Evan Shield TPNG Forests 1958-1971

Eric’s stories during PNG Times

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Eric’s Wedding Present20 DRAM BILONG PIPIA.

Prior to Eric getting married in 1965, he advised his esteemed drinking colleagues gun wool presser Ken Granger and cadet forester Dick McCarthy that he required a new rubbish bin before getting married.

Each week along Boroko Drive lovely rubbish bins were positioned on pedestals ready for collection. Easy, just drive up, collect a bin early in the morning and drop at Eric’s house.

The expedition heads off in Eric’s VW. Back seat driver Dick McCarthy and Navigator Ken Granger21 recall being engaged in an attempted garbage tin theft with Hammer in 1964 just before he went South to get married. The bin targeted was a bin up on a stand outside the donga that Kev White shared with Chris Brown. The expedition drove up close in Eric’s VW Beetle and Ken Granger grabbed hold of the bin handle as Hammer accelerated away. Almost tore his arm off as the bloody thing was full. As the VW took off, Boroko Drive became strewn with rubbish. Finally, an empty bin was discovered which Ken held onto until the expedition returned to Eric’s donga with its booty.

Friday Afternoon Drinks22 . KONE CLUB.

Kev White and Keith Cullen (back to camera) “in conference” at the Kone Club, 1968.

Photo Credit Ken Granger.

Ken Granger first met Eric at Keravat in 1964 when he and John Lowien were on their way to Bougainville to do a recce for the Empress Augusta Bay survey. Eric led the Empress Augusta Bay survey in 1964, the first helicopter supported survey that Ken was on. Eric had to cope with an unreliable chopper, the interference of the Catholic Church stirring up the locals in the Siwai. Eric was a good manager and leader.

19 Cartoon from Bob Brown’s Grass Roots Guide to PNG Pidgin South Pacific Post. 20 Personal communication Dick McCarthy 31 July 2021 TPNG Forests 1963-1975. 21 Personal communication Ken Granger 29th July 2021.TPNG Forests 1963-1971. 22 Personal communication Ken Granger 29th July 2021. TPNG Forests 1963-1971. 12

Ken was transferred across to Moresby after that survey. Ken got to spend quite a bit of time with Hammer both in the office and the Kone Club. We had established a Friday afternoon tradition of beers at the club. Hammer went South late in 1964 to get married in 1965. His best man was Mike Kazakoff23 . On his return with his new bride Mary, he insisted on continuing with the Friday afternoon beers on the first night after they had returned from their honeymoon. Ken was dragged along to their place that afternoon so that Hammer could register that some things did not change. At their 50th wedding anniversary Ken presented Mary with a tin of Pecks Devilled Ham Paste and a bottle of gherkin spread – this was the meal that she fed them (on toast) on her first night in Moresby.

Mary’s First Survey24

Hammer next led the Fulleborn – Awul survey in New Britain and Mary accompanied him. At Fulleborn they stayed with the plantation manager Brad Wilson and at Awul Mary stayed with the nuns at the mission. She was one of the first victims of sea sickness on our run across Wide Bay in a very bad storm.

Eric Hammermaster buying kai Fulleborn-Awul Survey 1964.

Photo credit Ken Granger.

Mary Hammermaster cutting Dave Sawyer’s hair. FullebornAwul Survey 1964.

Photo credit Ken Granger.

Child Minding25

After Ken was married to Judy, they socialised with the Hammers quite a bit. When Ken was away on survey, they would make sure that Judy was OK and when Hammer was away Grangers would do the same for Mary. Having babies around the same time contributed to a strong bonding.

Other Work Activities.

The only other survey Ken was on that was led by Hammer was the Ioma survey in 1967, though Ken did provide logistic support to the Wanigela survey in 1965 that Eric led. That was the one where the camera crew filmed the survey for the promotional film Tree Business.

23 Mike Kazakoff Senior Forest Ranger TPNG Forests 1950’s to 1973. 24 Personal communication Ken Granger 29th July 2021. TPNG Forests 1963-1971. 25 Personal communication Ken Granger 29th July 2021. TPNG Forests 1963-1971. 13