Very sorry to hear of your resignation as a caring and competent President of the PNGA, but appreciate your reasons for so doing.

As Patron I do not feel it proper that I should become involved in the issue, but I would have thought that the Association would want to ensure that the older members’ interests in a historical sense were catered for, whilst at the same time doing whatever is seen as both useful and feasible in supporting closer Australian / PNG relations – particularly between our Defence Forces.

Having now read all the comments, I'd just like to congratulate you again on all your good work in such a short time as President. You gave all you have . Well done Keith Your sensitive, compassionate decision was correct. All who know you realise that youi'll continue in your efforts to help PNG . That's the important thing. You'll have plenty of support ftrom people who DO care.

Philip Charley OAM

Dear Keith, It was worth the effort

What a disaster! When I joined the PNGAA a few years ago, I realised that the membership had a preponderance of old fogeys who saw the organisation as a geriatric social club in which they could vicariously re-live their petty Konedobu bureaucratic achievements.

But I knew there were also members whom I had seen in action in my seven years in PNG, men whom I admired and respected for their energy, imagination and often selfless dedication to the Australian commitment. Naively, I thought the former group would retire to their club chairs with their pipe and port, and welcome the initiatives that Keith and his team brought to revivify an increasingly moribund association.

If for no other reason, they might have been expected to support efforts to assert the proud role of Australia in the Territory at a time when the cynicism of politically correct and historically illiterate journalists denigrate their life's work. Never before has that effort been so necessary, as PNG slides into self-corrupted chaos, and Australia loses interest and leverage in its important neighbour.

So far only one reactionary seems to have outed herself - I'd invite others to come out of the shadows and try to justify their wrecking actions. None of us may be young and energetic now, but remember: we can all age without growing old.

The binatangs, of the classification to whom you refer, are related to the dinosaurs - they fossilise before they die. It's just as well the very few remaining specimens are a protected species; otherwise they would have been Mortein-ed years ago.

It is a sad day when people are unable to appreciate the enthusiasm, planning, drive and performance that you brought to the PNGAA.

One wonders how our Papua New Guinean neighbours will react when they realize that a number of their former work colleagues care little for the future of their country and its relations with Australia.

I applaud your outstanding efforts and recognize your decision to devote your time to your family and business interests.

I would like to support Henry in encouraging you to continue the operation of the website “PNG Attitude”.

It mightn't feel all that great at the moment but you have just made a smart move. This isn't the stage in life to run yourself ragged over anything - and certainly not in taking on arch conservatives, many of whom cannot cope with and detest the word "change".

Ten years ago I found myself in a similar position taking on similarly inclined dinosaurs. Fortunately, I did it from a position which made it very difficult to be "picked off". I also had powerful supporters who never let me down on those few occasions when I called in the cavalry.

I dubbed the prehistorics "the forces of darkness" and "the hill billies" and wasn't at all averse to using the terms in the presence of those thus described. For a couple of years "the forces of darkness" enjoyed some popularity and wide circulation throughout Oz - and even beyond. I have slowly extricated myself from the firing line (though not before I managed to have some of the changes introduced) and life without the hassles is a joy.

Your position is far more difficult - without the support of "heavies" who can re-establish an equilibrium when it is needed. You also have a pretty shadowy target while you, in turn, are a "sitting duck". Your adversaries have played these games all of their lives - few have achieved anything of note .... they are the gutless curs who go for the heels of real people.

The best that you could have hoped for would be "point scoring" and that is only necessary for small people. It is also destructive for groups like PNGAA.

It will be interesting to see who (and how) fills the position!

Enjoy the extra time for those things which you have worked so hard to make available to yourself and family.

PS I hope like hell you will keep your site operating. That is where you can have an influence: even if the path is narrower and progress along it a fair bit slower.

I'm very sorry to hear of this - it will put paid to all efforts to reform the PNGAA and condemn it to a slow death, which will be painful for all of us - but I can imagine and thus quite understand how untenable your position would have become.

I thought your initiatives were excellent, and I trust you'll now be able to devote all that energy to your business - I look forward to bumping into you on occasion in the future.

Sorry to hear of your decision. If YOU couldn't fix the problem it must have been bad. On the positive side your stress levels and business will benefit. Good luck for the future.

I am really sorry to hear this. It hasn’t been easy being on the PNGAA committee for a number of years due to the intolerable attitudes of some.

I have appreciated your energy and vision for a sustainable association that had the ability to grow and develop without losing the essence of its history.

You have made many remarkable achievements whilst at the helm, many of which would not have, as yet, been seen by the membership as a whole...thank you.

Keith, It saddens me deeply that all your efforts, and the efforts of many others, to reenergise the PNGAA and to assure its long-term future have been thwarted by negative individuals and pressure groups.

I congratulate you on your positive efforts and forebearance and only hope that those nameless critics now come forward and put their ideas and options on the table so they can be judged by the membership.

Again congratulations! You gave it your best shot, the Association will miss your positive and constructive input.

Murray Bladwell (PNGAA Member- Brisbane)