Category Personal Memories

Today (4/4/24) we celebrated the life of fellow Chalkie, Ian Colwell who served in RAAEC in PNG in 1972-3 at Murray and Igam Barracks. He was the last to serve in the Territory as a conscripted 2-year National Serviceman. An…

by Bob Whittaker Editor’s Note: This story is the second extract from the book ‘Jellybeans in the Jungle’ by Bob Whittaker. The first article, ‘Call Up and Rookie Training’ can be viewed by clicking here. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ We boarded the Qantas…

by Bob Whittaker Editor’s Note: This story is an extract from the book ‘Jellybeans in the Jungle’ by Bob Whittaker. On his call up for National Service, as a teacher, Bob could have expected to be sent to Papua New…

by Sgt Terry Edwinsmith Bellwether, chief, commander, director, foreman, head-most, premier, ruler, senior etc. Leadership is as diverse as the people placed in that position. Some are anointed, promoted or born to that position. Many are conferred this position by…

By Sgt Siggy Nowak National Service training commenced, and I walked into Puckapunial as a raw recruit following the completion of my Economics university degree, my Dip Ed and then one year teaching in Shepperton. Following recruit training, I marched…

by Sgt. Graeme Johnson I was introduced to this pastime by a civvy mate Bob PRINS who was employed by the Administration in the then Department of Ag., Stock & Fisheries in Wewak town centre. He was friends with some…

by Capt. John Retallick After attending Bathurst Teachers’ College in 1962-3 I was sent to a one teacher school in a wheat paddock somewhere out west for 2 years. Towards the end of that time I received a call-up notice…

by Sgt Paul Taylor What the heck is a Chalkie? Before I answer this question I would like to take you back to 7th February 1968. Why is this date significant to me? Because it was the first day of…

by Dan Winkel Like all 18 year olds of my generation I had to serve 3 months National Service, compulsory full time service to complete Recruit Training. The initial 3 months were followed by 3 years compulsory part time training…

Contributions from Sgts. Terry Edwinsmith and Ron Inglis Background Story As part of the 50th anniversary of the University of Queensland’s Alumni Association, Terry Edwinsmith wrote an article on the National Service Vocational Training Scheme of which many National Servicemen…

John was born on 23 June 1947 in country Wauchope, NSW. He was just over 2 and his sister Margaret 13 when their mother was killed outside Wauchope in 1949. His father re-married and John socialised with local school mates…

by John Humphrey After 5 years of deferment, I was in the January, 1970 intake of National Service. We started with 3 months at Puckapunyal, which every guy here can relate to. As part of the interviews that we had…

by WO2 Dan Winkel ENLISTMENT IN THE RAAEC (The Australian Regular Army) I became aware of the RAAEC during my 3 months NS Training. Three years later almost to the day, I found myself in the Office of Capt. George…

As a graduate of Ballarat Primary Teachers College in Dec 1964 I was “lucky” to be balloted into the 1st Nasho intake of 1965 but was deferred for one year. The army with its usual efficiency managed to delay my…

The major theme for the annual Brisbane reunion for 2014 was focussed on the experiences from Moem Barracks in Wewak. As a result, the majority of presentations were personal experiences of National Service RAAEC sergeants who spent their time in…

by WO2 Dan Winkel (1966-69) Here is a little story of the Charter Flights I organized in TPNG from late 1966 onwards. I was involved in organizing and supervising as many as thirty, one day and weekend excursions to various…

by John Ford (1969-70) In 1968/69 and 1969/70 the senior officer of the Education Corp at Taurama Barracks was Captain Wolfgang Flayden. The 1968/69 Chalkies had a troublesome relationship with Capt Flayden whom they referred to as “The Wolf”. Our…

by John Teggelove 1966-67 Goldie Headquarters building, 2014 (Photo Greg Ivey) My marble came out for the first National Service intake in July 1965 but the call-up was deferred, to enable me to complete my first teaching year, so I…

by Greg Smith, Moem Barracks 1969-70 Any ex-student of Melbourne High School (MHS) would easily recognize the School’s maroon-coloured footy jumper with the school’s motif, the head of a unicorn, on the left breast. It was therefore quite surprising in…

by Ted Middleton I was in my third year of training as a Telecommunications Technician when I learnt that I had won the National Service lottery. Like most young men who were conscripted and were still studying, I deferred until…

“NASHO GONE BAD” – from Conscript to Professional Soldier, and beyond! by Murray Gough (1970-75 and beyond) How could a keen and energetic young teacher in NSW become conscripted for service into the Army, and why would he “sign-on” to…

Tony Marshall writes: I was conscripted into the Australian Army on the 1 As a clerk in the Medical Corps, I served with 1 Det.Med and Dent PNG. The exact dates of arrival and departure in Port Moresby are details…

by Greg Ivey (Moem/Murray, 1969-70) and Russell Jenkin (Moem, 1967-68) In 1968, a rare (if not unique) Conference was convened at Taurama Barracks involving almost all of the Chalkies then present in TPNG. With the passing of time and memories,…

This is a story that spans more than 40 years, crosses international borders, and the barriers of race, colour, and creed. It’s a story of hardship and friendship, tinged with some sadness…but one that could now be heading towards an…

by Russell Jenkin (1967-68) ‘Should Papua New Guinea become the seventh State of Australia?’ This was a major essay question that I chose to answer, approximately two months after I had arrived as a Sergeant in the Education Section of…

To paraphrase Spike Milligan, I was dragged kicking and screaming from under my bed in January 1969 and drafted into the Army. From the outset I was very keen to avoid the immorality (and danger) of the Vietnam War. I…

Greg, Many thanks for your prompt reply. I enjoyed scrolling through the Network’s Website yesterday. The day before, I had returned home from presenting a Remembrance Day address at a local school and on a whim, I decided to Google-search,…

Denis Jenkins 1971 From my piles of letters sent home (and preserved by my parents) I have come across the names of most of our Ed crew at Murray Barracks in 1971. Bob Daniel, John Dark, Ed Diery, Graeme Edgerton,…

Terry Edwinsmith As some of you may know, I had the good fortune to go to PNG for several days from the 18th to 21st October 2007. An opportunity arose in my capacity as a Director of Queensland Teachers’ Credit…

Terry Edwinsmith The dreaded marble in the first call up came to me in 1965 whilst I was at college but I deferred to 7th intake after completing KGTT College and 12 months teacher placement (at Milton SS). This new…