Australian TPNG Forestry Cadetship Scheme 1948 to 1963

AUSTRALIAN TPNG FORESTRY CADETSHIP SCHEME4 1948 to 1963

After the Second World War, a cadetship scheme was undertaken by the Australian Department of Territories to train Australian Forest Scientists to ensure sufficient professional staff for the purposes of creating a functional Forest Department for TPNG.

5

The cadetship scheme comprised two years at an Australian university undertaking an approved forestry science course, followed by a field year in TPNG to gain practical experience in all facets of forestry, followed by two years at the Australian Forestry School in Canberra. In later years, the field work requirements were changed to include all university vacations must be spent in PNG, thus reducing the training program by one year before graduation but still meeting the condition of 12 months field work.

Surname Positions TPNG Cadetship AFS Year graduation

Edward Charles Gordon Gray (NG) Alexander John Hart (NG) Donald Henry McIntosh (NG6) Kevin Joseph White (Q) Robin Levingston (NSW) Jaroslav Joseph Havel (WA)7 Robin Bilbrough Morwood (NG) Frank Harry Coppock (NG) Elliot Carby Tuckwell (NG) John Godlee (NG)8 Ian Grundy (NG) Eric Hammermaster (Q/NG)

Des Harries (NG)

Gerry Vickers (NG) Alan Cameron (Q)9 1948 1946 1946 Qld 1950/51 1950/51 1950/51 1950/51

1952 1952 1952 1952 1952/53 1954 1953 1953/54 1955 1952 1955/56 1957 1953 1953 1956/57 1956/57 1958 1958 1954 1957/58 1959 1955 1955

1955

1955 1958/59 1958/59

1958/59

1958/59 1960 1960

1960

1960 1956 1959/60 1961

4 The appointments of Australian TPNG Forestry Cadets were summarized in LT Carron’s book in 2000 titled “A brief history of the Australian Forestry School (AFS) 5 Cadet Forest Officer pamphlet courtesy Des Harries 2019 6 Don McIntosh Third Director of Forests PNG 7 Joe Havel First Principal Bulolo Forestry College 8 Fourth Principal Bulolo Forestry College 9 Alan Cameron Schlich 1960

John Smith (NG) Brian O’Hagen (NG) Neil Brightwell (NSW) Alan White (NG) Leon Clifford (NSW)10 Evan Shield (NG) John Lake (NG) Ian Currie (NG) John Harrison (NG) Medi vac out Chris Borough (NG) Field year Bob Bruce (NG) no field year Rex Grattidge (NG) no field year John Davidson (NG)11 no field year Paul Ryan (NG) no field year Rod Holesgrove (NG) no field year Jim Belford (C) Dick McCarthy (NG) no field year Dave Num (C) R G Lyons (NG) no field year Gary Archer (NG) no field year Chris Done (NG) no field year Ken Hart (NG) no field year Ian Whyte (C) Last field year for cadets 1956 1956 1960 1960 1958 1958

1961 1960 1961 1961 1962 1962 1963 1966 1963 1965 1965 1966 1966 1963 1966 1959/60 1959/60 1960/61 1960/61 1961/62 1961/62

1961 1961 1962 1962 1963 1963 1962/63 1964 1963/64 1965 1964/65 1964/65 1964/65 1964/65 1966 1966 1966 1966

1965/66 1965/66 1965/66 1967 1967 1967

1966/67 1966/67 1966/67 1966/67 1967/68 1967/68 1967/68 1967/68 1968 1968 1968 1968 1969 1969 1969 1969

Abbreviations.

TPNG - Territory of Papua New Guinea, NG- New Guinea, Q – Queensland, WA – Western Australia, NSW- New South Wales, C- Commonwealth, AFS - Australian Forestry School, BFC - Bulolo Forestry College.

Notes

John Harrison12 completed his forestry degree in 1965 but during his field year in 1963 he was bitten by a Papuan black snake near Brown River. He joined the Division of Wood Technology NSW Forestry Commission.

Brian O’Hagen13 had to leave TPNG due to a health issue related to malaria. He became a soil science lecturer at the Gatton Agricultural College. Note in Les Carron’s AFS list his surname spelt incorrectly i.e., 2THagen instead of O’Hagen.

Alec Hart14 returned after five years in TPNG, (the last few years being at Kerevat), to his home state of Western Australia in 1957. Robin Livingston was the long serving Regional Forest Officer for Papua until approximately. 1968/69. He then took up a position with FAO based in Rome.

10 Leon Clifford Second Principal Bulolo Forestry College 11 John Davidson Schlich Medal 1966; First Forestry Professor UNITECH. 12 Per Com Chris Borough 21/10/18. 13 Per Com Des Harries per com19/9/18. 14 Per com Joe Havel/Roger Underwood.

John Lake15 returned to Tasmania for family reasons. He worked with Kauri Timber Company and then went to Private Forestry Tasmania.

Ian Currie16 after serving one term in PNG returned to Australia joining ACT Forests.

Chris Borough17 was the last to do a field year. Rob Bruce and Rex Grattidge were a year behind Chris at Sydney Uni. but caught up at Forestry School because they didn't do a field year.

15 Per com Evan Shield per comm 11/9/18. 16 Per com Gary archer 21/6/19. 17 Per com Chris Borough 2/8/21.