1 AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975 Forest plantations, especially tropical pines, became John’s enduring professional interest. John introduced Pinus spp. into the Highlands. 1 Eastern Highlands Plantations. Species P. patula and P. strobus var chaiapensis. Photo credit Neville Howcroft. Pinus caribaea var hondurensis Bulolo. Photo credit Neville Howcroft L R. Bob Bruce and John Smith at plaque for Jim McAdam at McAdam Memorial Park Wau 1968. Photo credit John Davidson.NAME John Edward Nayler (“JEN”) Smith 1937 2011 Joined PNG Forests As a cadet forester in February 1956 Occupation Forester Work Localities 1961 62 Kerevat 1963-64 Wewak 1965 69 Bulolo 1970 71 Mt Hagen 1972-73 UNE Master of Natural Resources 1974 76 Bulolo Departure PNG 1976 LIFE AFTER PNG 1977 79 National Parks South Australia 1979-97 APPM Forest Products Tasmania TPNG cadetship Yes 1956. Graduated AFS 1961. Editor R B McCarthy 2022. 1 Smith JEN 1970 Silviculture of Pinus in PNG Silviculture Bulletin No 5 2 Dick McCarthy District Forester TPNG Forests 1963 1975. PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4S3 of 16th Aug 2022 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester John Smith TPNG Forests 1956-1976.
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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.
2 AUSTRALIAN TPNG FORESTRY CADETSHIP SCHEME3 1948 to 1963
Jaroslav Joseph Havel (WA) 1953 1953/54 1955
Edward Charles Gordon Gray (NG) Alexander John Hart (NG) Donald Henry McIntosh (NG) Kevin Joseph White (Q) Qld194619461948 1950/511950/511950/511950/51 1952195219521952
Leon Clifford (NSW) 1958 1961/62 1963
Ian Grundy (NG) Eric Hammermaster (Q/NG) Des Harries (NG) Gerry Vickers (NG) 1955195519551955 1958/591958/591958/591958/59 1960196019601960
Alan Cameron (NG) John Smith (NG) Brian O’Hagen (NG) 1956 1956 1956 1959/60 1959/60 1959/60 1961 1961 1961
John Godlee (NG) 1954 1957/58 1959
3 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).
Robin Bilbrough Morwood (NG) 1952 1955/56 1957
Surname Positions CadetshipTPNG AFS graduationYear
Cadet Forest Officer pamphlet courtesy Des Harries 2019
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.
Frank Harry Coppock (NG) Elliot Carby Tuckwell (NG) 19531953 1956/571956/57 19581958
Neil Brightwell (NSW) Alan White (NG) 19601960 1960/611960/61 19621962
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Ian Whyte (C)
Dave Num (C)
1964
1966196319661966 1967/681967/681967/681967/68 1969196919691969
1965
Chris Done (NG) no field year
Paul Ryan (NG) no field year
Evan Shield (NG) 1961/62
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R G Lyons (NG) no field year
Rod Holesgrove (NG) no field year
Ian Currie (NG) 1963/64
Gary Archer (NG) no field year
John Lake (NG) 1962/63
Chris Borough (NG) field year
year cadetsfor
John Davidson (NG) no field year
Rex Grattidge (NG) no field year field
196319621962 1965/661965/661965/66
Jim Belford (C)
Dick McCarthy (NG) no field year
Last
1961196119601961 1964/651964/651964/651964/65 1966196619661966
1958
Bob Bruce (NG) no field year
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. John Smith.
1965196519631966 1966/671966/671966/671966/67 1968196819681968
Ken Hart (NG) no field year
John Harrison (NG) Medi vac out
1963
196719671967
John started his PNG career in 1961. He met future wife, Marie, in Canberra in 1960 and, after long distance and on site wooing, they were married in December 1962. His boss in his first posting (Kerevat), John Godlee, and his wife Ros, remember having Marie stay with them over a three week holiday in 1961 during that process, with earnest entreaty from John to lay on the attractions PNG life with a trowel. They duly did and the rest is history. His PNG career saw John based in Kerevat (1961 62), Wewak (1963 64 his first posting with Marie); Bulolo (1965 69); Mt Hagen (1970 71); then he had a year working towards a University of New England Master of Natural Resources; then Bulolo again (1974 76). In 1964 John Smith commenced studies on Hoop Pine and Pinus. John introduced Pinus spp. into the InHighlands.1970hepublished 6Silviculture of Pinus in PNG Bulletin # 5 which described silvicultural techniques to grow Pinus species in PNG Forest plantations, especially tropical pines, became his enduring professional interest. Those were formative years for PNG’s plantation programs and John contributed significantly to plantation technology and traditions in PNG today.
After several primary schools John’s secondary schooling was at the Friends’ School in Lancaster (UK). He gained his “O” levels under the Northern Universities Joint Matriculation Board exams and “A” levels at the Leeds College of Technology.
John was successful in obtaining a TPNG forestry cadetship in 1965 to undertake forestry studies. After two years at Sydney University, a field year in PNG in 1958 spent in Bulolo, Kerevat and Moresby and two years at the Australian Forestry School (AFS) in Canberra, John graduated in 1960 with a B Sc (For) together with a Diploma of Forestry from AFS with Johndistinction.gained his master’s qualifying from Queensland in 1968. He undertook the first Masters of Natural Resources at the University of New England in 1974. His dissertation topic was Mineralisation of Soil Nitrogen in the New England National Park.
Ian Whyte 6 Smith JEN 1970 Silviculture of Pinus in PNG Silviculture Bulletin No 5 Division of Silviculture, Department of Forests, Port Moresby, Pp. 1 32.
5 IFAhttps://www.pngaa.net/Vale/vale_mar12.htm#SmithTheForesterDecember2011Volume54Number4by
John moved with his family to Australia in 1955. He then had to do his NSW leaving certificate exams in order to study at University.
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John Smith (TPNG Forests 1956-1976)
5John died on the 30th August 2011, aged 74. He was born in Lancashire, England.
In 1977 John and family moved to Tasmania where they lived in Launceston John worked for forestry company APPM Forest Products (later North Forest Products.) till his retirement in 1997. John was continuously involved with establishment of E nitens and E globulus plantations in Tasmania both on company freehold and under individual landowner farm forestry agreements. His Tasmania career continued the close involvement with plantation forestry, both companies owned and in the farm sector more widely.
John became a member of the Institute of Foresters (the peak professional forest scientist association) in 1965, Chairman of the Tasmanian Division in 1987 and was made a Fellow of the Institute of Foresters of Australia in 1999
In 1976, John and Marie returned to Australia with children Eleanor, Gail, and Ian, first to South Australia where he worked for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Here he was Regional Superintendent for National Parks in Adelaide.
John was involved in research into plantation silviculture and lecturing in management subjects as Senior Lecturer in Forest Management at the Bulolo Forestry College. He moved through various levels of management to the position of Regional Forester Highlands in Mt Hagen. As Regional Forester in Mt Hagen he was responsible for the development of plantations of E grandis and E robusta in the Waghi swamps for fuelwood production for the tea factories there.
Source UNESCO Kuk early agriculture site with E grandis in background for wood supply for tea factories.
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Pinus caribaea clonal orchard Bulolo Clones Australian and some local clones as well National Seed production area. Photo credit Neville Howcroft.
He was an active member of the Australian Forest Growers (the Farm Forestry Association in Australia) representing North Forest Products since 1977. The highlight of his career was as chair of the successful Faces of Farm Forestry Conference in Tasmania in 1994, Tasmania Chapter Chair from 1994 to 1996 and then National President of Australian Forest Growers in 1998 99.
In retirement, John discovered and developed a talent for water colour landscape painting and remained active in church affairs. Marie died suddenly in 1995 and John married Helen in 1999. He coped stoically with chronic health problems for some twenty six years before his death and it was a complication arising from these that finally took him. He is survived by Helen, children Eleanor, Gail and Ian, respective spouses and 9 grandchildren.
Involvement in Tasmanian forestry necessarily meant involvement in what became the great and ongoing Tasmanian Forestry Debate, and he played an active and ongoing role as an advocate for forestry in that context. John was chair of the wild animal management group of the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research which advised the State Government on priorities into wild animal management in both forestry and agricultural fields.
John was an active Lions Club member gaining the rank of Zone Chairman and President of the Lilydale Lions Club.
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Vale John, you are remembered with affection and respect as a thorough professional and a very decent man. Ian Whyte
7 ACRONYMSACT Australian Capital Territory ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research ACLMP AusAid funded World Bank Land Mobilisation program. AEC Administrators Executive Committee AFS Australian Forestry School AFPNG Association of Foresters of PNG AIF Australian Infantry Forces AMF Australian Military Forces ANBG Australian National Botanical Gardens ANGAU Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit ANU Australian National University APMF Australian Paper Manufacturers Forestry Pty Ltd APPM Australia Paper and Pulp Manufacturers ASIO Australian Security Intelligence Organisation ASOPA Australian School of Pacific Administration AusAID Australian Aid Agency BA basal area BCOF British Commonwealth Occupational Force 1945 52 “Beer Time” Any time. BFC Bulolo Forestry College BGD Bulolo Gold Dredging Company BUC Bulolo University College C Commonwealth cm Centimetre CALM Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management CFA Commonwealth Forestry Association CNGT Commonwealth New Guinea Timbers Bulolo CRE Commander Royal Engineers CRE CRE is a term inherited by RAE from RE and is the term for the Commanding Officer of a RAE unit which is headed by a Lt Col. Although the officer is called the CRE the name is also used for the name of his unit. E.g., CRE Aust Forestry Group or 1(NG Forests). CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CHAH Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria DASF Dept of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries DBH/ dbh Diameter at breast height DEPT Department DPI Department of Primary Industry DOF Department of Forests e.g. For example Etc et cetera (more of the same) FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation F &TB Forest and Timber Bureau Canberra FIM Forest Information System FPRC Forest Products Research Centre Hohola
8 FRG Forest Red Gum FRI Forest Research Institute Lae Forkol Bulolo Forestry College GAB Girth above buttress Gbhob Girth breast height over bark Gubab Girth under bark above buttress GIS Geographic Information Systems ha Hectare IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development IFA Institute of Foresters of Australia IFY International Year of the Forest ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization JICA Japanese International Cooperation Agency L of N League of Nations LRRS Land Resource Soils Survey (branch of CSIRO) m3 cubic metre MM Military Medal NAA National Archives Australia NARI National Agriculture Research Institute NB New Britain NFCAP PNG National Forestry and Conservation Action Plan no. Number NG New Guinea NGF New Guinea Forces (relates to plant collection of Lae Herbarium) NGIB New Guinea Infantry Battalion NGO Non Government Organisation NGVR New Guinea Volunteer Rifles NZ New Zealand NSW New South Wales NTSC National Tree Seed Centre PNG Bulolo OISCA Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement International Japan. P or p page PIB Papuan Infantry Battalion PIR Pacific Islands Regiment PNG Papua New Guinea PNGAA Papua New Guinea Australia Association PNGAF Papua New Guinea Australian Foresters Magazine Series PNGFA Papua New Guinea Forest Authority PNGFIA PNG Forest Industries Association PNGRIS Papua New Guinea Resource Information System PNGUT PNG University of Technology POM Port Moresby Q Queensland QF Queensland Forestry RAE Royal Australian Engineers/Australian Army RPC Royal Papuan Constabulary RRA Rapid Resource Appraisal SFM Sustainable Forest Management
9 SP South Pacific UK United Kingdom UN United Nations Unasylva Journal of FAO of UN UNE University of New England Armidale NSW UNEP United Nations Environment Program UNI University UNITECH University of Technology Lae PNG UNRE University of Natural Resources and Environment UPNG University of Papua New Guinea UQ University of Queensland US United States USA United States of America TPNG Territory of Papua and New Guinea TUBL Territory United Brewery Ltd TA Timber Area TA Timber Authority TRP Timber Rights Purchase Vol volume VSF Victorian School of Forestry WA Western Australia WB World Bank