Brief summary of PNG Nasho Chalkie Initiatives

First steps in 2003
Nasho Chalkie Ian Ogston of Brisbane initiated the publication of a small book about Nasho Chalkies in PNG, based on a collection of letters exchanged with his fiancé during his posting to PNG. This provided the material for Ian’s first self-published book in 2003 titled “Chalkies: Conscript Teachers in Papua New Guinea 1970-1971” which recounted the Army experiences of those Chalkies who served with Ian at Goldie River Training Depot. From this initial Goldie River group, news spread by word of mouth to other Nasho Chalkies around Australia.
Ian then posted a Letter to the Editor of the Qld Teachers Journal, calling for Nasho Chalkies to meet with him in a group and be interviewed about their PNG postings. As well as being seen by Nasho Chalkies, this Letter was noticed by the National Servicemen’s Association in Qld who alerted colleagues about the existence of Nashos who had served in PNG. As a result of his interviews, Ian Ogston produced a second self-published book called “Armi Wantoks: Conscript Teachers in Papua New Guinea 1966-1973” in 2004. This growing group of Nasho Chalkies then enjoyed social gatherings firstly at Ian’s home and later at RSL Clubs around Brisbane. The group kept in touch by email, sharing memories and memorabilia from their postings at the five Army bases around PNG.

The network spreads around Australia
One of the Nasho Chalkies, Greg Ivey, shared an Army document listing the surnames and initials of his 1969 cohort posted to PNG. Another Nasho Chalkie, Terry Edwinsmith, used that list to check Electoral Lists around Australia and he was able to contact additional Nasho Chalkies around Australia. The initial small group of Nasho Chalkies began to expand, using phone calls and Email, into an interstate network.
The pioneer of this network, Ian Ogston, convened the first National Reunion of Chalkies in Brisbane in October 2012. Subsequently, National Reunions, including partners of the Chalkies, were held in large capital cities and some regional areas on an annual basis until 2019.

Website and Newsletters
In 2011 a small team of Chalkies, led by Frank Cordingley, designed and developed a Website to raise awareness of the Nasho Chalkies role in PNG and to be a depository for Chalkie stories and photos. Knowing that various Army Corps had posted Nashos to PNG, this team adopted an inclusive name for the website – www.nashospng.com The website team actively recruited Nashos from all Corps to place their names, posting place and time, and comments on the website. Currently, the website displays the details of Nashos from the following Corps: RAAEC, RAAMC, RA Inf., RAAOC, RAEME, RA Sigs, RAAPC.
Ian Ogston and Greg Ivey began producing an “Armi Wantoks Journal” containing stories and photos from Chalkies, and distributed it by Email, in 2007. This Journal continued until 2015. Also, Ian and Greg began producing a frequent “Chalkie Newsletter” in 2012 with more short-term items of interest. This newsletter continued until 2022. Most editions of the Journal and the Newsletter may be found on the current website: www.nashospng.com
Ian Ogston also produced a limited-circulation CD-ROM disk of PNG photos donated by Nasho Chalkies, called “Chalkies: Conscript Teachers in Papua New Guinea 19666-1973, a visual record”.

Assistance to RAAEC Archives
From May 2013, a small group of Nasho Chalkies in south-east Qld volunteered to assist the RAAEC Archives Officer in Qld (Major M. Bates). This archival support involved reviewing some physical items donated to RAAEC Stores in Sydney before being transferred to Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. Item details were entered onto computer disks by the Chalkie volunteers. Also, existing descriptions of donated items (held in Sydney) were transferred from printed lists to computer disks. This project ended with the retirement of Major Bates in 2018.

Facebook page
In 2019, Chalkie Peter Darmody created a Chalkies Facebook account which continues actively today, titled “PNG Chalkies-Educating an Army for Independence 1966-73”.

Books about Nasho Chalkies from commercial publishers
So far, two books have been released commercially:
The Chalkies: Educating an Army for Independence by Darryl Dymock, Australian Scholarly Publishing: Melbourne, 2016 (softcover, 208 pages)
Tales from the Sak-Sak: Doing Nasho in New Guinea edited by Max Quanchi, Quanchi Pacifica: Brisbane, 2021 (softcover, 258 pages)

Recordings deposited in State Library
In 2021, the State Library of Qld arranged for Dr Darryl Dymock to give a public talk on the role of Nasho Chalkies in PNG. Subsequently in 2022, the State Library recorded interviews with five Nasho Chalkies who were posted to different Army bases in PNG between 1966 and 1971. The interviews may be watched on the State Library Website and on Trove:
(2022). Chalkies: National Servicemen as teachers in Papua New Guinea digital stories and oral histories. State Library of Queensland.

by Greg Ivey (RAAEC Instructor, 1969-1971)
2026