaghan, a former ADO at Koroba. For some months, he has been ‘minding’ (if that is the word) an absent friend’s cattle station in the Kimberlies. Meanwhile his onetime colleague in the Southern Highlands, Mike Press, is attempting a DIY renovation of his house in Palmerston. Lapun kiaps can tackle anything.... ?

War raises many questions but an unusual one is how a bird can win a medal? In our 2014 news bulletins, Manus features as the location of a much-debated detention centre but seventy years ago on that war-torn island it was about an example of devotion to duty by a pigeon. During an advance by US Marines on a Japanese position they found themselves trapped but the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, operating in support, released three pigeon messengers to warn HQ of an impending counter attack. Two were shot down but the other “despite heavy fire directed at it reached HQ with the result that enemy concentrations were bombed and the patrol extricated”. The Aussie pigeon, which surely had a pet name but officially known as DD.43.Q.879, was awarded a Dickin Medal for conspicuous gallantry.

I have misfiled the actual quotation (managing a District Office is well beyond Masta Jim these days) but a recent terse comment by PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill instantly recalled for me his father, a Highlands kiap and later Magistrate. Brian could be very much to the point about perceived nonsense. Peter’s words identified him for me as what in England would be called “a chip off the old block”. However, it seems that Peter did not live with his father until he was 15 years old. Barefoot at the Pangia and Ialibu schools until that age, he put on shoes to attend the High School at Goroka where Brian was Magistrate. He did well there, subsequently graduating at UPNG and the rest is history. Booted and suited, he now rubs shoulders with heads of government from around the world. A tick for the educational system that Australia established in PNG seems appropriate.

King Roman has a letter in today’s NT News listing aggressive dogs (Chihuahuas are the second worst!) so I don’t think he is averse to publicity. Anyway, I hope I have been accurately careful in my mention of him. Cheers: JIM