‘Chalkies’ honoured for their work teaching Papua New Guinean soldiers
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Editor’s Note: This article was copied from the NSW Teachers News website education.nsw.gov.au/news unaltered and in its entirety. We (the Chalkies) sought and received permission to copy the article. We copied it here to acknowledge an important milestone in the lives of those conscript teachers from New South Wales who served in the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps all those years ago.
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23 October 2019
The NSW Department of Education has paid tribute to a unique group of former teachers who served our country during the Vietnam War period.
Between 1966 and 1973, 300 young Australian teachers were conscripted to the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps to teach soldiers in the Papua New Guinean army.
Half a century later, more than 40 of the teachers reunited for a ceremony to see the unveiling of a Roll of Service honour board at the Infantry Museum in Singleton last week and to view an exhibition highlighting their work teaching Papua New Guinean soldiers.
The teachers, colloquially known as ‘Chalkies’, taught the soldiers a range of subjects including English, maths, science, sport, social studies and civics in preparation for the eventual independence of the country.
“It was an honour to represent the department and recognise our teachers for their service in the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps and thank them for their work serving our students upon their return to Australia,” the department’s Director, School Operations and Performance Christopher Charles said.
“I look forward to seeing the Roll of Service honour board displayed in our Parramatta office.”
Paul Mitrovich from the Australian Army History Unit told The Singleton Argus it was an honour and privilege to gather with the Chalkies and hear their story.
“These educators really have this great story to tell which everyone seems to have forgotten about because it’s overshadowed by Vietnam,” he said.
“Usually when you think of someone in uniform it is in a war and almost violent like outcome.
“Here we have a bunch of young men who are fit and smart and well educated and they go in and transform a country through education teaching.”
Major General Brian ‘Hori’ Howard added: “The influence of these young men, who did much more than teach school, is not well known.
“They quickly improved the standard of general education throughout the Defence Force and the country in general as ex-soldiers who had undertaken their programs returned home and were able to use their skills to help their people,” he told the Singleton Argus.
The department’s Parramatta office is already home to four World War I Memorials, four World War II Memorials and a Roll of Honour recognising those who served in the Vietnam War and other post World War II operations.
There is also the Book of Remembrance, which records the names of those soldier-teachers who served in World War I and II.
Hello Stephen
I will Email you to provide you with a NSW contact who may be able to answer your questions about the Roll of Service board.
From here in Qld, I am aware that the board team in NSW aim for the Roll of Service to be inclusive.
I’m not researching any numbers or other information about my service In PNG. That’s NOT my responsibility. What a huge disappointment to see these servicemen pointiing out their names on the board. I put extra service beyond teaching into my time In PNG ( sport, admininstration, committees, new programmes, learn to swim classes and to be offered coaching in the up and coming World Cup soccer event as I was coach of the Army soccer team. )
Where is my name? I served in PNG in 1972 as a national serviceman at Taurama Barracks as well as teaching in NSW.