AUSTRALIAN FORESTERS in PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1922-1975
PNGAF MAGAZINE ISSUE # 9B -5B4L2 of 5th August 2021 FOREST MANAGEMENT. Eminent TPNG Forester John Lake
John Lake1 “Puddles” butbut fish,1966. Arawe West New Britain. Photo Credit Ken Granger. Editor R B McCarthy2 2021. 1 2
John Lake TPNG Forests 1962-1968. Dick McCarthy District Forester TPNG Forests 1963-1975.
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Early Days AUSTRALIAN TPNG FORESTRY CADETSHIP SCHEME3 1948 to 1963 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
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Surname
Positions
Edward Charles Gordon Gray (NG) Alexander John Hart (NG) Donald Henry McIntosh (NG5) Kevin Joseph White (Q) Robin Levingston (NSW) Jaroslav Joseph Havel (WA)6 Robin Bilbrough Morwood (NG) Frank Harry Coppock (NG) Elliot Carby Tuckwell (NG) John Godlee (NG)7 Ian Grundy (NG) Eric Hammermaster (Q/NG) Des Harries (NG) Gerry Vickers (NG) Alan Cameron (Q)8 John Smith (NG) Brian O’Hagen Neil Brightwell (NSW) Alan White (NG) Leon Clifford (NSW)9
TPNG Cadetship 1948 1946 1946 Qld 1953 1952 1953 1953 1954 1955 1955 1955 1955 1956 1956 1956 1960 1960 1958
AFS 1950/51 1950/51 1950/51 1950/51 1952/53 1953/54 1955/56 1956/57 1956/57 1957/58 1958/59 1958/59 1958/59 1958/59 1959/60 1959/60 1959/60 1960/61 1960/61 1961/62
Year graduation 1952 1952 1952 1952 1954 1955 1957 1958 1958 1959 1960 1960 1960 1960 1961 1961 1961 1962 1962 1963
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). 4 Cadet Forest Officer pamphlet courtesy Des Harries TPNG Forests 1955-1976. 5 Don McIntosh Third Director of Forests PNG. TPNG Forests 1946-1973. 6 Joe Havel First Principal Bulolo Forestry College. TPNG Forests 1953-1965. 7 John Godlee Fourth Principal Bulolo Forestry College. TPNG Forests 1955-1980. 8 Alan Cameron Schlich 1960. TPNG Forests 1956-1970. 9 Leon Clifford Second Principal Bulolo Forestry College. TPNG Forests 1958-1975. 3
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Evan Shield (NG) 1958 1961/62 John Lake (NG) 1962/63 Ian Currie (NG) 1963/64 John Harrison (NG) Medi vac out Last field year 1961 1964/65 Chris Borough (NG) Field year for cadets 1960 1964/65 Bob Bruce (NG) no field year 1961 1964/65 Rex Grattidge (NG) no field year 1961 1964/65 John Davidson (NG)10 1962 1965/66 Paul Ryan (NG) 1962 1965/66 Rod Holesgrove (NG) 1963 1965/66 Jim Belford (C) 1966 1966/67 Dick McCarthy (NG) 1963 1966/67 Dave Num (C) 1965 1966/67 Robert G Lyons (NG) 1965 1966/67 Gary Archer (NG) 1966 1967/68 Chris Done (NG) 1966 1967/68 Ken Hart (NG) 1963 1967/68 Ian Whyte (C) 1966 1967/68 Footnotes 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.
1963 1964 1965 1966 1966 1966 1966 1967 1967 1967 1968 1968 1968 1968 1969 1969 1969 1969
PNG Days John recalls that even though it was such a long time ago, the experience in PNG was a tremendously interesting and formative period of our lives. One that he looks back on fondly. He and his wife Prue “went finish” at the end of 1968. John recalls doing the seed collection in Bulolo during his field year. After graduation from the Forestry School in Canberra his work was associated with the helicopter assessment surveys. Empress August Bay, Bougainville (7 September to 16 October 1964) 11
Ken Granger described the survey party consisted of Hammer, John Lowien, Gerd Streihler (draftsman), John (“Puddles”) Lake (recently graduated forester), Chris Brown, Robin Hosking (both Bulolo-trained TOs) and me, together with 12 or 15 TAs and labourers from Keravat. They all assembled in Rabaul on 7 September and flew to Buin by DC-3 charter. They took over the helicopter from the CSIRO team that had just wound up their land system survey of Bougainville. The helicopter was a Bell 47G3B1 three-seater – much the same as those featured in the TV show MASH. They met the helicopter pilot Peter (“Thirsty”) Hurst and his engineer Jack Fackrell the following morning before the chopper started ferrying some people to our base camp site at the mouth of the Jaba River.
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John Davidson Schlich Medal 1966; First Forestry Professor UNITECH. TPNG Forests 1962-1980. Ken Granger TPNG Forests 1963-1971. PNGAF mag issue #9B-5B4G1 of 20th July 2021 p18 ,24, 27, 37.
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East New Britain (20 February to 8 July 1965) Ken Granger 12 described the plan for this survey was to start on the south coast with a base at Fulleborn Plantation, then move to Uvol Mission. At the end of that section, we would stage through Rabaul and then re-start at Malalia Mission on the north coast near Cape Hoskins with moves to Bialla, Ulamona Mission and finally to Matanakunai Plantation. Eric Hammermaster would lead the south coast part and Neil (Brighteyes) Brightwell would take over for the north coast. The South Coast: The south coast team was much the same as that used on Bougainville with the exception that Ken was to replace the draftsman as well as doing the occasional line. They set up their camp in the copra shed of the plantation which was close to the beach. The survey group had pre-positioned a Tempest speedboat to enable them to send parties along the coast as well as using the chopper.
Fulleborn base camp, February 1965.
Tempest speedboat at Fulleborn, 1965.
One of the first teams to return was led by John Lake. They had been sent into the foothills to the north of Fulleborn. When Puddles came back into the camp, he had something behind his back and said to Hammer “give us a kiss and I’ll tell you what I found”. With that he produced a small branch of Kauri leaves, the first indication that Agathis was present on New Britain. Next day Hammer and Ken did a reconnaissance around the Kauri area, and Ken was able to pick up a texture signature on the air photos that enabled him to map the extent of the stands quite accurately. John Lake13 remembered well all the things that Ken mentioned including John finding the Kauri Pine. The only thing John would query is on him soliciting kisses from Eric Hammermaster. That was never very high on John’s agenda!14
Ken Granger TPNG Forests 1963-1971. PNGAF mag issue #9B-5B4G1 of 20th July 2021 p18 ,24, 27, 37. Personal communication 4th August 2021. John Lake TPNG Forests 1962-1968. 14 Editor’s note. It was never on anyone else’s agenda either, to this day. 12 13
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Emergent Agathis in forest near Fulleborn 1965. Photo credit Ken Granger.
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After almost five weeks operating from Fulleborn they moved operations to Uvol Mission further to the east. The base camp was under canvas and set up along one side of a large clearing that may have been planned as an airstrip at one time.
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New Horizions p26.ISBN0701681845 Dept of Forest PNG 1973.
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West New Britain (14 February to 20 May 1966) Ken Granger16 described the Arawe camp was very well set up with a 44-gallon drum for the shower. The fishing was also fantastic and was a good supplement to the diet.
My Arawe mackerel.
Puddles butbut.
The flash shower.
Photo credit Ken Granger. The survey group moved to their third camp at the Cape Gloucester government station for one week and then moved on to Linga Linga Plantation on the north coast for the final three weeks of the survey. As a distraction they also did some water skiing behind the Tempest on the lagoon at Linga Linga. It was interesting to observe the sharks in the lagoon and the crocodiles on a small island in the middle each morning as they flew out in the chopper.
Water skiing at Linga Linga, May 1966. Photo credit Ken Granger. 16
Ken Granger TPNG Forests 1963-1971. PNGAF mag issue #9B-5B4G1 of 20th July 2021 p18 ,24, 27, 37.
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1. John’s stories during PNG Times 17 18
Ken Granger advised that life was never dull in the survey camp. John (Puddles) Lake was fond of catching snakes and anything else that he could get a reaction from us with. He had caught a small snake that he put in the empty 44-gallon drum we used for catching rainwater and the next day he caught a baby crocodile that also went into the drum. It was said that there were no venomous snakes on Bougainville, and it was a bit of a surprise the next morning when both reptiles were found dead. Gerd did a fine job of skinning the little croc and when he got back to Port Moresby taxidermizing it in a very realistic way.
Puddles liklik pukpuk, Jaba River September 1964. Photo credit Ken Granger.
Ken Granger19 recalls at Fulleborn in 1965 Puddles caught a large python that had recently devoured a small pig or a sikau (wallaby). He took it with him when they moved on to Awul and then to Rabaul where Puddles stayed at the Comworks mess. Puddles released the python in the ablutions block. All was well until one of the other residents was taking a shower and looked up to come eye to eye with the snake. It was said that he streaked back to his room with a rapidly diminishing foam of soap as his only covering! A PNG python. Peter Shanahan on left, unknown, Ross Lockyer, Phil Coleman, Ross Wylie, Wau 1968. Photo credit Ross Lockyer.
Cartoon from Bob Brown’s Grass Roots Guide to PNG Pidgin South Pacific Post. Ken Granger personal communication 2020 TPNG Forests 1963-1971. 19 Ken Granger personal communication August 2021 TPNG Forests 1963-1971. 17 18
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John Lake20 thanks Ken Granger for his fantastic photos and his still more incredible memory. John has similar recollections to the fishing at that camp. John caught a bigger fish than the Butbut. It was a 4 to 5 ft Barracuda. Not only did John have to contend with the fish but he had to argue with his companion (Keith Pearson21) who did not want him to bring it into the boat. Da Fish in question. Photo credit Ken Granger. Ken Granger22 recalls being told that Puddles was in the cohort at the Forestry College in Canberra that substituted the street sign for Constitution Avenue to “Constipation Avenue”. It was still in place a week later until someone tipped off the “Canberra Times”. Normal Forest Activity The Lakes spent a period in Hoskins. The forestry activity there was the logging, exporting & sawmilling of the timber created by the clearing for oil palm plantations. John recalls being a Returning Officer for the first ever elections in Papua New Guinea. Life after PNG Sunny Tasmania. The Lakes came to Tasmania after leaving New Guinea which has been very good to them. John worked for a while with Kauri Timber Co mainly managing their seasoning and processing section. John then joined the Forestry Commission and was eventually the District Forester in Burnie. John pursued an interest in Horticulture and moved to the Private Forestry section advising farmers on the use of trees on their properties. He was Private Forester for the North West of Tasmania until he retired in 1993 to pursue involvement in Property Management which has been quite successful for them. Retirement in Tasmania which encouraged the Lakes to travel in the winter has been wonderful. However, in recent times, Covid has curtailed their plans. Short Bibliography of John Lake. NAME DATE JOINED DEPT OF FORESTRY PNG WHAT WAS YOUR OCCUPATION WHAT LOCALITIES DID YOU WORK IN WHAT DATE DID YOU LEAVE PNG LIFE AFTER PNG IF YOU WISH TO COMMENT BRIEFLY
John Lake 1962 and 1963 Australian Forestry School Forest Officer Helicopter assessment surveys and Cape Hoskins timber area. 1968 Since 1968, lived in Tasmania and worked with private and State managed forests.
Personal communication 4th August 2021. John Lake TPNG Forests 1962-1968. Person communication Ken Granger 5th August 2021. TPNG Forests 1963-1971. 22 Ken Granger personal communication August 2021 TPNG Forests 1963-1971. 20 21
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ACRONYMS ACT ACIAR ACLMP AEC AFS AFPNG AIF AMF ANBG ANGAU ANU APMF APPM ASIO ASOPA AusAID BA BCOF “Beer Time” BFC BGD BUC C cm CALM CFA CNGT CRE CRE
CSIRO CHAH DASF DBH/ dbh DEPT DPI DOF e.g. Etc FAO F &TB FIM FPRC
Australian Capital Territory Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research AusAid funded World Bank Land Mobilisation program. Administrators Executive Committee Australian Forestry School Association of Foresters of PNG Australian Infantry Forces Australian Military Forces Australian National Botanical Gardens Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit Australian National University Australian Paper Manufacturers Forestry Pty Ltd Australia Paper and Pulp Manufacturers Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Australian School of Pacific Administration Australian Aid Agency basal area British Commonwealth Occupational Force 1945-52 Any time. Bulolo Forestry College Bulolo Gold Dredging Company Bulolo University College Commonwealth Centimetre Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management Commonwealth Forestry Association Commonwealth New Guinea Timbers Bulolo Commander Royal Engineers 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). Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Dept of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries Diameter at breast height Department Department of Primary Industry Department of Forests For example et cetera (more of the same) Food and Agriculture Organisation Forest and Timber Bureau Canberra Forest Information System Forest Products Research Centre Hohola 9
FRG FRI Forkol GAB Gbhob Gubab GIS ha IBRD IFA IFY ITTO JICA L of N LRRS m3 MM NAA NARI NB NFCAP no. NG NGF NGIB NGO NGVR NZ NSW NTSC OISCA P or p PIB PIR PNG PNGAA PNGAF PNGFA PNGFIA PNGRIS PNGUT POM Q QF RAE RPC RRA SFM
Forest Red Gum Forest Research Institute Lae Bulolo Forestry College Girth above buttress Girth breast height over bark Girth under bark above buttress Geographic Information Systems Hectare International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Institute of Foresters of Australia International Year of the Forest International Tropical Timber Organization Japanese International Cooperation Agency League of Nations Land Resource Soils Survey (branch of CSIRO) cubic metre Military Medal National Archives Australia National Agriculture Research Institute New Britain PNG National Forestry and Conservation Action Plan Number New Guinea New Guinea Forces (relates to plant collection of Lae Herbarium) New Guinea Infantry Battalion Non-Government Organisation New Guinea Volunteer Rifles New Zealand New South Wales National Tree Seed Centre PNG Bulolo Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement International Japan. page Papuan Infantry Battalion Pacific Islands Regiment Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Australia Association Papua New Guinea Australian Foresters Magazine Series Papua New Guinea Forest Authority PNG Forest Industries Association Papua New Guinea Resource Information System PNG University of Technology Port Moresby Queensland Queensland Forestry Royal Australian Engineers/Australian Army Royal Papuan Constabulary Rapid Resource Appraisal Sustainable Forest Management
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SP UK UN Unasylva UNE UNEP UNI UNITECH UNRE UPNG UQ US USA TPNG TUBL TA TA TRP Vol VSF WA WB
South Pacific United Kingdom United Nations Journal of FAO of UN University of New England Armidale NSW United Nations Environment Program University University of Technology Lae PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment University of Papua New Guinea University of Queensland United States United States of America Territory of Papua and New Guinea Territory United Brewery Ltd Timber Area Timber Authority Timber Rights Purchase volume Victorian School of Forestry Western Australia World Bank
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