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54 Comments

1. Hi. I am wanting good clear colour images of the three recruit training signs.

   Also looking for NS who served less than 181 days in SVN to register their details.

   I was called up October 1967 and went to SVN with 6RAR in 1969.

2. Started my military experience as a Lieutenant in the Education Corps whilst teaching at Kwikila High School a couple of hours out from Port Moresby.It was an interesting and enjoyable experience, participating in field trips and camps in both Papua and New Guinea..trips to Goroka and Mt Hagen with the cadets. As a national serviceman later I resigned my commission because I felt I needed to go through basic training (Puckapunyal) before going back to Lae as a Sgt in the Education Corps. It was the best job I have ever had…teaching the future leaders of the Papua New Guinea military.I am still in touch with the daughter of a former student at Kwikila .

3. Maurice,
   I have now returned home after a week on the Gold Coast.
   Hopefully my mail has reached you. This account is only used infrequently, mostly for Chalkie work coming in from the website.
   Was it Robert (Bob) Foster? I have not been able to track him down at all. All others before us (including Knobby) are accounted for.
   Your slides, stories and memorabillia are most welcome. The website needs more material as the PNG Nationals are frequent viewers of our material.
   Hope that this finds you well,
   Regards,
   Terry

4. Delighted to receive a letter from Terry Edwinsmith recently with details of the PNG Chalkies activities and publications.
   I was stationed at Taurama Barracks during 1967-68 with Terry, Phil Parker, Bruce Boxall and Ian Rodder that I can recall. Four of us jointly owned a beaten up holden that had been purchased from the chalkies we were replacing.
   I remember when I first arrived some of us lived in tents at the back of the old sargents mess, but later shifted into a new building.
   I taught science and followed in the footsteps of Bob Foster who had arrived a year earlier and who had been a classmate from Armidale Teachers College 1964-65.
   Life in PNG was most enjoyable during that period. On campus I played squash and was involved in the hockey competition in Port Moresby.
   I have very much enjoyed reading through some of the material available on the internet related to the chalkies and look forward to purchasing Dymocks book.
   After PNG I undertook university studies and spent most of my working life in academia (accounting/finance) spending various periods of time in Armidale, Lismore, Solomon Islands, Toowoomba and the last 11 years prior to retirment (2014) in China.

   Best wishes to all other chalkies

5. I was an Education Corps Sergeant at Taurama Barracks during 1968-69. After returning to Australia I resumed teaching with the Victorian Education Department and have just completed 50 years of service in Primary Education. Currently on Long Service Leave until April 2017 before retiring.

   • Ross, thanks for your Service information and your long career in Primary Education. We look forward to catching up with you at a Reunion in the years ahead.

6. This is a great website, and thanks to all contributors.. Please add me to the list. I extended my national sevice to the maximum allowable (i.e. 4 years) while still retaining national serviceman status. I was in Vietnam in 1970 with Sgt Ken Rowe. Ken was an education Sgt at 1PIR, Taurama in 1969. He was an extraordinarily talented man on several fronts, Ken later went on to have a distinguished career at ACER. Sadly, he lost his life in the Victorian fires a few years back.
   Subsequent to Vietnam, I was at ADAE (Assistant Directorate of Army Education) in Murray Barracks. Lt Col P W Maunsell was leader, but the man I remember most was Capt Tich Freeman. Tich died in the early 70s in Brisbane. I had some contact with him when he was in hospital. An old school professional soldier and an amazing man. Sgt David Hornby (Hornsby ?) was a talented administrator with unfailing good humour. At that time, I also remember: the consumate professional, Ed Diary who subsequently taught in Qld, Gerry/Carol Keegan, Bob/Chris Daniels, Rob/Kay Phillips, John Smithard (who also worked at a local school/TAFE . John also drove a Landrover still in it’s army paint!) , and George Sears. Excellent memories.

   • Hello Dick. Apology to you, and others below, for my slow response to your message. (I have been organising a PIR Reunion in August and planning a Nashos Reunion in Brisbane for October.)
     I am interested in your TPNG and Vietnam service as a Nasho so I will Email you soon.
     We have Email addresses for only some of those you mention but we can help you to reach those men.

7. Education Sgt at Murray Barracks 1970-71: Memories of watching ‘MASH’ in Sgt’s Mess along with ‘real’ soldiers!
   Went on to academic career, then a management consultant for some years, now Business Manager at the WA Supercomputing Centre (iVEC) in Perth.

   • Hi Brian and apology for slow reply. I also spent time at Murray but don’t recall the movies. Great to have you in the Chalkies Network and you will be welcome at our next Nashos Dinner in Perth. I will email you when I get past the PIR reunion.

8. 1971-1972 Igam Barracks. I worked at the Military Cadet School with Sgts Andrew Dalziel, Ian Minns and Graham Thomson. In spite of my role as a chalkie in PNG I now think I received an education of my own in that remarkable country.

   • G’day Peter. Keep an eye out for the next Armi Wantoks Journal which focuses on Igam Barracks. Ian Minns has been “googling” and put us in touch with George Sears and Peter Manchester.
     I agree that we learnt more than we taught in PNG.

9. I’d appreciate it if you can forward this message to Jim Connolly:

   Hi, Jim,
   Stumbled on this site while reliving PNG memories. I was recruited as a civilian instructor for the Academic Wing at the JSC 1976 thru 1977. Major Hall was the OIC till his health problems got the better of him, alas. I taught with Webke, Bruce ?, Don Forbes (navy) and his successor Bernie ?, Hazell, Bezant, Keene as well as yourself. I remember Dauncy, Possi Gulu(Corrections) and John ?. I remember the Mt Wilhelm climb and the Kokoda Trail hike. I remember Col O’Neil of the RAEC from Port Moresby, as well as Tony Huai and Ted Diro.
   I’ve been living in New York since 1979 -an accidental immigrant, and retired last year. Hence the time to troll different websites. If you get this email and have the time and inclination, I’d like to know what became of my JSC colleagues.

   All the Best,
   George (Grimley)

   • Hello George. Life has been busy so I’ve just read your Email. I saw Ted Diro at a distance only last January in Mosbi. Please advise if you have had a reply from Jim Connolly or not.

10. Very interested in this website. I was a teacher with NSW DofE, graduated OTU from first intake 1968 and was posted to 2PIR Wewak in August 68 as Platoon commander 12 Pl, D Coy. Moem Barracks was all very new buildings. Spent 3 months at Vanimo and did various patrols in the East and West Sepik Regions. Unfortunately was not into photography so have no photos to remind me of those days. Went back to teaching in NSW, now retired. Visited PNG again in 1978 with my family.

    • Mick, good to see your notice and learn about your experience. As a former Nasho in TPNG, you are welcome to be listed on this Members Page.
      Also, you are welcome to contribute a short Article about your Army experience, particularly at 2 PIR.
      I will send you an Email soon to confirm this.

11. First one of 7 to moem Aug 1966.15 months mainly attached to A Coy.Moem,Vanimo,GreenRiver,Telefomin,Pagei Valley.

    • Peter, you were a pioneer. If you wish to be listed above on this Members Page, please let me know by Email.

    • Peter Suna, Max Qanchi et al were our predecessors at Moem Barracks in 1966/1967 and were real trail-blazers. They lived rough in the thatched-hut Sergeants’ Quarters on the beach and had accepted part-time posts at out-stations such as Vanimo. They had the typically wicked Aussie sense of humour and delighted in making irreverent comments about/to each other. Despite that, I remember being impressed with their bond of friendship, even though we only shared their company for the 3-week change-over period.

      • Russell, thanks for the inside story on the those pioneers at Moem. Life must have been “tough” at the Vanimo outstation in 1966-67.
        I’d welcome their stories and photos from “taim bipor”.

12. Jim,
    On the ‘Goldie photos’ section these words appear on a group photo,
    —1970 RAAEC Goldie staff
    Back from left: L/Cpl Michael Irima (Library Assistant, Regular PIR), Sgt Paul Taylor, Sgt Bernard Neeson, Sgt Wayne Dark, Mr George Tolat (Cleaner) etc.
    I hope that this is of assistance.

13. Can you tell us when and where SGT Bernard (Doc) Neeson served in TPNG?

    And (sung)…..”are we ever gonna see his face again?” Say 6 Oct, maybe?

    SGT Jim Connolly, Goldie River, 1972-74

    • Jim, I have tried to find “Doc” by sending a letter (twice) to Willoughby but no response.
      “Doc” probably does not know about the Reunion on 6 October.
      I welcome any leads on him.

14. I served as a sergeant at Taurama Barracks from 1968-69. I was the Treasurer of the Sergeant’s Mess for the duration. This position always fell to a “chalkie” My wife & I returned to PNG in late 1970 & we left in Jan 1977 to live in Bathurst, NSW where we still live. I have a number of photos from those days at Taurama as I used to develop my own photos.

    • Peter, good to hear from you. Your photos would be interesting and your time at Taurama plus during/after Independence. Please Email me (see Contacts page) when ready.

15. I was in the 1972 intake of seven Nasho T/SGTs to arrive in Goldie River in May 72. The group included Bruce Hartshorn, Guy Bodiski, Frank Nolan, Gunter Scmidt, Ron Lynch and Phil O’Shea. We served with RAAEC ARA Officers CAPT Ian Harvey and LT Ian Fegent (later MAJ Murray Sinclair and CAPT John Easton and LT Tom Derham (OTU Grad)). All (or most?) left to return to civy teaching when Labor came to power. I took a commission and did another year as a LT at Goldie River.

    Jim Connolly

    • Good to see your comment, Jim. Happy for you to Email me (see Email address on “Contacts” page) and tell me more. Phil O’Shea has posted a message on the Contacts page looking for Frank Nolan.

16. Served at Murray Barracks as a Chalkie for 14 months from late 1969. After discharge returned to Port Moresby to complete a Diploma of Education in Developing Countries at UPNG. In 1972 joined PNG Education Department & taught at Malabunga High School, Rabaul, for 2 years. Returned to the Gold Coast in 1974 to teach at Aquinas College before moving back to Melbourne in 1977.

    • John, long time no see! Great to see your message. Much has changed since that Barbie at Annerley with Phil in mid 1970s. Please Email me (see Contacts page) when you are ready. Maybe think about our Chalkies Reunion on October 6.

    • I served as a clerk in the Medical Corps at Murray Barracks in 1970-71.
      I studied and completed the General Certificate of Education (year 11)while there and Sergeant John Meyer was an excellent teacher and mentor.
      I now live in country Victoria and still work as a family counsellor and mediator.

      • Tony, we appreciate your positive feedback about John. I was also at Murray Barracks for a while and got to know John, mainly over social drinks.
        We are interested to see your academic progression and your valuable work in family counselling.

17. I was at A Company 1PIR from the middle of 1966 until November ’67. We were the first National Servicemen to teach at Taurama Barracks. There were 6 of us. 5 primary trained and myself (secondary maths/science). Some of the stories I have read on the website have brought back memories of our time there. I remember Dan and his trips. We went to Popondetta, the Trobriand Islands and Goroka with him. I missed the Hagan trip because I was on duty. I also remember riding his little motor bike into Port Moresby to go to Mass one Sunday.
    I have a photo of Norm Hunter and Bob “Carmen” Foster on the back of the “fishing trip” boat that Dan had organised. I have a lot more stories but that’s for another time.

    • Thank Denis for an interesting message. I’ll email you shortly about your stories and your photos which will be of interest to others in our network.

    • Denis,
      Would you consider placing your name onto the roll above? As you were with the initial group in 1966, your name will take precedence over others who have come later. This will help others from your time at Taurama Bks to remember the ‘good old times’ and it may prompt others to record their wonderful adventures. Photos are welcome also! Keep in touch please!
      Terry
      (The pay office!)

18. Hullo I was in PNG in September 1972 went to Port Morsby, Lae, Finchhaven and Mt Hagen with 1 RAR I was a regimental signaller from 2 RAR could anyone please tell me what we where doing over there I know we did a lot of walking over mountains and went through a lot of villages. Thanks Greg Hartman

    • Greg, many small, military exercises were held for Aussie soldiers in TPNG during the Vietnam War era. They were probably aimed to test equipment and refine soldiers’ skills in a jungle environment before posting overseas. Can anyone else provide an explanation?

19. Medical Corps – Hygiene Officer, Murray Barracks – July 1969 to Dec 1970. Visits to Goldie River and patrols with Hygiene Section based at Goldie River – Medical Corps Sgt Peter Milne and Sgt Rose . Pictures on the website bring back fond memories.

    • John, you’re welcome to send us an email if you wish. See Contact Us page of this website.

20. Cpl Ted Middleton 800 Sigs 18/4/1970 to 21?11/1970

    Please add 800 Sigs to this page.

    • Ted, I have sent you an email about your time at Murray Barracks. Cheers.

21. Hi Frank after I spoke to you on the phone to day I went into your web site to have a look. If you wish to register on the Nominal Roll of Nashos who served between 1951 to 1972, go to http://www.nashonomroll.org.
    Many Thanks
    Alex

22. Re my entry on the Members page – I have always lived in Vic(not NSW) and was never at Igam (Lae), but did spend my first three weeks in PNG at Murray or Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby, before going to Moem in November, 1970

23. I started Recruit Training at Puckapunyal in January, 1970, then Infantry training at Singleton.I was posted to Bandiana, then left for PNG in October 1970. Had 3 weeks at Taurama before moving on to Moem in November 1970. Left there in November 1971 for Melbourne, by ship via Rabaul, Brisbane and Sydney.

    I give permission for any of my details to be posted on the new website.

    • John, likewise to Garry, you can send a “Comment” if you want.

24. With a B Agr Sci, I had the unusual role of teaching tropical agriculture to PNG soldiers at Moem Barracks, Wewak (2 PIR) during 1969/70. I was only the second one in that role.
    In Sep 2007, I walked the Kokoda Track with my 2 sons and was then able to make an overnight trip to Wewak. I was driven around Wewak and Moem Barracks, including the Sergeant’s Mess and the remains of the Education Centre (destroyed by rioting soldiers sometime). I think Boyd Robertson may have already sent some photos of mine from the 2007 visit.
    I currently live at Rutherglen in NE Victoria.

25. 1969 – 1971
    Recruit Training – 1RTB Kapooka
    Inf. Corps Training – 3TB Singleton
    RAAEC – 3TB
    – 2PIR Moem

    • Thanks Garry. You’re welcome to send a “Comment” to be added to this Members Page, if you want.

26. I was a medical corp (RAAMC) corporal attached to a Depot of 1 Base Med and Dent, (1 Base Med and Dent was based in Brisbane) in the Ordinance compound at Murray Barracks. Our role was as the name suggests, supplying Medical Equipment and Supples to PNG Command.

    I served there between August 1969 and June 1970

    My home state was (and is) WA.

    I commenced Recruit Training at Puckapunyal with other members of my intake (13th). Unfortunately I contracted Meningococcal Meningitis during week 3 and after a period of hospitalisation and covalescent leave, I completed my basic training at Kapooka where I marched out in January 1968. My Corp Training was at Healesville and the Ordinance School at Bonegilla.

    I am a member of “Nashos WA” and march on Anzac Day at Bunbury with a few other 13th Intake members.

    • Greg,
      Welcome to our new website! As you can see, the site is still under construction.
      Our immediate aim is to contact as many service personnel as possible who served in PNG especially 1966-1975.
      Secondly, it is hoped to gather a library of stories and personal recounts of events that happened during your tour of duty in PNG.
      Thirdly, it is hoped that photos from this period concerning your work environment be collected, digitised then displayed on our ‘photos’ section. (If sufficient interest is shown and material becomes readily available, this site might host a “Historic Photos “Section depicting TPNG, 40 or more years ago.)
      In the meantime, welcome! Happy writing and digging out old photos and memorabilia for others to share.

      • Thanks Terry.

        Just small correction to my earlier email. I marched out of Kapooka in January 1969.

    • Hello Greg, I am Tony Marshall and I took over from you at the small med Corp depot at Murray Barracks, you were good enough to leave me your room which I can assure you was greatly appreciated, did not expect to have a room to myself when I left Brisbane for PNG. I think our boss was Lt Grant. and there was also Serg. Lucas. Wow memories.

      • Tony, thanks for your comments. You can Email me (see Contacts Page) if I can be of any assistance.

27. It looks like we were in/around Moresby at the same time ie mid 1970.
    Thanks for your post Alex.

28. I did Recruit Training and Infantry Corps Training at 3TB Singleton at the beginning of 1969. My PNG posting was to Goldie River Training Barracks from September 1969 until September the following year.