Col Booth [ASOPA 1962/63] tells me he and Wendy have been in Brisbane where they had “had a lovely day” with Colin (Huggiebear) Huggins and Bill Welbourne with whom they performed the ‘walk of pride’ as Huggiebear showed off his 2007 reunion meeting and sleeping places. “They have certainly picked a top locale for Event 3,” writes Col. “And the prices Huggie has negotiated will blow you away.”

Col and Wendy were also pleasantly surprised when an old PNG comrade in arms, Paul Brigg, joined them for lunch. Paul was head teacher of the Tavui Girls School near Rabaul from 1964-66 and this was their first meeting since leaving the Gazelle nearly 40 years ago. Col says Paul is making good progress in reuniting the ASOPA Class of 1960/61 as the scattered remnants of those glorious years come together again.

Ingrid and I will be in Brisbane next week and plans are well afoot for us to stride out the ‘walk of pride’ with no less a local identity than Huggiebear himself. We’ll also be meeting up with many ASOPA and PNG friends and, amongst all this, I’m hoping to fit in a bit of work for Jackson Wells Morris.