Tributes to Ian Colwell

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 almost full church at Geebung, Brisbane, celebrated Ian’s life, one full of service to others.
Ian suffered a horrific death. His passing will be mourned by both family and friends.
Ian served as President and committee member of his local RSL. (Clayfield-Toombul RSL.)
He was very active in his local parish church as a member and as a leader in parish outreach programs, to help the sick and the poor.
Ian with his namesake, helped set up the Chalkie movement in Australia by providing names, stories and support to launch a self-published book outlining Australian Nasho teachers in TPNG.
A reunion in 2012 and 2013 in Brisbane followed. Ian was active in its organization.
Three Brisbane Chalkies, with their wives, attended Ian’s Mass service officiated by his personal friend, Fr Robert Doohan.
Ill health prevented Ian from fully participating in Chalkie life, especially since COVID.
Our Chalkies family owe Ian a very large debt of gratitude for his initial drive and dedication in bringing the Chalkie family together.
RIP Ian Colwell.
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VALE – IAN COLWELL
Recently we mourned the passing of Clayfield-Toombul RSL Sub Branch Life Member Ian Colwell on 21 March 2024 age 72.

A former Principal of Somerset Hills State School, Ian’s professional career translated into his military service – serving as a member of the Army Education Corp in Papua New Guinea. Ian also served as President of Clayfield-Toombul RSL Sub Branch from 1997-2006.
Lest we forget
Norm H.
(Sub-Branch Member.)
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Ian Colwell completed his 2-year service in TPNG as one of the last Nasho Chalkies serving at Murray and Igam Barracks in 1972-3. Ian stayed on in the Territory after Whitlam abolished conscription at the end of 1972.
What is most noteworthy for us, is that Ian Colwell, together with Ian Ogston (and several others) came together and collected information on Nasho service in TPNG, particularly the Chalkie group belonging to the RAAEC.
In 2003, the pair compiled a self-published book with the help of another 10 Chalkies who were found by taking advertisements in the Qld Teachers’ Journal. This meeting, later in the year, was held in the Kedron-Wavell RSL where a recording of attendees’ answers to a section of prepared questions became the basis of this book.
Ian Colwell helped organize the first Nasho-Chalkie Reunion in 2012 in Brisbane and he attended a subsequent reunion in 2013. Failing health kept Ian’s attendance at our gatherings small, until by Covid time, he was not seen in person at Chalkie gatherings again.
For myself, Ian was a walking encyclopedia on things concerning TPNG and Army matters. His recall of names was phenomenal. Our Chalkie group owe him a great deal of gratitude & respect.

Terry Edwinsmith
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I was fortunate to spend the majority of my time during my national service at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby. I consider myself “lucky” because I was posted overseas, among the few married personnel, and the pay was quite generous, especially considering the limited spending opportunities.

Alongside me at the barracks were several fellow nashos. After completing our 3 months of training at Puckapunual as recruits, we were immediately promoted to sergeant ranks by the army. Our role in Papua New Guinea (PNG) was to train local soldiers in various subjects. While I was initially sent as a teacher, I was promoted to acting warrant officer and assigned as the secretary to the Assistant Director of Army Education.

My responsibilities included managing barracks finances, handling correspondence, organizing timetables, and supervising all teaching staff at the barracks. One important duty was to ensure that all sergeants and corporals took their anti-malaria tablets, considering malaria was a prevalent health issue in the area.

One of the memorable parts of my week was lining up my colleagues to ensure they took their medication. I distinctly remember one sergeant named Ian Colwell, who struggled to swallow his pill, often leading to amusing yet light-hearted moments. I ended up providing a cup of water just for Ian so he could swallow in style. Despite the serious nature of the task, these incidents brought lots of mirth and camaraderie among the troops. We often joked about vomiting “gags” in the sergeants’ mess, turning such situations into hilarious shared memories during my 15 months in PNG.

They say a man who is about to vomit never pretends otherwise. I am sure that this submissive weekly tablet taking episode filled Ian with pure anxiety, but he was able to make light of his endearing foible and we were, in essence, all very sympathetic.

Siggy Nowak
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(Sgt) Ian Colwell. (dec)

I’m sorry to inform you that Ian was the victim of a fatal hit and run at Chermside (Brisbane) this morning. (21/03/24)
I need further information from Coronial Services before any arrangements can be made.
I would appreciate any help you can give me regarding RSL etc. involvement. (Ian’s sister.)

“The driver in a fatal alleged hit-and-run in Brisbane on Thursday went to work after allegedly setting the car alight, police have said.
A 72-year-old man was struck while crossing the road at Chermside early on Thursday morning and was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where he died. ”
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I met Ian at his workplace, Somerset Hills State School and discussed the project of contacting all Australian National Servicemen who served in TPNG as Education Instructors.
He showed enthusiasm and that was encouraging. He also was able to give me more names of former servicemen, and so the ball started rolling.
I wrote a letter to the Queensland Teachers’ Union Journal asking if other PNG Chalkies were out there and requesting them to contact me. The list of names grew rapidly, and I began to think of getting these contacts together to gather their stories from around PNG where they were posted. I further met with Ian Colwell and discussed the organization for a meeting with the contacted Chalkies. He was very supportive.
As Ian had long connections with the RSL, he suggested meeting at the Kedron Wavell RSL (Brisbane) for the purpose
of getting and understanding of the Chalkie Scheme as a whole.
This would form the basis of my next book, ‘Armi Wantoks’ which pulled together the wider picture of the scheme.
Ian continued to assist with advice when the time came to go to the next step which was the first National Chalkie Reunion in 2012.
Ian Ogston