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.