Barry Flannery [ASOPA 1962-63] recalls: During the Queen’s Birthday Holiday in 1972, two rugby league squads and a netball team travelled from Port Moresby to Cairns to play in a local primary schools carnival. To raise $3,000 for the DC3 charter, various fundraisers were organised. Unbeknownst to us, one of these included a porn and card night. These ventures were a roaring success.

A couple of days prior to departure, I called to see that all was well with the DC3 to be told the plane was no longer available as it was needed on Groote Island. I pondered whom I could call for help, settling on Barry Holloway, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and an acquaintance from my time in Kainantu.

Within a short time, I received a call from the chief executive officer of Bush Pilots Airways who apologised profusely for the terrible mistake and assured me a DC3 would be available. I later learnt Bush Pilots was seeking landing rights in PNG and did not want unfavourable publicity.

[David Keating [ASOPA 1961-62] is seeking your school sports reminscences from Papua New Guinea. Email him here with your contribution.]