RIP Fran Leo

All,

We regret to advise you of the sudden passing of Fran Leo, in Perth, last week, in Perth. Our condolences go to Frank and the family.

 The Leo family lived in Panguna for many years, until Frank accepted an appointment with Argyle Diamonds.  They were one of several families who made the move, at that time, from Panguna and Arawa to Kununurra and to Perth. The Leo`s lived at Kununurra for a time and then Frank commuted between Perth and the mine-site.   There are 2 sons, Josh and Beau and 4 grandchildren and another due at any time.  In fact Fran, at the time of her passing, was standing by, packed and ready to go to the kids as soon as the daughter in law was admitted to hospital.

Fran was raised in Echuca, on the Murray River.  She was part of a large family that included a twin sister.  For the last 10 years or so Frank and Fran were based at The Vines, in the Swan Valley. For a long time Fran was employed in a local medical practice.

Here in Brisbane we were fortunate to have Fran visit us, one May, only a few years ago.  I remember that she made it to the picnic on the train.

Thank you to Gwen and to Heather for your assistance and for the notice, from all of us, in the WA press. Marion Kastner also helped us out. Thanks Marion.

The funeral will be subsequent to the Easter break on Wednesday, 30th March at 2:30pm at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Great Northern Highway, Herne Hill, Perth WA.

Regards

Davo

From: Oken Sakia (LAE)
Sent: Tuesday, 29 March 2016 1:29 PM
To: Info@johndavidson.com.au
Subject: RE: RIP Fran Leo

 

Hi John,

It was a sad day for me today  when I got your email regarding the death of Fran Leo.

I know the couple very well  back on Bougainville during my young days. Frank was my boss at the central workshop outside fitting  section.

They were really  a nice family. Frankie mate very sorry to hear about the sudden passing of Fran. May her soul rest in peace.

John please  relay my condolences to Frank Leo and his  family over in Perth. If you have his email address flick it through to me .

Thanks again John for the email and you have a blessed day.

Cheers

Oken

Ioro 2 office officially open to deliver services

By Leonard Fong Roka

Two important leaders were present to officially open the Ioro 2 Council of Elders (CoE) located in the Tumpusiong Valley of Panguna District.

Central Bougainville MP and Minister for Communication Hon. Jimmy Miringtoro and the head of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade office in Buka, Mr. Tim Bryson were greeted by an excited crowd of local people.

Mr Bryson stated the Bougainville is a friend to Australia and the government is committed to assist the region. There are 42 CoEs that the Australian government is committed to assist in terms of infrastructural development.

He continued to say that Australia has given the Panguna people K580,000 for the CoE infrastructural development and Ioro 2 and Ioro 1 were the first projects to attain such a funding across Bougainville.

Hon. Jimmy Miringtoro took time to explain the importance of the CoE system of governance.

“CoEs were established during the crisis and the government on Bougainville took them on-board around 2006,” Hon. Jimmy Miringtoro recalled.

“[At that time] the government was not that serious, so the CoE have suffered greatly in terms of finances and infrastructure.

“It was only in 2013 that the government is seriously supporting the CoEs with funding and so on, so as the MP for Central Bougainville I am up with all the CoEs and the Districts of Central Bougainville.”

Miringtoro continued stated that the National Government is serious about development and progress in Bougainville.

“PNG is not a rich country but we are trying our best to see change amongst our people,” Miringtoro continued, “We are managing our debts and trying to bring vital services to Bougainville.”

“We cannot make it alone. The government needs you people to contribute and to support.

“I thank you, the family that has given the government this piece of land; land is an issue of impediment across Bougainville.

“I tell you that government needs land and if people continue to harass development in their land without taking proper channels to address issues, Bougainville will not progress.”

Chief of Enamira, the land where the CoE office is located, Mr Michael Pariu asked Mr Miringtoro and Mr Bryson in his speech to fund an aid post, a women’s resource centre and a community hall. To this both leaders responded positively and Ioro 2 CoE will get this funding assistance.

The funding assistance to this office began flowing in as early as 2007 when the building was actually erected. This packages including water hoses, an aid post and a police office and water tanks.

Then over the years a water tank and the whole water hose then stretching nearly a kilometre and half was privatize by a local community police office. When the community saw his actions they also rushed onto the remaining hose.

The next lot of funding saw a new water tank and the extension of the CoE building and ablution blocks. The opening ceremony along saw new water hoses that are now stretching about 2 kilometres.

For the opening ceremony Hon. Miringtoro made K10,000 of public funds available and the community added some K5,000 including singsing and other ritual ceremonies related to house blessings.

RIP Reg Givney

From: Gary & Nana [mailto:lye.australia@gmail.com] 

Sent: Monday, 28 March 2016 4:06 PM

To: brad.givney@gmail.com

Cc: John Davidson <John@johndavidson.com.au>; Gary & Nana Lye - Gmail <lye.australia@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: RIP Reg Givney

Hi Brad,

We’re very sorry to hear of Reg’s passing.  The words from John Barnham summed up Reg very well ... Please pass on our condolences to Pam and the rest of your family.  Please also inform her I still proudly display her painting of the Kawerong Valley.

My wife Nana and I were with the BCL Project from 1975 – 1989 (actually Nana was there bit before me arriving in 1974 and was living in Mud Valley at that time).  I was in the Geology Department, Pam was our secretary and I’d run into Reg in the Pit and office regularly.  CRA transferred us to Perth in August 1989 so we missed the last depressing months of BCL.  After 5-years heading up CRA’s Mining Technology Research team in Perth we headed to Kalgoorlie and a position at the SuperPit gold operation. .... and now we’re in Bangladesh on a coal project.  Our Daughter Anja is living in the Margaret River area (WA) and we’ve two teenage grandchildren.  Our family base is split between Australia (my 84yo Mother in Brisbane and Brother/family Darwin) and Germany (Nana’s father still batting on at 89). 

Al the very best,

Cheers

Gary and Nana (Ute) Lye

From: John Davidson

Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2016 3:56 PM

To: lye.australia@gmail.com

Subject: RIP Reg Givney

Dear All, We regret to advise of the passing of our wonderful old friend, Reg Givney. Our condolences go to Pam and to the extended Givney family. It was pleasing to hear that all of the children were close by including Brad and Maree, from Benaraby, Gladstone; Bernie and Enid from Mareeba; Bronwyn and Simon, from Wilunga, Adelaide; Rhonda and John, from Vanuatu; Debbie and David from Karana Downs and Anona and Darryl from Delaney`s Creek. Reg was our longest serving Power Reticulation (Linesman) Foreman. He was raised in Tennyson, Brisbane and he completed his apprenticeship with the State Electricty Authority of Qld (the SEAQ). Reg served the SEAQ until 1970, the year in which he arrived in Bougainville  in the employ of one of the main electrical contractors, Barclay Bros. He was a Leading Hand Linesman, reporting to Les Nicholls.  In late 1971 he transferred to the Client, BCL / Rio. He was soon promoted to Leading Craftsman. Reg was based at B16.  Some of his expatriate workmates of those days inluded Russ Wilson, John Olton and Andy Byrde.  With the bulk of the other BCL employees he departed Bougainville in 1989.  A few words from his Boss of many years, Father Barnham sums up Reg`s attributes pretty well, "A true gentleman! Reg, as a Foreman ran a very efficient reticulation line gang across the Pit area. He was a man you could always rely on." Rod remembers that his workers used to call him "Papa Reg". He went on to say that working with Reg was a privilege and that not many would have ever experienced what was done by the BCL Linesmen during the Crisis. Rest in peace buddy, Rod. It is nice to have a brief to recall our times with the Givney family. . . . . . . .  as neighbours, at the weddings and as lifelong friends.  We were fortunate to have them living just around the corner at House 24 in Section 13.  I remember that we became quite stretched, in the mid-70`s, when coping with a couple of new additions to our family.  There was always unlimited love and affection available to the Givney kids and there seemed to be plenty left over for our little ones and for many others in the neighbourhood.  In `76  the family base was moved, with a promotion, to Panguna.  Like myself, Pam was then working for Peter Martin (Planning Pete) in B60.  As with so many of our youngsters the Givney`s completed much of their education here in Australia.  The Givney youngsters thrived on the boarding option. When we look at them today we can safely comment that it did them no harm, no harm at all. Like their parents they to, are completely devoted to their families. Towards the end of `73, Reg survived a terrible accident at his work in the Open Pit. It slowed him down for quite a time.  However he was not one to sit back and dwell on his woes and he missed the minimum time possible away from his job. Of enormous importance to Reg was the welfare of his PNG workers.  In return he was much loved by all of his people and by their families.   Last year I was able to employ one of Reg`s old BCL Linesman / Foreman on Manus Island with SFL Piletech.  During our interview his first questions were about the welfare of Reg and of his opposite number, in BCL - Technical Services, Rod Gerhardt.  This lad was is in his early 60`s and with failing eyesight. However he performed well for JDA as a Crane Operator. You will remember well that all the BCL linesmen worked well above their usual call of duty during the time of the Crisis.  Much of their perfomance can be attributed to the exemplary leadership of Reg, Rod, Arthur and others during these dark days of the Bougainville Crisis.  This was a most difficult time for Reg. He loved Bougainville and he loved the Bougainville people. When he came under hostile fire as he and his men restored the power reticulation facilities adjacent to the PMAR he decided it was time to find a safer location, back in Aussie, for Pam and the kids.  For many years they have been based in the Glasshouse Mountains region. Funeral details are as follows;  10.30am on Thursday, 31st March at the Glasshouse Country and Peachester Community Uniting Church in Twin Peaks Drive, Beerwah.  The priest there is Keith Ewin on 0754 390282.  If you would like to send a note or a card then please use Brad`s address to connect at;  brad.givney@gmail.com.  Thanks, Brad, for your help with these words. Rest well old cobber.  You will be sadly missed. Davo Regards John John@johndavidson.com.au http://johndavidsonbougainville.blogspot.com.au 0418 784 186

Fiji

Information sent from Genevieve to Christene

Mum the girls are getting on the ship tonight coming to Suva .. All the students .. The school is damaged beyond repair .. We find out from them tomorrow.. Message from a parent in Suva .. We can not contact them yet 😌
Mum this a photo of the girls dorm at St. John's .. All the girls sheltered there throughout the storm 

Information from Wendy 

John

 

I can confirm that the school, St John College is the one the Girls attend, the building which is L shaped happens to be Chloe, Olga and Marygrace’s, upstairs with the roof blown off is the wing where Form 6 girls reside including Chloe. The other wing which is intact is where the Form 4s reside including Marygrace and Olga.

The info we are getting thru some parents is that all students are accounted for.