Murray Barracks soldiers

Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window.

Murray Barracks soldiers -
VW owned by Sgt John Calnan and a friend of John’s

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt Bob (not Rob) Coppa fixing the VW owned by John Calnan

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt Joe Spiteri watching an Infantry Parade

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt John Fennell watching an Infantry Parade

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt Mike Lee taking a break in Education Centre

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt Peter Mason preparing a lesson

Murray Barracks soldiers -
(L to R) Sgts Joe Spiteri, Bruce Mathieson and Brendan Nolan

Murray Barracks soldiers -
(L to R) Sgts John Meyer, Joe Spiteri and, Rob Lovell

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Lt John Murray (2IC Education) with Sgts Phil Adam and Randy Wittwer 1970

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Capt Freeman on reef ecology trip 1970

Murray Barracks soldiers -
OIC Education,Capt Freemanon Oval 1970

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgts Peter Mason (left) and Mike Lee

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt Randy Wittwer

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt Phil Adam on his desk
The photos above were supplied courtesy of Sgt Steve Hill

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Sgt. Peter Darmody (1967-68) enjoying a break on the way to Bomona Cemetery
Sgt. Peter Darmody (1967-68) enjoying a break on the way to Bomana Cemetery

Education Corps - Murray Barracks PNG - 1970 Starting with Robert Coppa (second from left corner):  Robert Coppa, Phil Adam, Mick Lee, Capt. John (Tich) Freeman (aka Charlie Drake the worker), Lt Jim Murray, John Meyer, Brendan Nolan, Randy Wittwer, unknown young woman in glasses, Bridie (Bridget) Freeman.
Education Corps – Murray Barracks PNG – 1970
Starting with Robert Coppa (second from left corner): Robert Coppa, Phil Adam, Mick Lee, Capt. John (Tich) Freeman (aka Charlie Drake the worker), Lt Jim Murray, John Meyer, Brendan Nolan, Randy Wittwer, unknown young woman in glasses, Bridie (Bridget) Freeman.

Murray Barracks AFL Team Back row Madu; Sanga: Tarura; Wiseman; Stosic; Tanner; Bai; Wali; Pak; Rumu Center row Wiseman (Major); Loa; Walker; Mulai; Abe; Tukpavi Front row Simmonds; Lonai; Chesser; Ausre; Dademo; Moses
Murray Barracks AFL Team in 1969
Back row Madu; Sanga: Tarura; Wiseman; Stosic; Tanner; Bai; Wali; Pak; Rumu
Center row Wiseman (Major); Loa; Walker; Mulai; Abe; Tukpavi
Front row Simmonds; Lonai; Chesser; Ausre; Dademo; Moses
Sgt Bobby Dademo was Colonel Dademo in the 80’s

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Brig Gould (head of Army Education), Sgt Neil Gibson with Pte James Sannga from Sambirigi village in the Southern Highlands – 1966

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Lt Rowan Monteith, Sgt Neil Gibson, Sgt Ken Hannaford in Education Corps office (before dedicated Education Building) – 1966

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Peter Wedgwood’s wedding guests L-R from the lady (Molly Southern who was Pam’s boss’ wife and the organist) Sgts. Mike Turnbull, Ken Hannaford (back to camera), Neil Gibson, Bruce Harris and Don Benson – 1967

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt Bruce Harris – 1966

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt Don Benson, Sgt Bruce Harris, Sgt Graham Lindsay and Sgt Ken Hannaford – 1966

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Range trip lunch at Owers
L – R WO2 Dan Winkel, three unknown, Sgt. Mike Turnbull, unknown, Sgt. Neil Gibson (furthest from camera), Sgt. Don Benson, Sgt.Dennis O’Rourke, Sgt. Bruce Harris and Sgt. Ken Hannaford. – Oct 66

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Farewell party for Sgt Neil Gibson – 1967

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgts. Don Benson, Mick Turnbull, Neil Gibson in LEP Murray Barracks – Aug 67

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt. Frank Cordingley outide room, Sergeants Mess, Murray Barracks – Oct 68

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt. Peter Darmody in LEP – our initial living quarters – Jul 1967

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Brigadier Hunter with Sgt. Peter Darmody (centre) and Sgt. Ray Newton (left) Jul 1967
Notice the earlier RAAEC badge

Murray Barracks soldiers -
LEP living quarters – Sgt. Ken Morcom – Aug 67

Murray Barracks soldiers -
WO2 Dan Winkel (left),Sgt. Ken Morcom in Dan’s office – Sep 68

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt. Ken Morcom and Lt. Retallick at Idlers Bay – Feb 68

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt. Brian Davies (foreground) and Sgt. Jim Wells in gun emplacement, Port Moresby – Jul 68

Murray Barracks soldiers -
L-R Bob Strachan, Andy Dalziel, John Hain, Ross Yates
Front – John Fragomeni at Holsworthy before going to PNG – 1971

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt. Bob Large, Sgt. Greg Buffier (foreground) – 1971-72

Sgt. Richard Boddington at Murray Barracks Sergeants Mess 1972
Sgt. Richard Boddington at Murray Barracks Sergeants Mess 1971

Murray Barracks soldiers -
Sgt. Gibson – 1966-67

Brian Haines (2nd from right) during recruit training
Brian Haines (2nd from right) during recruit training
Share your love

10 Comments

  1. I am looking for old military photos of my grandfather W.O Gabriel Sanga. Joined the Pacific Island Regiment in 1962, posted to Murray Barrack in the late 1960’s leading into the 70’s and resigned in 1983 at Murray Barracks.

    He passed three (3) days ago.

    Few photos of his time in the Regiment would be a bonus to his memories.

  2. Hello, I attended 1/1976 Recruit Company Training at the PNGDF Training Depot and marched out around June that year. A photo of mine was snapped/ taken by the Army Education and my story appeared that year in the Australian Army monthly News paper circulation in June/July 1976. Caption shows myself then Recruit John Kinai on parade and chatting with the reviewing Parade Reviewing Official, Governor General Sir John Guise.
    Could this photo be retrieved and kindly emailed to me?

    Ex MAJ PNGDF/ Ex RAAEC CAPT John E Kinai (ARA Retired)

    • Hello Major Kinai
      It might be very difficult to find your 1976 photo after such a long time.
      But I will ask if the Australian Army still has copies of this 1976 Newspaper.
      I will Email you directly when I have any news about your photo.

  3. Hello,
    I am trying to find a photograph of my cousin John Martin who was killed in New Guinea in 1970. If anyone has any stories or photographs of John, I would really appreciate it if you could contact me. Thank you, Kelly

    • Hi Kelly, I attended John’s inquest. If it is possible, as the site is old, please make a personal reply to my email. Thanks, I am sure I can answer your questions.

  4. Dennis,
    Yes, a re-union is planned for the 6th October 2012 from 10am- 4pm at the Kedron-Wavell RSL, Hamilton Rd, Chermside, Brisbane. Some interesting guest speakers are planned but the real activity will be catching up on ‘lost colleagues’ living both locally and interstate. Whilst a group of 20 or so locals met last year, (we have been meeting annually since 2003) at least as many interstate chalkies and their wives are coming and have made reservations at local hotels and motels. It is hoped that several mates from your Murray Bks years will be in attendance (as they live locally). 2012 is shaping up as the ‘First National Chalkies Re-union’ because the interest is so great. Presently 100 nasho chalkies are on the e-mail list, so big things are expected.
    Hope that you (and your mates) are able to attend,
    Regards,
    Ian, Greg & Terry

  5. Hello,
    I was part of the contingent of Nasho Educators who went to PNG in Oct 1968. I was posted to Murray Barracks and I see Lt Retallick’s photo in the gallery. He was there with a Lt Murray (I think). I returned to Australia in August 1969 as I accepted a “direct entry”commission and stayed in Education Corp and ultimately moved careers to computing. I left the army in July 1983.
    My wife and I lived in a very tiny flat at Boroko and she taught at Hanabada Primary. Nigel Tanner (another Nasho teacher) and his wife lived in the flat next to us and we had brothers from Mt Hagen as our house boys. That was an interesting time and I have several stories about the house boys.

    I heard the ABC this morning and understand that there is a reunion planned but I did not get any details. If there is a reunion, can you post the details please.

    Many thanks,
    Sgt Dennis Connell (Temp)

    • Dennis, thank you for reviving my memories of Murray Barracks in 1969. I celebrated my 21st at your flat in Boroko. You and Ros were so hospitable as we’re Jane and Nigel in the flat next to you. Many good times were had in Boroko . I have just been in contact with Phill Allington , and will source out some contacts , photos and stories to post on the website. I live in Terrigal on NSW central coast and my email is rongerrish@gmail.com

    • Hi Dennis (and Ron),

      Just saw your comments when my photo of the 1969 VFL team was put up on the site. I have good memories of our times in PNG (and of our house boys Dennis). Good to see photos of Lt Retallick and WO2 Dan Winkel. I remember them well. I’m currently living in Hervey Bay, Queensland. Still working in the Organisational consulting game and doing a fair bit of traveling with it.
      It would be good to share stories again some time.
      Cheers
      Nigel

Leave a Reply to TerryCancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *