FORESTERS AS PLES QUEENSLAND

Jim McAdam33 MM. TPNG Forests 1938 - 1959

“JB” James Bannister McAdam MM TPNG 1938-1959. Photo credit Dept of Forests PNG.

Jim was a graduate of University of Queensland and AFS (dux 1932/33 awarded Schlick Medal). In 1934, he joined Queensland Forestry. In 1938 he joined the TPNG administration, Chief Forester in 1939, 1946 Director of Forests TPNG. He died in 1959

McAdam enlisted in 1940 at Wau with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles. After the Japanese invaded Salamaua in March, he led a party of scouts which established an observation post within a mile of enemy positions. The intelligence the team gathered was crucial to the success of the Australian raid on the town in June. McAdam acted as a guide in the foray. He was awarded the Military Medal for his outstanding service at Salamaua. From 1944/45 he was Lt Col 1 Aust CRE (New Guinea Forests).

Jim McAdam’s MM influence on the practice of PNG forestry, was such that the proper scientific and utilization activities were undertaken and at the same time his protection of the traditional rights of the forest owners led to the establishment of what is today the Department of Forests of PNG, PNG’s Forest industry and its allied tertiary forestry training institutions. He took PNG forestry from a regime of tracing the early explorers of the forest resource, a small mission-based sawmilling industry supplying local needs and the export of valuable cabinet species such as walnut to what it is today.

Throughout all those turbulent times, McAdam’s leadership and foresight was demonstrated through:

• His use of the results of Army Forest Resource Survey Group to define forest types of PNG and make a reasonable estimate of large resources for future development.

• To McAdam’s credit, he insisted that all timbers harvested be recorded for eventual recompense to be made to the native owners for use of their trees. This became part of official Australian orders. Bennett34 described the compensation program undertaken by McAdam and his officers between 1947 and 1960, paying customary owners for the timbers harvested during the war.

33 PNGAF Mag Issuu #9B-5B4M3 of 12th Aug 2022 Eminent TPNG Forester Jim McAdam 1938 - 1959. First Director Dept of Forests.

34 Bennett J A Allied logging and milling in Papua New Guinea during World War 2. Fifth National Conference on Australian Forest History edited by John Dargavel, Denise Gaughwin and Brenda Libbis in 2002 ISBN 0867405309 .

Jim and Pat Cavanaugh’s retirement from Dept of Forests in 1972. Director Don McIntosh is standing behind Pat. Photo Credit Linda Cavanaugh Manning.

Jim Cavanaugh visited New Guinea in 1938 and joined the New Guinea Public Service in 1940. In 1941, he enlisted and served - first with the New Guinea Volunteer Riflemen (NGVR) and later with the 2nd Australian Forest Survey Company. He also conducted intelligence work with the Central Bureau He spent almost all the war years outside Australia often behind Japanese lines. He was a commissioned officer and was demobilized in December 1945. In January 1946, he returned to Papua New Guinea as a forester and was put in charge of the Northern Region He was based in Kerevat near Rabaul, and he set himself the task of getting the sawmill at Kerevat working to produce timber to rebuild the town of Rabaul after the ravages of the war. When he needed engines and gearboxes, Jim converted abandoned Japanese motors and gearboxes to power the mill He initially ran a team of Chinese labourers that had been abandoned in Rabaul by the Japanese army and later a team of Papuan New Guineans. Pat, his wife, did the books.

Jim Cavanaugh (forester), Geoff Archer (gold miner) & Jim McAdam (forester) of the NGVR taken by war photographer Damien Parer near Mubo in March 1942 before the famous Salamaua raid.

George Henry Barrcroft 1941-945

George Henry Barrcroft was born in Brisbane. He enlisted on 9 April 1941. He was a sapper in 2/3 Forestry Coy. He was discharged on 27th October 1945. After World War 2, he worked at the sawmill at Yalu via Lae.

Les Carron 1943-1945

Picture source. ANU/AFS Open Research. Les Carron (1920-2004) Queensland Forestry cadetship in 1938. At the advent of WW 2, he enlisted in the Army’s First Australian Survey Corps mapping vegetation in Queensland. In 1944 he joined a Forest Engineering Group in New Guinea undertaking aerial photo interpretation working with Dr Max Jacobs. After the war he completed forestry studies including 1946/47 at AFS. Back to Queensland in 1948 working in research and then as a sub-district forester at Beerwah. (When he was first married, they had three wooden cases, one large and two small The large one served as a table and the others as seats.) In 1949 he joined AFS where his early teaching was in mensuration and photogrammetry with contributions to surveying and statistical methods

George Carter 1944- 1945

George Carter was a Forest Overseer/ Ranger in Qld Forestry. During WW2, he served as a WO2 with the Australian Forestry survey group PNG and then returned to Qld Forestry.

Bob Cattanach 1940-1972

Robert Gordon Cattanach served in the 9th Division in the Middle East and PNG during World War 2. He enlisted on 14 June 1940 and was discharged on 4 March 1944. In PNG he was in the 2/25 Inf Battalion and discharged while his unit was still in the Finschhafen area, which implies he must have been wounded in the Lae/Finschhafen fighting. His first posting to the PNG administration was as a tractor operator at the Kerevat Government sawmill in the late 1940’s. In 1955 he was posted to Bulolo as a Senior Technical Officer where he was responsible for all the road construction and maintenance work in the extensive reforestation areas of Bulolo and Wau. He retired in 1972 to Queensland Died 1996.

Ernie Clifton 1941-1975

Ernie Clifton enlisted at Bexley in 1941. He served with 2/25 Field park Company. After the war, HQ Clerk Forests.

Anthony Lawrence Edwards – (Laurie) 1943-1970’s

Anthony Lawrence Edwards was born in Newcastle, NSW. He enlisted on 3 July 1943 at Darley and served as a sapper with HQ2 Aust Corps. After WW2, he was 2IC in TPNG Forests mapping section as a draftsman including time at BFC Bulolo teaching.

Ted Collis 1940-1975

L to R Dick McCarthy, Ted Collis and Kevin White Mid 1970’s Bulolo Plantations Photo credit John Davidson.

Ted Collis during World War 2, served as a corporal in the 2/1 Australian Forestry Company. In 1946, Jim McAdam approached Ted Collis to go back to New Guinea to help rebuild Lae. Ted said “no way not going back to that place” but was persuaded when he knew other army mates were going. He ended up in Yalu 20 miles out of Lae at a sawmill. The only army mates that Norma Collis recalls was George Barrcroft; Darby Munroe plus others that were living there – Alan and Ken Fraser; John Thompson; Eric Dobson; Col Pittaway and Bill Jenkins. Yalu had no houses, and these were built from scratch with the timber from the local area. 5-6 houses were built and a singles quarter. When the mill closed in Yalu in 1955, everyone moved to Lae to a new mill. In 1960, this mill closed because of competition with private business and then the sawmill became the Lae markets Ted had to choose transferring to Port Moresby or Bulolo to work for the Department of Forests. Bulolo was his choice as he was put in charge of the nursery at Bulolo He was responsible for a million and quarter klinkii and hoop pine trees to be planted out in the plantation every year. These trees were logged by the Bulolo Gold Dredging Company (BGDC). Ted in 1975 retired to Bribie Island.

1964 Photo Forestry College staff housed in temporary quarters near Bulolo Forestry Station Office. Front row L to R Hi, Norma Collis, Arthur "Blue" Ramsay, Joe Havel, Bill Finlayson and Heinar Streimann. Photo credit Norma/Cheryl Collis.

Don Fryer 1940-

1960’s

Don enlisted at Rose Park. He served with 2 Provost Company. He was a forest ranger with TPNG Forests at Kerevat. He was killed in a road accident at Kerevat. after the war. Fryer Logging Area was named after him.

Alan Gardner 1940-1945

Alan Gardner AFS1946-1947 was the first fire protection officer for Queensland forestry then District Forester Yarraman and Atherton. During WW2 he served as an RAAF navigator in Beaufort Bombers in PNG. He then returned to Qld Forestry.

Bert Gloynes 1941-1970’s

Bert Gloynes Forest Ranger Bulolo - Albert Edward (Bert) Gloynes was born in England in 1914. He enlisted at Toowoomba in 1941. He saw service on the Kokoda track with 2/5 Australian Independent Company.Hewas dischargedin 1945.AfterWorld War2, Kerevat Sawmill break down saw operator then transferred to Bulolo as forest ranger in charge of the large labour line for the Bulolo plantation program.

Bert Hanson 1940 -1970’s

Bert Hanson AFS1946-1947 was with Queensland Forestry and the FTB. During WW2 he served as a radar mechanic on HMAS Gascoyne in the south-west Pacific. He then returned to Qld Forestry before moving to the Commonwealth Forestry and Timber Bureau and appointed as Director General in 1975.

Frank Holland37 1940 to 1960’s

In 1942, J K McCarthy and Frank Holland (a timber getter) rescue some 200 Australian soldiers after the fall of Rabaul. Frank Holland then served with Z Force in East Timor and Borneo. After the war he returned to Rabaul, timber harvesting and road construction.

Michael Jackson.1941-1960’s

Mike was an early Forest Ranger with Jim McAdam. He was born in Cottesloe WA. He enlisted on 3 February 1941 in Brisbane. He was in the Royal Australian Air Force with rank of Flying Officer with 455 Squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was discharged 18th February 1946. Later he rises to a senior position in the PNG Trade and Industry Department. He died 30 Jan 74 when his widow was living in Brisbane.

John Lowien 1941-1970’s Gogol Survey 1963. Photo Credit Mary Jenkin.

John Lowien Technical Officer Highlands Region was born in Pittsworth Queensland, enlisted at Paddington with 15 Infantry Battalion. He was discharged on 27 Nov 1946 which means he moved to the occupation force at Rabaul after the Japanese surrender. He then joined TPNG Forests, based in Goroka Highlands Region.

Jim Nugent 1941 to 1960’s

Jim enlisted with Army in North Sydney. He served as a private with 17 Infantry Battalion. In Oct 1942 he transferred to the RAAF as a leading aircraftman with 348 Radar Station POM. After the war Forests HQ clerk.

Adam Mulholland 1942-1945

Adam Mulholland38 (QX42383 (Q141167)) was a surveyor who was a farmer living at Gympie when he enlisted in 1 Bomb Disposal Coy in 1942, then RAE 5 Div in Feb 1943 and transferred to RAE Forestry in Mar 1944. He was one of the first officers (Captain) with 2 For Svy Coy PNG. Evacuated with malaria in October 1944 and discharged in January 1945. Presumably, a relative of Bill Mulholland, long time Senior Ranger at Yarraman who started in Forestry at Amamoor https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gympie/rich-history-of-widgeecrossing/news-story/1d3a5e4bd0711ead61add4b5030b52a4

Douglas Munro (Darby Munro) 1940-1960’s

Officers outside mess of 2/3

Forestry Coy. Lae NG

21/12/1944. #1 Capt. G

Brown; # 2 Lt E J Bates; #3

Lt D H Munro; # 4Capt J

Saxton; # 5Lt K L Ross; # 6

Lt C L Cameron; # 7 Major HR Parke Officer

Commanding. Photo credit Aust War Memorial. Darby enlisted at Kelvin Grove

Queensland. After WW 2, he worked at the sawmill at Yalu via Lae before moving to the Regional Office Lae.

Jack Ralston 1944-1945

Jack Ralston- AFS1946-1947 was a branch manager in Queensland Forestry. During WW2, he served as a WO2 with Australian Forestry survey group PNG and then returned to Qld Forestry.

Alex Richardson 1943 to 1960’s Compson Alexander Richardson (AFS 1941/42) enlisted on 5 Jan 1943 in Melbourne with RAN as a petty officer Mech (wireless) with HMAS Leeuwin. He was Regional Forester Rabaul in 1957. Alex Richardson was an ex-Queensland Forester who became Regional Forester Rabaul in 1950’s and then went back to Queensland Forestry.

Dick Reilly 1941s to 1960’s Dick Reilly enlisted at Matraville. He serves with 3 Forestry company in UK and NG. After the war, OIC logging crew for Kerevat Sawmill.

Reay Weidenhofer 1940-1960’s

Reay Thiselton Weidenhofer (Ray) enlisted at Wau TPNG on 19 November 1940. He was a Warrant Officer Class 2 with ANGAU. He was discharged on 3 May 1946 then Forestry Clerk for Accounts and later Executive Officer Forests Headquarters.

Tony Robinson 1944-1945

Tony Robinson – AFS 1946-1947 was a divisional director in Qld Forestry. In WW2, he served with the Australian Forestry survey group in PNG and then returned to Qld Forestry.

AFS Cricket team Baradine

1946.

Standing L- R

Phil Barrett (lecturer)

Jack Henry

Graham Lugton

Bill Bryan

Tony Robinson

Dick McArthur

Seated L- R

David Lejeune

Tom Brabin

Jim Alexander

Alan Hatch

Source ANU/AFS Archives.

Lindsay Stuart Smith39 1940-1945

Photo source CHAH.

Lindsay Stuart Smith served as a Lieutenant in 1 Aust CRE New Guinea Forests. He is best remembered for his work on rainforest trees resulting from his early association with C T White and W D Francis and work on New Guinea plants during his army service. Some of his collections became the nucleus of the Lae Herbarium. He returned to the Queensland public service after the war.

Bill Suttie 1941–197040

Bill Suttie 1957 Bulolo Plantations. Photo credit L Cavanaugh.

Bill Suttie, (AFS 1931/32), Queensland Forestry, 3 Forestry Company in UK, OIC 1 Australian Forest Survey Coy in New Guinea After the war, Queensland Forestry District Forester Atherton resigned in 1956 to join the Department of Forests TPNG. Here, he rose to be the second Director of Forests in PNG. After retiring from TPNG he lived at Caloundra until his death in 1982.

Frank Vickery41 1942-1960’s

Frank Vickery enlisted in 1942 in Wau TPNG, rank WO2 with ANGAU. Two officers of the pre-war forestry service Jim Cavanaugh and Frank Vickery were recruited by Jim McAdam in 1944, for the CRE NG Forests 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. One of the functions of the CRE NG Forests 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. Frank was the father-inlaw of Robin Morwood who married Franks’ daughter Joan.

39 L S Smith page 32 PNGAF Mag Issue # 3 of 30th Oct 2020.

40 Bill Suttie page 81 PNGAF Mag Issue #3 of 30th Oct 2020.

41 F Vickery page 83 PNGAF Mag Issue #3 of 30th Oct 2020.

Cyril Tenison White42 1943-1945

Photo source Wikipedia.

Cyril Tenison White (1890-1950) was Queensland’s Government Botanist 1917 to 1950. He instructed forestry companies of the Australian Army in New Guinea in 1944

Ed Volck 1944-1945

Ed Volck – AFS 1946-47, was a branch manager with Queensland Forestry. During WW2 he served as a WO2 with the Australian Forestry survey group in PNG and then returned to Qld Forestry.

The tree species Neorites kevediana (Fishtail silky oak) (Proteaceae) was named by Queensland Government botanist Dr Lindsay Smith in 1969, based on a specimen collected near Kuranda in 1955 by Queensland forestry officers Kevin J. White and H. Edgar Volck. Smith coined the species name from the first names of the finders.

Nangwarry 1946 AFS

First Camp 1946-47. L-R

Brain Healy

Dick McArthur

Jim Alexander

Les Carron

Jack Henry

Ed Volck (obscured)

Graham Lugton

Bert Hansen

Alan Gardiner

Source ANU/Afs archives.

Kevin White 1942-1945 and 1957-1977

Photo credit John Davidson Kevin White43 (AFS 1950/51) succeeded Dave Dun as Chief of Silviculture from 1958 to 1977. Kevin played a pivotal role in the planning and supervision of silvicultural research in PNG. Kevin enlisted in the AIF in 1942 with 39 Light Wireless Air Warning Section, then attached to the 2nd Australian Corps Signals at the transmitter centre on the Sattelburg trail above Finschhafen, and later at Torokina on Bougainville. Discharged 1946, he re-joined the Queensland Public Service and retrained under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme and became a Cadet Forest Officer of the Queensland Department of Forestry graduating with Dip. For. in 1951 (AFS) and B.Sc. (For.) in 1952 (Qld Uni). The next five years were spent on rainforest management research in North Queensland partly at the Forest Research Station at Atherton. Kevin transferred to the Forest Department of the Territory of Papua & New Guinea in 1957 as Assistant Botanist and Plant Ecologist at the Botany Division of the Department in Lae rising to Assistant Director Dept of Forests PNG.

Keith Cullen44 1940–1971.

Keith Cullen (back to camera) with Kevin White Kone Club 1970. Photo credit Ken Granger.

Keith at work. Photo credit Alan Cullen.

Keith, enlisted in 1940 with the 5th Australian Field Survey Coy serving from Brisbane to the Cape, Thursday Island, Merauke, Morotai, Balikpapan, Makassar, and the Borneo Theatre. After the war in 1946, Keith Cullen was recruited from Queensland Forestry by Jim McAdam to work in Lae on aerial photography, then Konedobu as Chief Draftsman. He retired in 1971 for Queensland.

John Thompson 1940’s to 1960’s John Thompson served with occupational forces in Japan after the war. He was then in Bulolo as a forest ranger working with Leon Clifford on forest research and then field manager for the Bulolo Forestry College. 1970 Bulolo Forestry College. Photo Credit Garry Flegg.

Eric Dobson 1940’s to 1960’s Eric Dobson enlisted at Wollongong. He was a signalman with ANGAU. After the war, He worked at the TPNG sawmill at Yalu.

43 PNGAF MAG # 3 of 3 Nov 2020 page 85, PNGAF MAG # 4 of 21/11/2020 p35-37, PNGAF MAG # 6 OF 8th Jan 2021 p 45-47. PNGAF Mag Issue# 9B-5B4W3 of 13th Aug 2022 Eminent TPNG Forester Kevin White.

44 Keith Cullen page 73 PNGAF Mag Issue # 8 of 1st Feb 2021 PNG Forest Mapping

1946 TPNG Dept of Forests Sawmill crew Yalu after World War 2. Although unclear personnel included Ted Collis, Alan and Ken Fraser, Col Pittaway, John Thompson, Eric Dobson, Bill Jenkin, George Barrcroft, Darby Munro.

Photo credit Cheryl/Norma Collis.

Alan Fraser 1940’s to 1960’s

Alan Munro Fraser enlisted on 25 May 1940 at Maryborough and was discharged on 27 July 1945. He was a private and prisoner of war in Germany. In NG, he was in the 2/15 Infantry Battalion. After WW2 he was at Yalu sawmill, then technical officer and OIC at Kerevat plantations and then Technical Officer Bulolo plantations.

Ken Fraser 1940’s to 1960’s

Kenneth Roderick Fraser service number 422357 enlisted on 23 May 1942 in Adelaide and discharged on 5 October 1945. He was a corporal with RAAF at Air Defence HQ Port Moresby. After WW2, he was at Yalu sawmill and then as a forest ranger.

Col Pittaway 1940’s to 1960’s

Col Pittaway was an NSW 9 Battalion VDC man discharged in December 1943 when only 18. After World War 2, he worked at the sawmill at Yalu via Lae.

Ted Gray45 1948-1969

Ted Gray (AFS 1950/51), an inaugural member of the 1948 TPNG Forest cadetship class with Alex Hart, Dr M Jacobs and Don McIntosh Source ANU/AFS Archives.

Ted’s activities included Forest officer, Regional Forester Papua, Acting Chief of Division Utilisation. In 1969 left to undertake a PhD at Berkeley California then joined the World Bank Ted’s description of work activities re forest inspections prior to the advent of helicopters vividly outlines the hazards of exploring the forests of TPNG.

Ted Gray, Don McIntosh, Frank White, Papua New Guinea 1951.

Source ANU/AFS Archives.

Rex Wiggins (1958- 1975)

Rex joined Forests in 1958 as an Accounts Clerk, progressing to Regional Clerk, Accountant, Executive Officer. His postings included Port Moresby, Bulolo/Wau, Lae Regional/Sawmill/Botanic Gardens, Rabaul Regional/Keravat to Port Moresby. In 1971/72 he moved to the Finance Department and departed PNG in 1976

Ted Roach 1960’s

Ted was sawmill manager at Kerevat Sawmill till its closure around 1960 and then a major role in harvesting and marketing from Rabaul regional office.

Ken Skyring 1960’s

Ken worked on Kerevat Logging operation under Dick Reilly and then transferred to Lae Regional office.

Les Austin 1960’s

Ken oversaw the Kerevat sawmill mechanical servicing workshop and then transferred to Port Moresby Forest Products Research Centre He retired to Queensland.

Ken Weir (l) and Les Austin (r) 1963. Photo credit Ken Granger.

Arthur Mobbs 1960’s

Arthur was the Kerevat sawmill saw doctor and then transferred to Port Moresby FPRC.

Robin Morwood46 1952-1962

Robin Morwood -TPNG forestry cadet (AFS 1955/56) who died in service in 1962 (age 29) in Lae. He was survived by his wife Joan (daughter of frank Vickery) and nine-month-old son Brian. A Trust Fund was established by the Morwood family in memory of their son Robin to provide a prize for the student showing the highest academic achievement in the BFC diploma course. Joan and Robin Morwood’s Wedding Wau 1960. Photo credit Norman Morwood.

Dave Dun47 1955-1961

Dave (AFS 1944/45) was first based at Bulolo in 1955 and then in Port Moresby as the Chief of Division of Silviculture from 1956-1958 to Deputy Director in 1961. He participated in forest plantation research. In 1957 Dave prepared a paper titled “Plantation research, Bulolo” for the pre-conference tour 7th British Empire Forestry Conference In 1961, he departed for FAO. 1957. L-R Jim McAdam, Dave Dun, Bill Suttie Bulolo. Photo credit Linda Cavanaugh.

Ian Grundy48 1954 -1966

Ian (AFS 1958/59) at their son Neale’s 2004 Wedding. Photo credit Pauline Grundy and family.

Postings included Brown River plantations to the utilization division. Returned to Australia 1966 APM Forests 1996, Savoy Corporation, APM Forests Petrie 1974, Indonesia.

Des Harries49 1955-1976

L to R Paul Ryan, Des Harries, June Harries Maleny Qld. Photo credit Des Harries. Des Harries (AFS 1958/59) joined TPNG forests in 1955. AFS His postings included Wau plantations50 , Kerevat plantations, Rabaul Regional Office, and Port Moresby Wood Products Research Centre. After PNG, Canberra with the Forestry and Timber Bureau and finally with the Bureau of Rural Resources. Retired to Maleny in 1992.

Ted Henty 1957-1984 Edward Ellis (Ted) Henty (1915-2020) joined the Dept of Forests Lae Herbarium51 in 1957. He worked throughout PNG. He left PNG in 1984 He specialized in grasses and weeds In November 1986, he moved to a property in North Queensland then Melbourne, when his health deteriorated.

47 PNGAF Mag Issue # 9B-5B4D2 of 13th Aug 2022. Eminent TPNG Forester Dave Dun 1955 - 1961.

48 PNGAF Mag Issue # 9B-5B4G4 of 2nd June 2022 Eminent TPNG Forester Ian Grundy. 1955-1966

49 PNGAF Mag Issue # 9B-5B4H3 of 24th June 2022. Eminent TPNG Forester Des Harries.

50 PNGAF Mag Issue # 9D4H of 22 Feb 2022 FORESTRY IN WAU by Des Harries

51 PNGAF Mag Issue # 6 of 8th Jan 2021 – Lae Botany p 86 Ted Henty.

.

Eric Hammermaster52 1957-1979

Gogol Survey. Photo credit Mary Jenkin. Eric Hammermaster (1958/59) a member of the 1955 TPNG Forest cadetship class with Ian Grundy, Des Harries and Gerry Vickers. Eric’s principal duties initially in the 1960s was the setting up and organizing the initial Bulolo/Wau Forest Working Plan. Then Eric was made the key co-ordinator of helicopter application to forest assessment in PNG. Over 3.6 million hectares using helicopter techniques were assessed in the six years 1964 to 1969 53

Then Regional Forest Officer Papua, Regional Forest Officer New Guinea Islands. On retirement, worked for FAO in Bangladesh, World Bank in Liberia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands Vanuatu, and PNG.

Alan Cameron54 1956-1970

AFS 1960 mensuration exercise with Alan Cameron (AFS 1959/60) & Les Carron.

Source. ANU-AFS Archives.

Alan initiated the forest tree genetic improvement program in PNG in the early 1960’s and was involved in selection of species/varieties/clones for cultivation in the forestry and horticultural sectors55 . Later, Alan conducted studies in the Bulolo plantations on hoop pine and klinki pine and supervised silvicultural research.

Kevin White and Alan compiled the PNG silviculture bible. 56

Alan Cameron & Ken Granger Brown River burn, 1967. Photo Credit Ken Granger.

52 PNGAF mag issue # 9B-5B4H1 of 31st July 2021 Eminent TPNG Forester Eric Hammermaster 1957-1979.

53 McIntosh DH and Hammermaster ET 1968 Forest Resource Assessment using Helicopter Transport 9th Commonwealth Forestry Conference 1968.

54 PNGAF Mag Issue # 9B-5B4C2 of 16th Aug 2022. Eminent TPNG Forester Alan Cameron 1956-1970

55 Genetic improvement of teak in New Guinea. Australian Forester, 30: 76-87 (1966), and “Forest tree improvement in New Guinea. 1 Teak.” Paper prepared for 9th Commonwealth Forestry Conference, New Delhi 1968).

56 Silvicultural techniques in Papua New Guinea forest plantations, Bulletin No. 1, Division of Silviculture, Department of Forests, Port Moresby, 2nd Printing, Pp. 1-99 (1966).

Alan left the Territory in early 1970 and was involved in the early development of the woodchip industry in Australia and development and management of several forest harvesting and processing operations in Australia, PNG, and Indonesia. He has been a consultant to FAO, UNIDO, UNHCR, IFAD, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, AusAid, in the fields of forestry, forest industry, agro-forestry, plus several private companies in forest industry, forest product marketing and horticultural project design and property assessment, plus some training of government and private company staff in developing countries.

Alan Ross57 1950’s to 2002

Alan Ross and Kanawi Pouru MD NFS Brisbane, July 2013 having tea at his favourite Japanese Restaurant after signing the Scholarship Trust Deeds. Photo credit Kanawi Pouru.

Alan was a forester working throughout PNG to becoming the National Forest Board Secretary. On the eve of Alan’s departure in 2002, he announced and pledged to establish a Forestry Education Trust Fund. The Fund would assist with some of the living expenses of PNG Foresters selected to undergo postgraduate studies in Australian Universities. It will come into operation after the passing of both Alan and Helen.

Cliff Southwell 1957-1972

Cliff was a senior technical officer with TPNG Forests at Bulolo, Kerevat, Brown River, Wewak, Papuan Region, then private enterprise Madang. He returned to Queensland in 1976 undertaking forest industry activities.

Cliff Southwell Kerevat Planation Establishment. Photo credit Cliff Southwell

Evan Shield58 1958–1971. (AFS 1961/62) Gogol Survey 1963. Photo credit Mary Jenkin.

Evan (AFS 1961/62), on graduation 1962 Forest Management Divison, 1965 postgraduate Diploma of Forestry at the Commonwealth Forestry Institute, University of Oxford re tropical forest inventory in

John Colwell Chairman 21st AUSTIS March 1971 Conference Port Moresby. Source Post Courier.

Greg McDonald 1960’s Forest Products Research group wood properties then Queensland forestry.

Greg McDonald observing preparations for a ‘mumu.’ Lufa. Southern Highlands. 1965 Photo credit Peter Eddowes.

59 PNGAF Mag Issue # 9B-5B4B2 of 19th Aug 2021 Eminent TPNG Forester Neil Brightwell 1960-1984

60 Wallace W G 1966 Cutting Pads in the Forest for Bell 47G-3B-1 Helicopter Operations. Government Printer Port Moresby 1966 PNGAF Mag issue # 9B-5B2 of 30/6/21 p 16.

61 PNGAF Mag Issue # 8 of 1st Feb 2021 PNG Forest mapping p 67 Phil Ainsworth.

Paul Ryan62 1962-1972

Paul (AFS 1964/65) Forest Survey group to OIC Madang to World Bank forestry specialist.

Paul Ryan Jimi Valley 1968

Photo credit Paul Ryan.

Arthur Blue Ramsay 1960’s to 1970’s Blue was a Senior technical officer TPNG Forests, Forest Survey lecturer to Timber Rights Purchases officer HQ Port Moresby. He retired to Queensland.

1964 Photo Forestry College staff Bulolo.63

Photo credit Gabbie Eddowes. Peter was a Forest Ranger (1961-1963) to Wood Technologist & OIC Timber Utilization & Marketing. FPRC. He worked all over PNG and in all Provinces incl., the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville, Louisiade Archipelago & the D’Entrecasteaux group, Milne Bay, Central, Gulf & Western Provinces, Highlands, Lae, Bulolo/Wau, Madang, Wewak & Vanimo. This was in relation to wood & botanical expeditions & collection programs for large wood specimens (flitches) to go to CSIRO Melbourne for determination of the wood properties (physical & mechanical). From 1981 private consulting practice and timber importation in PNG woods.

62 PNGAF Mag Issuu # 9B-5B4R1 of 26th Aug 2021 Eminent TPNG Forester Paul Ryan 1962-1972.

63 Ramsay A Forest Surveying Volume 2 Papua and New Guinea Forestry School Dept of Forests 1966.

64 PNGAF Mag Issue #9B-5B4E2 of 22nd Nov 2022 Eminent TPNG Forester/Wood Technologist Peter Eddowes .

Ken Granger65 1963-1970

The MONEY IN THE SWAMP photo, September 1964.

Source. Post Courier Friday 1st August 1969

Ken joined Forestry in 1963, posted to Kerevat and engaged in resource assessment in Manus; New Ireland; New Britain and Bougainville. Later, posted to Port Moresby and continued resource assessment work in New Britain, Madang, Morobe and Northern Provinces and then Management Clerk position until he resigned in 1970. After leaving PNG employed in Joint Intelligence Organisation of Defence in Canberra, JIO Representative Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, Queensland Department of Emergency Services, Australian Geological Survey Organization, and consultant in disaster risk management.

Fred Kleckham66 1965 to 1968

Fred employed in Mapping/Drafting Section Dept of Forests.

Jack Hadden 1960’s to 1970’s

Jack Haddin during the war operated bulldozers building airstrips. He commenced work with the Department of Forests in Lae in the early 1960’s. He was then sent to Forestry Bulolo as a bulldozer operator where he became Officer in Charge of Roads and Bridges. He retired to Queensland in 1975.

Neville Howcroft67 OBE 1965-2017

68 Neville Howcroft at presentation of final Balsa Project ITTO meeting Japan with Dick McCarthy PNGFIA & Diki Kari NFS. Photo credit N Howcroft.

Neville Howcroft69 OBE joined the Dept of Forests in 1965. He worked throughout PNG as a Senior Technical Research Officer, Forest Consultant and University Lecturer from Bulolo/Wau/UNITECH Lae; EHP; WHP; Enga; NGI; Central; Western Province. Lae FRI; Sepik; Irian Jaya; Milne Bay to New Britain, Rabaul Vudal UNRE. Neville departed PNG in 2017 for Queensland.

Alick Dockrill70 1966-1972

Alick was Keeper of the Herbarium Lae then moved to CSIRO Atherton.

65 PNGAF Mag Issuu # 9B-5B4G1 of 20th July 2021 Eminent TPNG Forester Ken Granger 1963 -1970

66 PNGAF Mag Issue # 8 of 1st Feb 2021 PNG Forest mapping p 100 Fred Kleckham.

67 PNGAF MAG Issue #9B-5B4H9 OF 30TH Nov 2022. Eminent TPNG Forester Neville Howcroft OBE

68 REF PNGAF MAG ISSUE # 9B4B1 of 31 May 2022.

69 PNGAF Mag Issue # 6 of 8th Jan 2021 – Lae Botany p 89 N Howcroft.

70 PNGAF Mag Issue # 6 of 8th Jan 2021 – Lae Botany p 59 Alick Dockrill.

Dr Barry Gray71 1966-1974

72“ STILL LOST” Photo R-L Dr Gary Bacon and Dr Barry Gray. Forest Entomologist Bulolo Forest Research. After PNG, College of Forest Resources, University of Washington. Visiting Professor Oregon State University, then life in Queensland.

Dr Ross Wylie73 1967-1974. Ross Wylie Bulolo 1968. Photo credit Barry Gray. Ross was an entomologist who commenced his career in 1967 with the PNG Department of Forests studying insect pests of trees and timber. From 1974-2006 he worked with Queensland Forestry, mainly researching pests of plantation trees and production native forests, forest health surveillance, native tree dieback and forestry quarantine. He has led research projects and conducted consultancies for agencies such as ACIAR, AusAID, FAO and Asian Development Bank in 18 countries in Asia and the Pacific. Since leaving forestry he has been Science Manager and now Science Leader in Biosecurity Queensland working on invasive ants, particularly red imported fire ant.

Mike Jones74 1967-1973.

Buso River Mouth Sept 1968 Mike Jones with BFC students. Photo credit Mike Jones. Mike joined Forests in 1967 as a draftsman/forest air photo interpreter and worked on several forestry projects including Hoskins/Kimbe NB, Gogol Valley Madang, Vanimo Puol River area West Sepik, Ok Tedi area of the Fly, Open Bay East New Britain, and Bulolo plantations. After departing PNG in 1973, Mike completed a diploma in Engineering and completed 40 years with local authorities working in civil design and construction.

71 PNGAF Mag Issue # 9B-5B4G5 of 20th Aug 2022. Eminent TPNG Forest Entomologist Dr Barry Gray.

72 Source. Post Courier Friday 1st August 1969.

73 PNGAF Mag Issue #9B-5B4W5 of 20th Aug 2022. Eminent TPNG Forest Entomologist Dr Ross Wylie

74 PNGAF Mag Issue # 8 of 1st Feb 2021 PNG Forest mapping p 96 Mike Jones.

Brendon Bailey75 1968-1974

Brendan’s Graduation Canberra. Photo credit Dick McCarthy.

From PNG Customs in 1968, to TPNG forests in 1969 as Regional Clerk Rabaul Forests to 1974 as Assistant Director Administration for the Department in Port Moresby. After leaving PNG, he re-joined the Australian Public Service. He completed degrees in Arts and Law and remained in public service employment until his retirement in 2007. Brendan76 worked in various public service positions, including Hansard, the Aboriginal Development Corporation, the Department responsible for Small Business, the Research section of the Parliamentary Library, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

Jim Belford77 1970-1981. Member of the PNG Forestry Trade Training Board 1997 UNITECH Lae. Jim Belford78 Executive Officer PNGFIA. Photo Credit March 1997 National Forests and Timber Newspaper.

Jim (AFS 1966/67) joined TPNG Forests in 1970 as part of HQ Survey group, then regional forest management officer to regional forest office Lae region, Principal management officer HQ In 1981 he joined PNGFP as Resource Operations Manager and PNGFIA Secretary. He has remained in private enterprise activity in PNG including policy development and industry advocate/ representative duties, and input/industry representation to National Forest Board level 1987-1997. (E.g., restructuring the FIA to assimilate into the requirements of the Forest Act 1992.) He relocated to Brisbane but continues to have a family/business activity base in PNG and commutes when necessary

Gerd Strehler 79Cartographic Draftsman Department of Forests Drawing Office April 1972. Photo Credit Phil Ainsworth.

Gerard (Gerd) Strehler was recruited by Phil Ainsworth 80to draw topographical maps from the drawing office’s stereo plotting machines, initially a US machine and later Wild B2s stereo plotters. During WW2 Gerd was a German artillery soldier who served on the Russian front but was fortunate to be transferred to the Italian front and survive the war. After WW2 Gerd resumed his cartographic career with the US military. Gerd was also instrumental in the formation of the German Club in Moresby.

75 PNGAF Mag Issuu # PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B-5B4B6 of 8th March 2023 Eminent TPNG Forestry Administrator Brendan Bailey, TPNG Forests 1969 - 1974.

76 Personal Communication Phil Bailey 5th March 2023.

77 PNGAF Mag Issuu # 9B-5B4B1 of 12th July 2021 Eminent TPNG Forester Jim Belford. 1970-1981

78 Jim Belford TPNG Forests 1970-1981.

79 PNGAF Mag Issue # 8 of 1st Feb 2021 PNG Forest mapping p 108 Gerd Stehler.

80 Phil Ainsworth personal communication 1st June 2020

Brenton Charles Peters81 1969-1970. Forest Entomologist Bulolo Forest Research.

Peter Shanahan 1972-1974 Bulolo Forest Research Zoologist.

Dr Dave Lamb83 1972-1977 Bulolo Forest Research

Dave Lamb (AFS 1962/63) at an APFNet workshop. Dave Lamb’s role was to undertake research on nutrition for forest plantation development throughout PNG. He worked with Dr John Davidson and Ian Whyte on land use studies for new forest plantation developments in forest concessions such as the Gogol, Madang, and Open Bay Timber Area in New Britain. In 1977 he joined the University of Queensland and taught forest ecology.

Dr Robert ‘Bob’ Thistlethwaite84 1971-1995

Bob (AFS 1962/63) in 1971 appointed Principal Research Officer with the Papua New Guinea Department of Forests and oversaw forest plantation research, with a wide range of tropical and exotic species. In early 1978 Principal Research Officer with the Department of the Interior in Darwin and OIC of the Berrimah Research Laboratory. In 1986 Bob joined AIDAB’s (now AusAID) Pacific Regional Team as its Natural Resources Advisor. In 1989 Bob established his own natural resources and environmental consulting company. In the mid-1990’s and into the 2000s Bob continued to work in Australia as a consultant for companies he established to focus on genomic research for tree improvement.

Acronyms

ACT 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 & 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

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

HQ Head Quarters

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

OIC Officer in Charge

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