knew. hukahu forming the force - nashos · thomas hukahu reports 3 defence force the national –...
TRANSCRIPT
Three
Australian
soldiers
returned to
PNG after
more than 40
years, to
relive
memories of
a place and
the people
that they
knew.
THOMAS
HUKAHU
reports
3 DEFENCE FORCE
The National – Friday, September 2, 2011
LIKLIKTINGTING
By Biliso
TTHE Papua New GuineaDefence Force wasformed in January 1973,
two years before Independence.The locals in the army then
were really serving under theAustralian Army land forcesoperating in the territory. Theybuilt on the legacy of theircountry men who served in thePapuan and New GuineaBattalions that fought alongsidethe Australians to stave off theadvance of Japanese troops inWorld War II.
In June 1942, some of themen in the Papuan Battalion,with several AustralianBattalions, were part of thelegendary Maroubra Force that,through unflinching courageand great sacrifice, stopped theadvancing Japanese troops inthe Kokoda Campaign.
Their effort prevented theJapanese moving further southand from capturing PortMoresby. It is logical that thesoldiers in the Maroubra Forcewere referred to as “the menwho saved Australia”.
To prepare the locals in theterritory’s army in the late1960s and early 1970s for thetime when they would have anew commander, primeminister, as well ascommander-in-chief (in theperson of their own governor-
general), Australia pickedyoung men from its collegesand universities and sent themon various assignments,including to help the soon-to-beindependent state of PapuaNew Guinea.
In 1967, two young teachersfrom Brisbane, TerryEdwinsmith and Norm Hunter,joined the education corp of theAustralian Army and took upduties at First Pacific InfantryRegiment at Taurama Barracksin Port Moresby to teach andguide the locals.
In 1970, Kev Horton, anotheryoung Queenslander fromKingaroy – 200km northwestof Brisbane – arrived withothers and continued whereEdwinsmith and Hunter left in1967-68. Horton would serveduring 1970-71 as a teacher inthe army.
Last month, the three
returned, after more than 40years, to relive memories of aplace and the people that theyknew.
Edwinsmith is 66, Hunter is65 and Horton, 62, but theirgeneral countenance and fitnessbelied their ages, possibly theadvantage of serving in thearmy.
“We came back after 43years because we have veryfond memories of PNG,”Edwinsmith said.
The three, came to TheNational office, armed withtheir albums that showed well-kept, coloured photos withneat, handwritten labels ofpeople and places back then.
“We, Australian teachers,were conscripted really; ournames were picked from a pile.Many picked went to serve inthe Vietnam War and lost theirlives,” Edwinsmith said.
“We taught PNG history andthe role of an army indemocracy, teaching that thearmy must always support thegovernment,” Hunter said,adding that Ted Diro and othernotable local officers like KenNoga were very sharp youngmen in those days.
Also while here, they met upwith local soldiers who theyserved with. One was PNGDFSgt Kini Rava (ret), who stilllooked strong, after retiring in2002.
The four visited TauramaBarracks and Goldie TrainingBase and shared memories.
As young teachers back then,the men also played sportsalongside the locals.Edwinsmith was a hockeyplayer and Hunter was thecaptain of the Defence RugbyUnion team and representedPNG to Australia as the only“white man” in the team in1968.
The men also recalled doingarmy tours in PNG.
Horton recalls his inNamatanai, New Ireland,where the 30-man group hadonly three Australians –Norton, the major in charge anda helicopter pilot.
“We swapped our rations ofchocolates and biscuits forfruits and vegetables with thelocals.
“The father and relatives of aCpl Bello from New Hanoverbrought over a pig with food tous and we had a big mumufeast. It was their way ofshowing how proud they wereat seeing their son as a soldier,”Horton said.
The three have returned toAustralia but said they hope toreturn some day.
The PNGDF will soon be 40years old and the three Aussies,among others, had a part in [email protected].
Forming the force
1. Edwinsmith (from
left), Horton, Hunter
and Sgt Kini Rava (ret)
(second right), posing
with PNGDF officers
during the PNGDF
Commander’s Cup
hosted at Goldie
Barracks outside Port
Moresby last week.
2. Edwinsmith posing
outside his room at
Taurama Barracks in
1968.
3. Edwinsmith posing
outside the same room
at Taurama Barracks
last week, 43 years on.
4. PNGDF Sgt Kini Rava
(ret) enjoying a snack
after an army routine in
Port Moresby in 1968.
– Pictures courtesy of
TERRY EDWINSMITH
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