After 4 decades, it was a great re-uniting
01 January 2009
David Weeden
The
story of the reunion of the ASOPA Cadet Education Officer Class of 1967-68.
Maroochydore 17–19 October 2008
Forty years after they graduated from the ASOPA CEO course for secondary teachers, the majority of that intake celebrated a memorable reunion at Maroochydore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The impetus for the reunion was the disappointing attendance from this group at the general CEO’s reunion in Brisbane in October 2007.
After a mammoth effort extending
over a six-month period, all but six of the group were subsequently found
through good old fashioned networking, stored memories of where particular
students had come from or last been heard of, contacts with ageing parents,
searches of electoral rolls and the Internet and sheer chance.
Sadly, three (Bruce Owner, Gary
Poppleton and Ross Westcott) were found to have died some years ago. All but
four of the remaining 34 attended the reunion, which most claimed to be one of
their best weekends ever as old friendships and memories were rediscovered and
renewed. All up, including spouses, partners, a beloved former lecturer (Maurie
Saxby) and a few CEO’s from other years, over 50 people attended the reunion.
Ahead of the reunion, all 34
contributed to an electronic publication in which they recalled their favourite
memories of ASOPA, their time in PNG and what they have been doing since. Ex
ASOPA staff (Maurie Saxby and June Whittaker) and friends, and family of the
three deceased classmates, also contributed to a riveting collective history
and show of affection for both ASOPA and PNG.
The organised activities
included: a dinner at one of Maroochydore’s favourite restaurants (part owned
by a son of the 67-68 group); a boat cruise on the Maroochy River; the main
reunion dinner at a local hotel; and a barbecue brunch by the beach on the last
morning.
Five of the class volunteered to
take a digital photographic record, including photos of each of the
Maths/Science and General Studies classes in exactly the same positions as in
the official class photos 40 years ago. Each person attending the reunion (and
the four who couldn’t make it) subsequently received a CD containing over 700
photos of the event.
Forty years is half a lifetime.
With few exceptions, most of the class had not seen each other in all those
years. Predictably, therefore, the reunion was characterised by loud greetings
of recognition (or, in some cases, bemused non-recognition) and raucous and
uninhibited behaviour not normally associated with late 50s to mid 70 year
olds. The re-establishment of long lost friendships has been reinforced by an
Internet and phone network through which these CEO veterans have been
communicating regularly with each other since mid 2008.
The following table is a list of
all who were ‘found’ plus several others who attended the reunion. Readers
wishing to contact anyone on the list can do so by emailing David Weeden at [email protected]
Jeff
Alexander [Blue Mountains] Kerevat, Badihagwa & Iarowari High Schools,
Bomana Police Training College & Correspondence School, Education H/Q Port
Moresby
Jo
Argiro [Melbourne] Cameron High School, Alotau
Peter
Baartz [Sydney] Utu & Kokopo High Schools
Peter
Best [Canberra] Hutjena High School
Peter
Blackburn [Hobart] Alotau High School, Police Training College, Bomana, Igam
Barracks, Lae
Russell
Connors [Melbourne] Kerowagi High School
Peter
Fanning [Jakarta] Malabunga High School, RPNGC Port Moresby
John
Frize [Newcastle] Port Moresby, Iarowari, Rabaul & Badihagwa High Schools
David
Green [Brisbane] Brandi & Marprik High Schools, Port Moresby
Grant
Hamilton [Sydney] Bugandi High School, Private Enterprise, Lae
Greg
Holden [Adelaide] Kerowagi & Kimbe High Schools
Bill
Jollie [NSW Central Coast] Mendi High School, Goroka & Rabaul
Glynn
Kelly [Brisbane] Buin High School
Mike
Logan [Blue Mountains] Brandi High School, Wewak
Col
Madden [Canberra] Manus, Kerevat & Kokopo High Schools; Department of
Education, Rabaul
Margaret
Martin [Goulburn] Kerowagi High School
James
McBrien [Sunshine Coast] Daru & Badihagwa High Schools
Ian
Morton [Melbourne] Hutjena & Kerema High Schools
Bruce
Owner [Deceased] Bugandi High School, Siassi Islands, Port Moresby
Geoff
Pardew [Kuranda] Kerema & Daru High Schools
Lorraine
Parker [Sydney] Daru & Mendi High Schools; Henganofi
Jacqui
Parry [Sunshine Coast] Cameron High School, Alotau; Private Enterprise, Rabaul
& Lae
Barry
Peek [Adelaide] Mt Hagen High School
Garry
Poppleton [Deceased] Buin High School
Despena
Rizoglou [Greece] Kila Kila High School
Janice
Robinson (Frape) [Blue Mountains] Private enterprise, show society and civil
defence, Lae; Port Moresby
Alan
Rowe [Melbourne] Utu, Medina & Bugandi High Schools
Ron
Ruitenschild [Gold Coast] Manus High School
Ian
Schumacher [Sunshine Coast] Kila Kila High School
Margaret
Scowen (Jollie) [NSW Central Coast] Mendi, Goroka & Kokopo High Schools
Ivan
Searston [Herberton] Kerowagi High School
Sister
Gabriel (now Sister Margaret Tisch) [Sydney] St Mary’s Girls High School,
Bougainville
Simon
van der Valk [Gold Coast] Kar Kar, Aitape, Tusbab, Daru & Manus High
Schools
Dianne
Walton [Gulgong] Medina & Tusbab High Schools
David
Weeden [Canberra] Kila Kila High School; Education H/Q, Konedobu
Doug
Werrin [Crookwell & Sydney] Bugandi High School
Ross
Westcott [Deceased] Bugandi High School, DASF Port Moresby
PLUS
Jan
Milton (68-69) [Canberra] Kila Kila High School
Ros
Sharp (61-62) [Southern Queensland] Primary T Schools: Green River, Kokopo,
Pomio & Goroka
Maurie
Saxby [Sydney] ASOPA staff member and frequent PNG visitor
June
Whittaker [Tumbarumba] Long time ASOPA staff member and frequent PNG visitor
I was a student of two people in your group, Alan Rowe and Diane Walton at Medina High School in New Ireland (1969-1972).
I would like to thank them both and everyone that took up teaching in PNG before independence.
The most notable aspect of this is the standard of English that is spoken by those of us that were taught by you. I have had people asking if I went to school overseas and I always tell them that I was taught by very good Australian teachers.
Students nowadays speak very broken English.
Thank you once again Mr Rowe and Miss Walton. Regards Roselyn Pasen nee Kavulik Pilokos.
Note: Can I have the contacts for the two ex teachers please?
Posted by: Roselyn K Pasen | 09 August 2017 at 02:44 AM
Hi Leo (Hagenson). I often wondered what happened to you. Please call me on 0438 581 805. Cheers David Weeden
Posted by: David Weeden | 02 September 2016 at 10:41 PM
Hi John (Leah) - just saw your entry on this blog. I remember you well from my time at Kila Kila High. Cheers David Weeden Ph 0438 581 805
Posted by: David Weeden | 02 September 2016 at 10:39 PM
Hi, I'd like to get in touch with Simon van der Valk.
Posted by: Atkerria Painap | 09 April 2014 at 04:58 PM
This is an excellent story with names of educators in PNG. Thank you to you all.
Posted by: Corney Korokan Alone | 17 March 2014 at 10:00 PM
I taught at Kila Kila 1969-74 and Gordon High 1974-75 - great years.
Two nationals on the teaching staff at Kila Kila in 1969; two non nationals at Gordon High in 1976. Times changed quickly.
Elizabeth Yip, the first nati.onal headmistress, was the Boss at Gordon.
She was from New Ireland. I believe both she and her husband John have passed away.
Obviously I have not and live in Kingscliff after a long stint in Lismore NSW.
Posted by: Leo Hagenson | 17 March 2014 at 07:42 PM
Hi - I am Bill Reinhardt and went to ASOPA in 1968/69 group. I would like to contact others in my group or those from 1967/68.
Could someone provide this information please.
Posted by: Bill Reinhardt | 29 August 2013 at 03:55 PM
My first encounter with John Leah was in April 1965 on a harbourside landing in Sydney Harbour. He was berating a fisherman for slicing pieces for fish bait from a live octopus.
After graduating in 1966 he was posted to Kwikila with three other CEOs Phil Burns, Vlad Cizauskas and Pat Haysman.
I was posted there in May 1965 as a Cadet Patrol Officer and we finally met.
Posted by: John Adams | 26 December 2012 at 03:26 PM
A little update with my new email address as my old computer finally crashed, taking with it some precious addresses. No backups! Sloppy!
Thinking back in the light of the current cat fight over the PNG Prime Ministership, with that thin line between the separation of powers being all but shredded, but somehow (so far!) surviving...
After my stint at Kwikila, which I loved, I was shipped to Kila Kila which was a totally different kettle of fish but just as wonderful an experience.
One sweaty day, probably about 1970 I think, a special assembly was called and the students were introduced to a bright young Papua New Guinean named Michael Somare who gave the students a stirring talk on how he was forming a political party and that he hoped to lead PNG to independence. You could have heard a pin drop.
The applause was polite, but not enthusiastic.
Later, in the classroom, my students were of one accord, "Ehhh Meestah Leeeaaah, we don't want indeependeeence. We are not ready. We are scared"...
We junked science that day and just talked about how they should grab the opportunity with both hands. Well, I did at least.
I hope some of them thought about it later, but I guess it showed how backward Australia had been insofar as the very thought of independence was frightening.
Sounds like they have it by the horns now but I do hope they have the nerve to kick around the democratic and parliamentary systems a little (while maintaining the rule of law and the separation of powers) to better reflect their own culture!
Cheers to all ex Asopans. And that address:
[email protected]
Posted by: John Leah | 01 June 2012 at 01:10 AM
I stumbled on this site whilst surfing on another matter and am so thrilled to see that the teachers who taught us then surely reap their rewards.
I was a student at Kila Kila High School (I will be 60 this year), am married to an Australian and live on the Gold Coast.
A lot of my class mates also married to Aussies living in Queensland. We often communicate and reminisce about our school days and often talk about our favourite teachers!
I can tell you, you guys did a fantastic job and I wish this kind of assistance continued as the education is not of a good standard especially at the local level. Private schools differ.
Thank you and I certainly enjoyed your site very much.
Posted by: Mary Fishburn (nee Ligo) | 20 February 2011 at 04:58 PM
I was wondering if you had contact details, phone numbers, etc for Daru High School on Daru Island in PNG.
I googled for information and your site came up. I have started a charity with my website www.friendsofpapuanewguinea.org and have started a child sponsorship program and need to have contact with this school.
I will appreciate any help that you can give me.
____________________
You can call Craig on +61 404 283 250 or visit his website at
www.friendsofpapuanewguinea.org - KJ
Posted by: Craig Hand | 22 December 2010 at 05:02 AM
I would like to get in touch with anyone who would have taught with my late father, Sir Ebia Olewale, at Kilakila High School in 1966/1967. I am researching information for a biography on my late father.
Posted by: Ire Olewale | 16 December 2010 at 02:43 PM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading about Aircraft. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Posted by: Aircraft hangar doors | 29 October 2009 at 12:37 AM
Reeling from the shock of Keith's resignation, to which I hope to make a considered response later, I stumbled on the details of the 1967/68 Cadet Education Officers' Reunion.
Wow! Had no clue it was on or I might have gate-crashed it as my intake was the one before this and for me, the aircraft doors opened on the oven of Jackson's Strip in November 1967 (or was it December?). It was year's end in either case.
They drove us up the Rouna Pass in an old bus that stalled from engine overheating on a steep stretch just before the major hairpin bend. It started to roll back, brakes unable to hold it, and the driver unable to swap down to first gear to slow the backwards roll as the synchro gear box (if indeed it had one!) was unable to cope with a swap from a gear box running backwards (driven by the propellor shaft) and stationary drive gears.
The hand brake had no effect, despite of the Herculean efforts of the driver. With the precipice to our left, I was out the door in a flash, but the rest just sat there, which shows what a coward I was and what faith the others must have had! Or did Beryl Richardson jump out too? Was she there that day? Memory Babe... Shades of Kerouac and tropical boozing have fuzzed the synapses.
Fortunately, the driver, a PNG national, displayed a cool head and steered the bus back towards the cliff face on the wrong side of the road where it crunched to a halt with minimal damage. Clever bugger probably made the greatest single-handed contribution to PNG education that day!
Eventually, water topped up and engine sort of firing again, we spluttered to the top and to Sogeri High for a fascinating final teaching 'prac' and a live induction in the classroom. Had we failed the 'prac' I wonder if they would have sent us back to Oz? Guess they were pretty sure of us by then.
Meanwhile, Year 67/68 back at ASOPA was studying away, presumably awaiting the trip in the backwards-running bus on the Roana Pass the following year... A PNG initiation perhaps.
Anyone who jumps out gets Kwikila or some other 'remote' outstation high school (Kwikila was not that far out, but nobody had it as a first preference. A pretty dry old place that one learns to love in any case).
So our groups overlapped for a year and I remember many of those names (and people!) quite well. Ended up teaching at Kila Kila where some of them also taught - Ian, Despena, Jan, David. Remember Wayne Gurba and Catherine? And to see June Whitaker's name there - and Maurie's... What incredible days... what an amazing experience we all shared.
My greetings to all!
Posted by: John Leah | 07 January 2009 at 10:32 AM
David.
Congratulations on a wonderful report.
Hopefully other years will have get togethers - it is a marvellous but sometimes a frightening experience - what are they now like etc, after so many years ? Have I done all the homework ? Will it work out in the long run?
We have all gone through the same concerns - 62/63 - Port Macquarie in 2002, the easier Sydney 2005 and by 2007 for our year, well easier, until we decided to to "up the bar" for all ASOPA CEO's.
We have noted that Bob Cochrane's year of 58/59 have had a reunion, David Keatings year of 61/62 have got together in 2007, at Nerang, and now after 2007, David moved for his year at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. Some other years 63-65 are looking to a 2009 gathering in Cairns.
Let us keep the reunions going and hopefully a big bash - a la Brisbane may again happen. Where - those interested - consider - accessibily ( easy) - and cost.
Not terribly difficult if you do your homework.
Cheers
Colin
Posted by: Colin Huggins | 01 January 2009 at 07:06 PM