ROBIN MORWOOD’S FATHER-IN-LAW FRANK VICKERY

Name

Frank Vickery Died 1982

JOINED DEPT OF FORESTRY PNG 1946-1969 (23 years)

WHAT WAS YOUR OCCUPATION

Frank Vickery Forest Ranger Bulolo

Forest Ranger Bulolo

Robin’s father-in-law was Frank Tiplin Vickery. Frank was born on 9 February 1912. He joined the Australian Army in Wau on 31 January 1942. His Army number was NG 2412. He was discharged on 11th April 1946. His rank was Warrant Officer Class 2. He served in the unit ANGAU.

Early in 1944, the Australian Army decided to form under the Engineers, a unit to record the many sawmilling operations and make surveys of the forest resources, using all the advantages of operational mapping, air photos and transport facilities then available. The C.R.E. Jim McAdam of N.G. Forests was given authority to recruit as many personnel experienced in forestry as possible. Two officers of the pre-war service Mr. Cavanaugh and Mr. Vickery were recruited. The Air Force, the Navy, Malaria units, Engineers, the Infantry and Artillery all contributed with the result that there was concentration of foresters representing every state in Australia.

Frank Vickery enlisted in 1942 in Wau TPNG. His rank was Warrant Officer Class 2. The unit had come together about mid-1944 and for the next three months at Lae were out through an intensive training in recognition of New Guinea species and handling New Guinea conditions. Senior Officers of the unit closely followed the establishment of each new base to report on immediate timber supplies for operational purposes. During this time, a plan was drawn up for the survey of the timber resources of as much of the territories as possible. This survey was launched about the end of 1944 and continued till the War ended, and the units were disbanded about October 1945. One of the functions of the C.R.E. NG Forests, written in the instructions at its formation was “the maintenance of forestry records suitable for handing over to a Civilian Forest service at the appropriate time”.

Consequently, when the unit was disbanded, Mr. Vickery, by then the forest ranger at Bulolo, was left in charge of the records. He handed the records to Mr Cavanaugh, who was then the Reserve Settlement Officer, when he returned to the Islands in his civilian capacity.

He was the father-in-law of Robin Morwood (who died in 1962 in Bulolo) Robin married Franks’ daughter Joan.

In PNGAF Mag # 9 of 15th March 2021 page 41, Dick McCarthy described the work of the unit and Frank Vickery’s role.

Visitors from Lae, Wau and Bulolo attended the dedication service of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles’ Honour Roll and 10th annual reunion dinner at Bulolo on Jan 19th, 1957.

The service was held at the Honour Roll which is in the school grounds and was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Abrams, Anglican Minister Wau/Bulolo and the Rev.Father Gregory of the Roman Catholic Church Lae.

Both spoke briefly but sincerely on the history of the unit, wreaths were then laid, and the Last Post sounded by a bugler of the Royal Papua – New Guinea Constabulary. After the service, dinner was held at Pine Lodge Hotel. Members attending were Messer’s Ted Spence, L E Ashton, Bill Lindsay, Bill grant, Alex Moore, Bert Lee, Fred Lesmond, Fred Hockey, Jim O’Brien, Bob Franklin, Les McClelland, Jack Sheringham, Les Lane, Jack Ingold, Ossie Bell, Eric Gibb, Bill Armstrong, Ted Latchford, Jim Cavanaugh, Neville Swanson, Tom Lega, Frank Vickery, Alex McLean, Gus Smart, Bob O’Neill and the Rev Mr Abrams and Father Gregory

The next reunion dinner will be on January 18th, 1958

At the time of his unfortunate death in November 1962, he had recently been promoted to becoming the Regional Forest Officer New Guinea Islands Region.

The Pacific Islands Monthly on 1 January 196332 (reported the death of Robin Morwood. Acting Principal Forest officer for the New Guinea mainland died at his home at Lae recently. He was 29. Mr Morwood, a Bachelor of Science joined the Administration in 1954 as a Cadet Forest Officer. He later attended the Australian Forestry School in Canberra where he obtained a Diploma in Forestry. In 1956, he was stationed at Wau, Bulolo, Port Moresby and finally Lae where he had been in charge of the Regional Forest Office for 14 months. Mr Morwood left a widow and a nine-month-old son Brian John.

33Commonwealth Forestry Association 1962 Newsletter reported the passing of Robin Morwood.

32 Pacific Islands Monthly of 1/11963 Vol XXX111 #6 p139 https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/258875967.

33 Commonwealth Forestry Association 1962 Newsletter

John Egerton34 attended Robin’s funeral in Lae.

Norm Morwood recalled that 35Robin died on 29 Nov 1962. He was Mt Isa on vacation practice at the end of 3rd year at Uni learning a bit about mining engineering. Roy (Robin’s dad) contacted him and let him know and requested that he repay some money he owed him as they were going to NG. No problem to do so when working with a decent wage underground. Not sure how the money transfer was done, telegraphic transfer? Norm can’t imagine how Roy and Ethyl managed to pay for what they did education wise for their 8 children.

Hazel Green nee Morwood 36 recalled that it is interesting and good that John Egerton was at the funeral. She knew our parents went to New Guinea after they heard of his death, to be with Joan and Brian, but it seems they were too late for the funeral? She was 16 at the time, so thinks it was in 1962

37Roslyn Godlee recalls that although she did not know the Morwoods, but sometime after Robin's death, Joan returned to Lae to arrange for a headstone to be placed on his grave. When Roslyn heard, she was coming to P.N.G. she invited her to come to Bulolo as their guest which also meant staying in the house, she and Robin had lived in. At the time of Robin's death their son Brian was 9 months old.

The Godlees were delighted she came. John had known her prior to her marriage as she was the daughter of Frank Vickery, a Forest Ranger working under Jim Cavanagh in Bulolo.

There was controversy over the headstone as Joan wanted the rock with a plaque arranged by the Forestry Department However, Robin's family wanted a formal headstone. As this all happened approximately 50 years ago Roslyn is not sure of the final decision.

Joan stayed for approximately a week, and they became good friends. Joan remarried to Tony Greensitt. They had two daughters Ruth and Lydia both of whom are now married with children. Joan visited the Godlees at their home in Wahroonga with the girls after Godlees had left P.N.G. in 1980.

Sadly, Joan’s husband died in 2000 from cancer.

38Dick Pegg (AFS 1956/1957 years) recalled memories of Robin Morwood reasonably well as he was a year ahead of him and originally from Queensland.

Several years later (probably about 1968), Dick met Robin’s wife Joan who was a parent accompanying primary school students on a field visit to the forest research station at Beerwah.

Son Brian Morwood

Brian Morwood centre with children Connor (left) and Eliza Morwood. Photo credit Brian Morwood.

Fittingly, Brian Morwood39 is now the Team Leader Customer Service Tingalpa Queensland for DINDAS Australia. From humble family beginnings more than 60 years ago, Dindas Australia has grown into a leading distributor in the Engineered Wood Products Industry.

Brian Morwood40 acknowledged the efforts of everyone for all the information on his Dad. His mother Joan has located more information on Robin and mentioned that her father Frank Vickery was involved in New Guinea forestry.

Norm Morwood41responded to Brian re the newspaper cuttings on Robin that brought a few tears. Very interesting. Does anyone know something about the Annual prize? Does it still exist? Any info on contacts that might provide info?

Dick McCarthy42 forwarded the draft PNGAF magazine to Brian on his father Robin. Fancy your mother Joan meeting Dick Pegg all those years later in Qld. Dick Pegg is still alive and was a year behind your dad at AFS.

Brian responded that his mother was very excited and talked about her time with Robin and how proud she was of him. His mother’s second married name was Greensitt. Brian reported that for his mother Joan, it brought back many memories for her She remembered every person mentioned in the article. Dick McCarthy responded that everyone was delighted that we could bring good memories back in what must have been a very sad time for your Mum.

Brian Morwood43 advised bush editor Dick McCarthy re draft PNGAF mag to go ahead as a very interesting read.

FIRST PRINCIPAL BULOLO FORESTRY COLLEGE JOE HAVEL 44 1961-1964.

SECOND PRINCIPAL BULOLO FORESTRY COLLEGE LEON CLIFFORD45 1965 TO 1970.

Forestry College Bulolo Group photo 1966. Staff and students. L to R Norma Collis; Olga Woolcott; Heiner Streimann; Arthur Ramsay; Leon Clifford; Evan Shield; Gerry Cullen; Vivienne Shield; Pat Cattanach. Photo Credit J Clifford

44 Source PNGAF MAG # 9B-5B4H7 Eminent TPNG forester Joe Havel 7 July 2022.

45 Source PNGAF MAG ISSUE # 9B-5B4C3 Eminent TPNG Forester Leon Clifford 17th Aug 2022.

THIRD PRINCIPAL BULOLO FORESTRY COLLEGE ROBIN ANGUS 1967-1976

FOURTH PRINCIPAL BULOLO FORESTRY COLLEGE JOHN GODLEE 19761980

Bulolo Forestry College Staff 1979.

Back Row Lto R. Eric Asari,Auberta Karo,Armstrong Bellamy, Osia Gideon,Alistar Hay, Bob Johns, Phil Franklin.

Front Row Lto R, Wayne Woofe, Klaus Romijn, John Godlee Principal, Siagi Kologo (incoming Principal), Ken Hart, Noel Peters.

Absent Barry Conn.