Reunion

Dear all It was another nice day at the Boondall picnic. I always commenced the day intent on speaking with all everybody and also checking the register for their names and addresses. As usual I did neither job very well. This year I missed Karyn, Rhonda and Heather.  I was even late with the esky trolley.  I apologize to those I did not get to speak with. Once again there were several first timers including the brothers Bond and their charming ladies. Carole can you please send to me Ian`s e`address. Other 1st timers were Rod Gerhardt and his daughter, Kerrie, Mark Devereux, Evelyn and Andy Byrde, Neville Brauer (Bruiser), Robyn Lidstone and Bruce Buslum.  It may be time to pass some of the communications chores to the young’uns.  They are just so much more efficient than us.  If it was not for Kerrie we would never be able to keep track of Rod. We particularly value the ex-BCL Dispatch Dept operatives. The likes of Eddie Robertson (and Cathy), Cliff Pollock, Ian Smith and Rod have been tremendous workers for the cause. . . . . . . . . and now we have Andy, strategically based at Heathcote in NSW. Several of the families again came in force including the Givneys, the Quodlings, the McDonalds, the Mowats the Devereuxs, the Ryans, the Holts the Mitchells including Rena, etc.  PNGBC Panguna bank managers Geoff Stein and Brian Healy also came for the first time.  We must remember that we have Neil Hansen in Mackay next time that Cliff and / or Milsie need a lift.  Phil Lugg has moved from Mackay to Buka Passage. Tommy Ball came with his beautiful daughter, Amelia. A word for the long haul travellers is justified. This year we again enjoyed the company of Stephanie, from Sydney, Raggles from Perth, Marcia, from Adelaide, Chaddie and John McLeod, from Cairns.  Owen Sykes, who looks as fit as a trout, booked himself in for both the morning and the afternoon.  I sampled a very nice pudden wine (as it was always described by our old mate Garside) brought along by Nicole. Marshall and Alana were highly organized, as usual.   Harry Nelson, Cyril, Anne and Father Barnham, Marcia and others from the veteran class were well-represented.  Now don`t get stroppy, Harry, you are now well and truly, a veteran ! And then there was young Valerie  . . . . . . . . and also young Fran!  Jill and Eddie enjoyed their sail to Tassie. On the drawing board is an international adventure, to the North. Lastly, from Melbourne, for the first time, there was Ray and Margaret Hughes-Odgers.   Ray has been busy, see his update detailed below.  If you don`t know Ray well there will shortly be an opportunity for you to get well-acquainted with him. Another couple with a long history in Bougie are the Standens, Blossom and Sniff.  It was really good to see them again.  We chatted about several mutual friends including Barney and Blue and the Chenalls, in Launceston.  The boys are chips off the old block . . . . . . . .  now into mining and quarrying and making their own way in the world. This year the catering was managed exclusively by the Brisbane Bougainville Community Group.  Leadership here fits very comfortably with those wonderful people, Les and Veronica. Saturday night was quite a production given that there was only 4 people. Besides the Hendersons there were Monica and Assumpta, also occupied on  food preparation.  They sold out the mumu mid-afternoon.  Emilie was prominent at the servery on the Sunday as was Father Chris who received the monies. We so much appreciate the efforts of this dynamic little team.  Thank you Les for bringing along your tent.   Of course, where it is ultimately appreciated most is in the villages of Bougainville. The monies from this day will be used to uplift the container standing by in the yard of NQCS, in Townsville.  This shipment is designated for the Port of Kieta and the Rotary Club of Arawa. I regaled Mick Hamer with tales of Wakunai as it is in 2016.  His little white house still sits adjacent to the main Buka road.  Likewise Rae Smart was advised of my escapades in Buka including around my meetings with Sister Lorraine, Agnus Titus and the other elements of  the extremely robust Bougainville women`s rights fraternity.  Rae is a fellow Rotarian but based on the Sunshine Coast.  Others on board were Evan and Meroli Mawdsley and Bill and Gwen Koch, both of these families are in the “regulars” category. I can report that Geoff and Anne Hocking look a million dollars. Thanks for the little presie, Geoff.  My son, Paul is delighted. Geoff please send us all of your new Aussie phone numbers. Absent for the first time were Rhonda and George.  We are hearing that their family cycling trip to Europe was a wonderful time. Let me know re the people that I have missed. There are approaches coming through that after 26 successful years we should consider running the reunions in the other states or in a North Queensland location.  If you have any suggestions then let`s hear them. In summary it was another fun day with plenty of reminiscing and lots of laughter. We have been corresponding with Ross and Jasmina Pascoe. We wish them all the very best and, in particular, we wish their grandson, Andy our very best.  Little Andy is extra special, he is autistic. While Ted is here in the East we are going to do small gatherings in Bundy and at Super`s restaurant, in Caloundra. We will put it on Super to attend next years` picnic.  I am sure that Lesley would appreciate the break.  These days Ross has a little mate, on wheels, who follows him everywhere. We have not yet settled on our fundraising plan for this year.  Detailed below is some more information on the Mosquito Control initiatives that we have spoken of.  We are presently contemplating an association with the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.  We will be drawing on the experience of Ray and others as we move forward with this.  Watch this space. Some good news, just to hand, is that Arthur is out of hospital and on the improve. He has been advised many times that It is essential that he reduce his day to day physical activities.  We are not going to see his smiley face in Buka or in Lae anytime soon.  Arthur, the afternoon nap is here to stay.  Enjoy it as best you can. The commentary of my Bougainville visit continues: Panguna capital visit Chris Korokoro kindly arranged for our visit to Panguna. We were accompanied by fellow visitor from Qld, Graham Buckland and Chris's brother Eugene. We were advised to pay our respects to a couple of men, roadside, just some 100 yards north of the location of the Morgan Equipment complex.  Our wallets somewhat lighter, we then made our way to Birempa, Sipatako, Sideronsi and to the steeper parts of the PMAR.  To my great surprise the ride was just as smooth as it was, back in the 80`s. It was not until we came over the crest of the range, just above Camp 10 that there was any significant deterioration in the road. At this location a land slip is imminent.  The distant view from this point included what was left of the Panguna town centre.  When looking over the cliff we could see artisan mining taking place within the cliff wall.  We recognized that these works were eating under the PMAR. We understand that lives had already been lost to these endeavours. On the right hand side was a flat paddock which during the construction was the Laydown Area and then, much later, the main bus transit facility. For a few months in 1970 I manned a cubicle the size of one and half telephone boxes, at this location. It was my task to mark the materials for the drivers so that they could be efficiently targeted into their final destination, B16 Pit workshop, Primary Crusher, B52 Central Workshop, etc. The product line seems to be mostly untouched. We drove on past the Concentrator turnoff and down past the Pink Palace.  There is nothing left of the communications workshops or the old Tut Bryant built garage.  We parked just across the bridge at the base of Karoona Haus. To meet with our old workmate, Patrick Itta we were obliged to make our way to the top floor. Some rooms were habitable and some were not. Patrick`s third daughter is the ARoB Executive Manager of the District of Panguna. On our return to the car park we spent some time with John Duni.  He was just so pleased to see us. John was a Senior Repairman in the Mod Squad. As was common amongst the people I met, John was able to, with ease, rattle off the names of his old B60 MS workmates. He was insistent to understand as to what had become of his manager, Ross Knox and Frank Gardiner.  I would have loved to have spent more time with John. He explained that he had a house at the top of the Kawerong Valley. From Panguna town, Chris took us high up behind the mine. Most of the machinery has been taken by the scrap merchants and their local operatives.  However here and there was various debris.  A huge Manitwok crane was prominently parked, near where the Primary Crusher was situated. It was said that this plant was still on hire.  It was Friday afternoon and I was surprised to see a steady stream of Toyotas and small trucks heading south on the Buin Road. Surprise ! Surprise ! the rain was still tumbling down. Something I had never before seen in the mine pit and bordering the haul roads was an infestation of attractive pink ground orchids. When I viewed the climb from the floor of the Kawerong River to Camp 10, I marvelled that as youngster, in my mid 20`s the first part of our  Aussie Rule training regime was to run to Camp 10 without taking a break ! On weekends Bechtel`s Plant Manager, Jim Adomilie provided us with a canvas-sided man hauler to get us to the ground, opposite the Rigu Mission. Our President and Captain was Patimos from Shell Co.  I can remember that there were only 3 expatriates who regularly made the team. I shared the roving duties with Civil Engineer, John Green. John was slowed down some when he was clipped by a boat in Bishops Bay.  The other stalwart was our main ruckman, Russell McLean, from Erowa in Northern Victoria. I wrote to a young football development officer by the name of Sheedy and told him what we were up to and he quickly helped us out with 2 sets of jerseys, one coloured navy blue and the other was, as you would expect, red and black. Catering & Camp Management Contractors The Robert Hamel Sawa who has made such an impression in Buka and Brisbane Rotary circles was a chef in the service of BCL and their catering contractors, including SHRM.. Robert also shared with me a list of his old workmates.  He said that he worked closely with Oliver Rossi on cocktail parties and otherwise. Joe Fragnito and Mike Herrington were included amongst his managers.  Robert is a local ABG member.  He and his family have a modest size shopping complex.  When the crisis commenced he was quick to establish a catering capability to serve Buka town.  Another who is familiar with these people was William Roho. William also inhabits the ABG offices in Buka. He is an Assets Manager. William's forte was Camp Management. He produced a tattered photo of himself, lounging against his flashy car outside Kawerong Haus. Graham Buckland and Mark Machen It was extremely fortuitous to be able to lodge with Mark while I was in Arawa town. Soon after arrival I picked up a sore throat and otherwise was not 100%.  Mark dispensed some of April`s goodies from her medical cabinet and I quickly recovered. I did a few miles each day working the shoe leather but Mark was able drop me and then gather me in when I had had enough. We heard on the grapevine that there was a “white man” staying at one of the guesthouses.  We were content to eat at home and then get an early start next day. In due course we came upon Graham Buckland, staying at the Rising Sun guesthouse.  I had a compelling reason to be in Arawa, Graham was simply a tourist. He departed Bougainville as a 14 year old, in the 80`s. He was returning to retrace his footsteps and to see if he could assist in any way. Graham and Eugene entered the river in 2 locations, the second at the renowned Three Rocks pool.  After spending a couple of days with Graham it became evident that his reason for visiting was almost as compelling as mine.  He is determined to find an avenue by where he could travel to Arawa or elsewhere in Bougainville to do good.  I have been surprised as to just how many ex-Bougie residents were open to such volunteering initiatives. I am hopeful Ted will be able to see Graham when he travels through Townsville. Graham`s father and mother were key operatives in Arawa`s local government service, Charlie was the Towns Maintenance Manager and Kitty managed the Arawa hospital laundry. During this era, Harry Roach was the manager of Arawa Town (The Town Clerk).  By trade Graham is a plumber, he is also an extremely good photographer, as you will see over the next several months. Mark is a diesel fitter, commencing his trade in BCL.  He is now a Project Manager with a quarrying and crushing contractor, Eastrac. Mark attended Arawa High School. photo

My Bougainville Visit

Good afternoon all, First of all, if you recognize any spello`s then please bring it to our attention.  We will then correct prior to placing in the blog. Over the 2 weeks we took a multitude of images. Over the next few months I will gather them to you.  If you are holding any worthy of sharing then please send them to Danni on info@johndavidson.com.au Due to the exceptionally heavy rains the funeral of our old friend, Tony was a 3 day production.  Family members travelled from the length and breadth of Bougainville and beyond including from Australia and Singapore. My last such experience of such a significant PNG send off was subsequent to the passing of JDA`s then partner and local chieftain, Sam Karabus, in Lihir.   In a couple of week`s time the family will return to Tony`s village to do it all again during the final feast and farewell. Daughter, Florence was not able make it from Auckland. Her passport had expired. Otherwise all of the immediate Korokoro families were represented. The hospitality from the family and from the village people was quite overwhelming. Associated with the logistics around the preparations was a full circuit around Arawa`s retail and wholesale outlets and then there was a quantity of chickens and pigs gathered, “on the hoof”.  Nobody would have gone home, hungry and many of them departed with food that was exchanged for other food. I met many old friends, some who I had not seen since the early 70`s. Pauline`s youngest sister Margaret is married to B24 veteran Raphael Mangona.  Squatted next to one of the cooking pots Raph went through the names of our mutual friends in B24 and in the Loloho workshops.  He talked like it was only yesterday that he had been working with them.   He singled out Dave Vickers as the supervisor with whom he was the most familiar.  Another bro-in-law, Charles acted in an MC type role.  He was wearing with pride, a long sleeve khaki shirt with RioTinto Exploration embroidered on the front. It probably had been laying in a trunk in the village for the last 50 years +.   Father Baria, from Tunuru officiated. Father`s brothers, Francis and Clement, enjoyed careers with BCL. I think Clement was located in the Instrument Workshop.   There was a wide disparity in the backgrounds of the mourners. Aunt Magdalene spent her life in the PNG Foreign Service in places like New York and Ottawa . Several of the KK siblings possess degrees from Western universities. Testament to the respect in which Tony was held across the community was the large number of local politicians who came along to pay their respects.  Of course there were many gentle village folk who had never been away from  the village environment.  There was much evidence about that indicated just how hard it was for them during the crisis.  It was the villagers who took the brunt of the violence and the blockade shortages when the crisis was at it`s peak. Tony and Pauline`s house was left empty for some 15 years. The rain was so intense that on my second journey to the village I missed the turn to Tony`s village and I walked in to another village well below my destination. I was fortunate indeed that my calls were answered by Bosco Miriona, notable local entrepreneur and the MD of Bougainville Experience Tours. Bosco then decided to join me for the rest of my walk. Thank you, Bosco.  We have talked of our forthcoming Numa to Torokina trekking adventure. It is likely that we will approach Bosco to assist us on this occasion.  Other key operatives in this quest will be Ray Hughes Odgers and Paul Beddgood.  Given the dearth of facilities along this track numbers of participants are going to be curtailed severely. When we call for participants you must quickly respond with any interest. I met Paul at the ANZAC day dawn service, in Buka. He has been posted to Bougainville for 3 years. He will be missed if and / or when he decides to move. The Kiwi`s dominate the volunteer landscape.  There are presently 13 VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad) scattered between Buka and Buin. There are also several highly experienced NZ policeman. I was most impressed with their contribution particularly those based in Buin. Key to the works we are involved in through Rotary and otherwise are long time Arawa residents, Richard and Ann Green. Another afternoon in Arawa was spent with Dr Cyril Imako. Cyril is based in Buka.  He was just taking leave in Arawa. His service to the people of Bougainville goes back prior to crisis.  He gave a good insight into what the medical staff have been through. He said that above all else is required from aid facilitation agencies is a radical improvement in volume, quality and the maintenance of staff housing. He went on to advise that ïf his staff are resident in safe and clean housing then we can ask for even more from them. With the limited communications that reach us from the medical fraternity Dr Imako`s cooperation is going to continue to be critical to us, going forward There is so much to do right across Bougainville to bring it back to what we would describe as being normal. In general we recognized that people living in the vicinity of Buka were tremendously optimistic and then the further south I travelled the life of a resident villager seemed to become more difficult.  We read of funding being allocated for public works but there is little evidence that this funding is reaching the most needy. One particularly run down facility I visited had, over several weekends, in the 70`s, had a maternity ward added by members of Kieta Lions. In the 80`s these works were followed through by the Arawa Rotary Club with some major building refurbishments. Going forward we hope that Rotary International can obtain permission from the ARoB to again contribute in this way. If we were to win such approvals then we will endeavour to have a sprinkling of our team gathered from those generous souls who toiled on these works back in the 80`s. We already have a Kieta Lions veteran who served in the 70`s standing by to join with us. We have some names and photos accumulated from those distant days. We will shortly share them with you. We would be most grateful if you would assist us with any names and contacts. A few of our number have produced books. We can provide you with access to these publications and in return there will be a modest percentage of the cost that we go to the Brisbane Bougainville Community Group to assist with the cost of transport and shipping. Janet will have her new production on sale at the picnic, on Sunday. I am yet to speak with the others but if all parties are agreeable we will move along with these initiatives and we will advise you of outcomes in our next circular. The road system across the island has improved dramatically. The Arawa to Buka leg, which I negotiated twice within a week, did not present us with any issues. The journey takes around two and a half hours. The several concrete bridges installed by Japanese engineers look all but indestructible. I believe that it is to be named the Yamamoto Highway.  Mid-journey there were some challenging corrugations but they will soon be addressed by the strategic location of a couple of graders. I did not travel further south than the tunnel outlet which was flowing furiously. I picked up on a small hole in a pipe associated with the tailings project. The discharge fed a small fountain of water discharging adjacent to the road.  Two days later I gathered from a photograph that this miniscule fountain had grown into a raging torrent. I would not think that the Buin road is going to last very long. During times of heavy rainfall the Panguna – Buin road continues to be subject to flooding at the major river crossings. Feeder roads, island wide, are in poor shape. I spent several years living in the Panguna in the early 70`s. For a time I was located in Camp 3 prior to moving to Kawerong Haus. Next to the old Barapinang Supermarket was my place of toil, the Bechtel construction warehouse.  The villagers would stand around the door of the supermarket and to attend their village markets. To get there they walked from several directions. As time went by the villages came to rely on the services available from the mining and construction companies.   At mine closure the availability of these services ceased overnight.  Last week I spent some time with the Member for Bana and Minister for Health in the ARoB and he painted a grim picture of a village based living environment, in some sub districts, completely devoid of any support infrastructure. The dearth of education and medical services has had a disastrous impact on the villagers`  lifestyle.  There has been much loss of life from preventable diseases. Some Bana sub districts do not have a medical facility. This area is the land between the back of the mine and the West Coast.  Understandably the minister sought to speak only of the needs of Bana. In 1970 I gradually picked up my own primitive form of Pigdin.  My main teachers were my teenage workmates, Mathew and Robert Makosi from Nakovis and from Siwai.  On my next visit I will meet with them. On my first walk to Buin they declined to walk with me. Responding that it was a foolhardy endeavour. On my second walk I was accompanied by Bechtel engineer, Rod Bloom. On this occasion we varied the route and we did not reach as far as Buin. While in Buka I met with the 1st Secretary of the Australian High Commission, David Bloch. Next week David completes his 3 year term assignment and he will move elsewhere in the Australian foreign service. Somewhere in my scribbles I have the name of his replacement. Our people are lamenting that David is going to be missed. He did a big favour for us by encouraging that I seek out Ian Tavore. Ian holds a central role associated with DFAT. Ian`s father, Cyril is a cousin of both Pauline and Tony. I remember Cyril`s name from the 80`s, perhaps associated with the management of the BCL supermarkets. More recently he has been with the Arawa Town Landowners Association. Attending the Buka Rotary dinner was another local government member in Robert Hamal.  Robert with regards to the supply of our medical shipments has looked out for his constituency very well. Most significant medical facilities across the North of Bougainville have scored equipment from our last 3 containers. As a public speaker, Robert is quite gifted.  He also continually portrays a sense of urgency. When Francis was being pressured by the stevedores to relocate the containers from the Buka wharf it was Robert who stepped forward to accommodate us.  Robert has just returned from a Rotary conference and training session, held on the Sunshine Coast. Other stalwarts in attendance at the Buka dinner included Martin and Kathleen Linnix. They drive into Rotary meetings from the Ramazon area, an 80 minute journey. In a former life Martin was a chopper pilot. He requested that I pass his best regards to Horst. The Vice Minister to the President, Robert Tulsa was also on parade. As well as holding this lofty designation Robert is the member for the district of Haku which takes in the tip of Buka Island. Also supporting us was Lawrence Beileh, the Acting Director for Tourism. We spoke of Bryan Cleaver and Ray Hughes Odgers and Wakanai`s Upe Festival. It was nice to meet Joe Watawi there.  Joe, in the 80`s, was employed as an engineer in our B60 Milling Dept. He worked next to our good friend, Phil Lugg. With Phil now running the Buka Passage motor vehicle barge the old firm is back together. Phil`s craft is the sole means of traversing a vehicle across the channel and it is admirable that he chooses to maintain the service in spite of significant administrative difficulties. Last week saw the passing of the former Minister for Mining, Michael Oni. There were well attended services at Buka and at Arawa. The present Minister for Mining and Member for Wakanai, . . . . . . Wilson, the son of well- known former plantation manager, Tim Wilson, now managing the old Travelodge complex, in Rabaul. One thing that is thriving in Arawa is the sporting fraternity and no sport is growing more quickly than Boxing.  The old BCL boxing ring that served us so well at the Loloho Sports & Social Club has been installed into the Three Rocks Bar facility in Arawa, near to the former location of the BCL  Medical Clinic.  I attended a couple of boxing meets being conducted to establish preselection for Bougainville Districts Titles. There will be further inter-district tournaments and then on the 2ndNovember the national titles will take place in Kimbe.  The father figure across boxing in Bougainville continues to be Gary Campbell.   Gary said that it would give the local boxers a great lift to have some of their supporters from their past, at Loloho, return to PNG to support them.  Adrian, Ray, Barclay and Max were mentioned.  If you guys are unable to make such a journey then even encouragement trophies would be gratefully received. Two of Gary`s charges remain undefeated.  Another leading light in the boxing fraternity is Markos Nori.  The Abba family were well represented at last month`s contests.  Gary stayed on at the village through the worst of the crisis.  Malaria and other illnesses then forced him to spend several months in Australia. He is now very settled back into his home, South of Tinputz. When Mark Machen and I called upon him unannounced, it was like something akin to Stanley meeting Livingstone in Rhodesia. A rough and flooded bush track led to his front door. Gary is quite an icon in the region and we feel it is quite a privilege to be able to assist him from time to time. Last week the Boxing Association people joined with the local members of Rotary in a working bee to clean the Arawa town centre.  We are hopeful that a tidy towns type competition will develop between Arawa and Buka.  The President of our Buka Rotary club, Francis Tonny places significant pressure on local politicians and community leaders to become members of Rotary.  Francis is an energetic, larger than life personality who successfully juggles his time between Rotary and his employer, Agmark. We came across a multitude of worthy causes for our donated dollars and Aussie – sourced equipment. As we move forward we will keep you posted. It is Rotary`s good fortune that Francis failed to dislodge the local member for Saposa, John Tabinaman, at the last elections.  I met with John, at our Rotary evening, subsequent to a gap of nearly 26 years. For many years we and John`s wife, Elizabeth were employed in the Personnel Division. In Section 10, Arawa I visited an old football mate in Simeon Sarea. He has only recently retired from Lihir Gold where he was the Manager Mine Safety. In 1990 Simeon  stayed at Haus Davidson for several weeks while he recovered from a gunshot wound to his eye. Although we were optimistic at the time, sadly the sight in the eye could not be restored. This incident took place on the North Dump. His companion that day, Michael Worthley from Bridgestone Tyres was less fortunate.  Michael lost his life.  Simeon was born in 1950 on Saposa Island. From `69 to `72 he was an Apprentice Motor Mechanic. He stayed on with BCL for many years. For the last 20 years he has been on Lihir. Simeon`s wife, Lillian is a Schools Inspector.  When leaving us, Simeon was heading into the worst days of the crisis. We were not sure as to how he would survive back in Saposa. I remember shopping trips with the kids where the main focus was the purchase of packets of Yates vegetable and melon seeds. The Sections of Arawa town that have not been destroyed are a hive of industry. There are several small guest houses.  The standard of service there range from acceptable to excellent. I remember K350 a night being quoted from one of these establishments.  Mark is a first class bait layer so did not venture out much.  When we did, in the last few days, we were pleasantly surprised. The rental of a motor vehicle is a less friendly  proposition but they are available.   Gen took me along to the Arawa Town office to catch up with Mark Sivutare. Mark said that he will complete a final year as the Town Manager prior to returning home to Koromira. Mark was born in 1949.  When I first met him, at BCL he was a Supt Drill and Blast. We have initiated discussions re Arawa establishing a Sister City arrangement. We will be connecting Mark with Clement and Richard to combine their resources towards their tidy town initiatives. On the same outing we called by at the house of Severinus and Anna Ampaoi.  This was a most enjoyable exchange. Like Tony, Sev was a school teacher who commenced with Rio in 1966.  Sev was quick to point out that he beat Tony to Rio by 3 months. Sev was born in 1939. He completed a highly successful career as a school teacher prior to joining the mining company. This included a stint at the Chabai Mission School in North Bougainville. Sev`s forte` was Village Relations and Community Relations.  He said that while at BCL he sought to learn every possible aspect of animal husbandry.  He went on to say that he put Nick through excessive questioning with regards to the technical management of BCL`s Kobuan and Manunau piggeries. When he departed BCL in 1983 to become a successful farmer and businessman he had more than enough savvy to make it a success. I think that I understood him to say that Nick`s elaborate monthly reports were extremely helpful when he was establishing his business.  Sev asked that I convey his best wishes to Paul and to Nick and he mentioned the catering contractors including Joe Fragnito, Mike Herrington and the Philippines community who were such good clients of his farm.  Some mornings traveling to work, I can remember seeing Paul parked between Sev`s village and the PMAR and them having an earnest chat about I don`t know what. I ran into a number of our Mortlock friends including Sione and Marina, in Buka. I understand that one of our former JDA staff members from the Atolls, Sinakling has returned to Bougainville and he is working for Dekenai, Tom Matane is still in POM. I sought out and found Mark Naiken. These days he is the caretaker manager of the Tunuru Mission properties. Mark`s wife, Matilda is the catechist there, a post that she has held for 16 years.  They put in a plug for the old mission church which is still in use today. In the short to medium term it must attract some major refurbishment, a very expensive business but all quite doable.  If you have any loose change then give me a call.  During the crisis the PNG Defence Force used the church as their fortress. Mark was a BCL BMWL Apprentice of some considerable note. He spoke fondly of his former teachers and trainers including Bill Skinner, Harvey, Adrian Larkins and Ron May. Mark`s son, Nathan is completing his studies towards the priesthood, in Fiji. The other son, Jacob has joined the Korkoro business empire as a Carpenter. They spoke of the various priests who have served at Tunuru and the name of former resident, Father Aloysius Dreyer came up.  Just a few weeks back I spent a Sunday afternoon with his brother, our very own Rudi Dreyer. The entrepreneurial streak in the Bougainvillean is clearly visible in Arawa and Buka. Hardware stores and supermarkets are prolific. Items are significantly more expensive in Arawa but this will sort when the Kieta Port becomes the preferred marine linkage into Arawa and Toniva. In Toniva are situated the Dekenai housing, yard and offices. Near by, on the mountains side of the Aropa to Kieta road, where in the old days was situated the PNG Dept of Works, is the Eastrac rock crushing facilities. Eastrac are a landowner company under the leadership of Lihir landowner co, Anitua. The local manager of Anitua`s interests is Mark Machen. Mark was one of the last expatriate apprentices indentured to BCL. He attended the Arawa High School. We were close family friends from when he was a teenager. Mark assisted me to stretch my budget by taking me in as a house guest. Mark, I do hope that I have not disrupted your life too much. Mark`s father Bruce was my boss in the mid-70`s.  I believe that this is the first time I have met Michael Takaku, the manager of Eastrac. Michael and his staff also made me most welcome.  Casting a watchful eye over these workings is civil engineering advisor and volunteer, our own Richard Green.  Some notables who were employed at the D of W complex in the 70`s and 80`s include Rudi, Louise (LL) and my father-in-law, Bill Heater. Richard and Ann, in their own quiet manner make a significant difference each and every day they are there for the local Arawa community.  Rain, hail or shine, Richard can be seen treadling around town on his bike. Their leadership in introducing the Tidy Town concept is just one of the ways that they make a difference. Ann arranged with Peter Arwin and Surgeon, Joe Velosi for me to visit the Arawa Hospital. I was able to meet the management group there. I only missed Peter and the dentist. Ann is a volunteer Physiotherapist and Trainer. Then there is Hari the dispenser of materials from the drug store. Thomas is the Laboratory Technician and Maria Velosi is the Manager of Nursing. Genevieve is the Nurse Manager, Obstetrics. Elizabeth Modrian spoke of matters anti-natal and neo-natal. Another under manager is Igi Shirau, the Manager for Nursing STD / HIV and then there is Tracey Tsiroates, a Health Extension Officer (a HEO) and she is also the TB Treatment Coordinator. Tracey spoke eloquently around her appreciation for her new stethoscope, with her name engraved thereon. This small but critically important gesture by Ann and our Joan Daniels is the talk of the hospital.  Thank you so much, you guys. A big thank you goes to Dr Joe Velosi for providing us with group access to his staff. Joe and I had planned to drive to Buka together but this was not to be. There will shortly be some significant changes around the Arawa Haus Sik.  We understand that Hornibrooks have been contracted to build the new hospital and the nurse training facility. We are taking care not to elevate our hopes too high.  Over the years much has been promised around this hospital but very little has been actually delivered. Our Chairman, Clement has identified where Rotary can make an immediate impact by the more efficiently utilization of the meagre existing resources at the hospital. He found an small enclave, situated adjacent to the hospital tankage, that could be converted to a workshop and lockable storage room. If this can be achieved then materials that are presently left lying at the mercy of the elements can be brought in doors. Prior to any move in this direction we will seek the blessing of the ARoB Secretary for Health, Clement Todavun. Watch this space. Clement is just settling into a massive task and at every turn we must offer him our support. There is some excitement about, associated with power generation and reticulation in North Bougainville. If you are interested then check it out the www. It is referred to as the Ramazon Hydopower Plant.  There have been many delays but now, with an air of certainty we hear of a timeline that will see a completion of the Hydro in 2,5 years and then the transmission line some 6 months later. There are 2 x 1.5 Mw turbines. Including in the funding bodies are the ADB and elements from NZ and Japan. I met Project Officer, Chris Omi at the Buka ANZAC day gatherings. Contracts have been bid and the winners include an Indian company, Venus Swithgear and Controls, Siwai Construction Co to address clearing and access roads. There is much more. I came across several other people, formally of Port Services including Peter Pamoloh. Peter lives in Arawa village.  These days he is almost completely without sight. Leo Navung is employed by local road builders, Rustproof. He was employed in Truck Electrical prior to becoming a Foreman Stevedore.  Like Peter he enjoyed familiarization trips into various Aussie ports. They asked after Adrian, Mike Hairsine, Max Ranson, Chris Rigby, Henry Bailey, John McLeod, Benny Odman, Barclay Ross, Ray Chadwick and Tony Phillip. Leo was in Crew 3. Born in 1951, Leo  looks to be in excellent health. I spent some considerable time with the Speaker of the ARoB, Simon Pentanu. We first met Simon when he was the Ombudsman back in the mid-90`s.  The ARoB are so fortunate to have such veteran politicians within their inner circle.  Simon comes from Pokpok. He has established a resort near to his village home. He said that his people will continue to garden the war memorial facilities on the Kieta waterfront.   Hopefully, in 2017, the main ANZAC service will be conducted at the Kieta memorial. I asked about the Pokpok villager, Nicholas, who was key in the continued supply of beer to the Cricket Club.  Nicolas was quite a wag. One would not think that he could lose us in the relatively short journey from the Kieta wharf to Panguna. Much to the annoyance of Stan, Nicholas would seem to achieve this at will. We had an issue at one stage with one of the PCC staff, helping himself to the stock. I was then in the B60 planning role.   Our then President, John Trezise had me primed to meet the brewery truck at the club and so track the goodies more closely. Simon said that Nicholas passed away only last year. There still remains many people for me to catch up with on my next trip.  Also I will not have time this morning to report on all my travels.  We have gathered a multitude of photos. Danni will spread them across forthcoming circulars. The big Pollack has just arrived from Mandurah so I guess it must be reunion time again.  We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, on the occasion of our 26th reunion. Regards Davo Subject; South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) Award Winner Below is the detail and the background of yet another spectacular achievement in the field of materials handling and processing by our old mate, Chris Kelsey.  Thanks Russ for your prompt reporting.  The shot herewith depicts Chris celebrating the occasion with his son, Simon. We recently caught us with Simon when he visited us for the funeral of father-in-law, Reg. Awards for SA resources innovations April 21, 2016 12:00am  Valerina Changarathil  The Advertiser Chris Kelsy, inventor of the award winning superfine crusher, celebrates the win with son Simon (also an IMP director). CRUSHING technology developed in SA and described as a game-changer for the global mining and quarrying industry won industry recognition and accolades at last night’s SA Chamber of Mines & Energy awards. IMP Technology inventor Chris Kelsy, 81, received a Statewide Super Innovation in Resources Award for the crusher, which is undergoing trials at Hallett Cove this week. A winner of four prestigious engineering awards, Mr Kelsy began work on it over a decade ago at his McLaren Vale home at times conferring with Bob Kelly an old time friend. With support from SA mining and quarrying industry supporters, a commercial version is being put through its paces at Hallett Concrete where it produces fine particles using less energy. “The crusher can crush materials of almost any hardness including zircon, quartz or garnet to name a few, in the range D50 of 5 microns, media free, in a wet or dry environment. This makes it unique and highly desirable for industrial mineral industries across the globe,” said John Doherty, managing director of IMP Technology.