The PNG Letters

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A B C-E F G-I J K L M N-O P-R S T-U V-Z

	Alan and Rovin Alan and Rovin were our most wonderful hosts on New Britain [see Easter in Rabaul ]. Alan is the father of the Clark Children who we were most blessed to see twice during our short stay in PNG. Back \| Top
	Alastair One of the Clark children who we lived with for many years in Sydney before going to PNG, and were happy to see twice during our stay in PNG. Alastair, Jesse and Keren always had an amazing creativity to their play; they were always doing the craziest things together. Back \| Top
	Andrew A Carpenter with the John Nambis building team. A quiet man, upstanding within his community, who was very active in his local church. Back \| Top
	Andrew Andrew was an AVO volunteer who was posted to the Lutheran Mission at Banz and worked with Norbert. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Andrew Mangi Andrew was the Principal of Fr. Peter Secondary School. Back \| Top
	Andy and Iris Andy and Iris were in Papua New Guinea with the GDS. Andy was a tropical agriculturist working at the Fatima Vocational Centre; Iris worked for a short period with the Charity Brothers in their handicapped programme. Iris played her flute in the jam sessions Iris (on guitar), Jesse (on clarinet), Bill (on Nathanael's trombone) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Bernadette Ding Bernadette is the middle child of John and Anna, and became a very close friend to Nathanael. Back \| Top
	Bill A Peace Corps volunteer who worked at Fr. Peter Secondary School as a chemistry teacher. Lovingly known as Dr. Bill, he borrowed Nathanael's trombone for the jam sessions Iris (on flute), Jesse (on clarinet), Chris (on guitar) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Billy Billy was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis' team. Back \| Top
	Bruno Bruno was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis ' team. Back \| Top
	Cherie One of the Clark children who came to visit us during our stay. Back \| Top
	Chris A Peace Corps volunteer who worked at Fr. Peter Secondary School. Chris played his guitar in the jam sessions Iris (on flute), Jesse (on clarinet), Bill (on Nathanael's trombone) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Fr. Fabian Fr. Fabian was a Franciscan Priest who travelled the Papua New Guinean countryside looking after the Franciscan vocations; he was murdered in 2001 whilst sleeping in his bed. He is not the first Christian Martyr in PNG and he will not be the last, but he was one that I knew and loved. Much has been written about Fabian, which I do not need to repeat here, except to say that his passing is Heaven's gain and our very, very sad loss; and it caused me again to put missions into the perspective that it deserves. Back \| Top
	Francis Francis was another PALMS volunteer who was teaching at the College. He also looked after the staff kitchen and the two national cooks, Maria and Kathy. The sketch was done by Jesse. Back \| Top
	Gabriel Ding Gabriel is a relation to John Ding and one of our security men. I never got a photo of Thomas, but they were the dynamic duo (not), unfortunately. They usually worked one week on, one week off; except when it was vacation at the College, and then because there were significantly less people around, we had them both on together [which is what I thought was happening in Dogs amongst the sheep ], but Gabriel particularly had problems [see Security ] Back \| Top
	Gerard Gerard was a volunteer with VSO and worked at Fr. Peter Secondary School as an English teacher. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Jack Ande Jack is the cook, he likes to say, the senior student cook, at Good Shepherd College. A bit of a raskol, but lovable all the same. His last child, which was born during our stay, was named after me (he is therefore known as my nemsek ). I was touched and suspicious about this, but my suspicions were ill founded as Jack only asked for a dolly once we had come back to Australia. Back \| Top
	Fr. James A Priest who worked at Good Shepherd College. Fr. James was the Priest who Nathanael sleep-walked onto in the Staff House one night. It was so funny: Sandi and I heard a noise mid sleep which you should not hear in the middle of the night: the front door opening and closing. We rushed out, along the path and into the staff house to find Nathanael standing in the middle of the Staff House asleep and Fr. James opening and closing his mouth but without too many words coming out. Finally all he could say was, "Um, he just came in!" We just said, "It's OK, he's asleep" and guided him back to his bed (with big smiles on our faces). Back \| Top
	Br. Jef A Charity Brother who had a love for things technical (which can just be a little difficult in PNG). Back \| Top
	Jeremy Jeremy was a volunteer with the Nazarene Church, who we came to know through our friends at Kudjip. Jeremy lived in Lae where he worked at one of the schools there as a teacher; and was very helpful to us on numerous trips to and through Lae [see The Triumphal Entry, Lae and Return in Four Days ]. Back \| Top
	Jesse Mowbray Jesse is, what the locals call, the longest of our boys. Absolutely head and shoulders above anybody else, which really made the school assemblies funny to look at [see The Vaipa ]. Jesse initially didn't want to go on mission (probably because he had the most to 'lose'), but after one of the PALMS information nights he was 'sold' and insisted that we were definitely going. Jesse played his clarinet in the jam sessions Iris (on flute), Chris (on guitar), Bill (on Nathanael's trombone) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell and The Australia Family Mowbray. Back \| Top
	Joanna Daughter of John and Anna, sister of Bernadette and Arnold. Joanna was one year ahead of Jesse at Fr. Peter Secondary School. Back \| Top
	Johannes Johannes was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis' team, and was the one who miraculously found the lost key [see The Miracle of the Keys ]. Back \| Top
	Br. John A Charity brother and long time missionary at Fatima. Br. John has seen the work at Fatima begin, flourish and now decline (primarily, I would suggest, because the school has come under the management of the Government). Back \| Top
	John and Anna John is the Dean of Students at Good Shepherd College, and lived on the College grounds with his wife Anna and family: Joanna, Bernadette and Arnold. Back \| Top
	John Nambis John Nambis was the foreman of the building works at Good Shepherd College when I arrived. John is a highlander, although his surname means beach [see nambis ], which was something he could never explain to me [see also The Nambis Family ]. Back \| Top
	Joseph Markham Joseph was the very capable gardener at Good Shepherd College. Back \| Top
	Karl and Peggy Karl and Peggy were volunteers with the GDS ; Karl working as a tropical agriculturist with the Fatima Vocational School. Peggy was to fall pregnant and have their first baby (Samuel) in Papua New Guinea [see Samuel has Come ], which was a brave decision, but one that blessed not only all the volunteers but all the nationals too. I still remember the little knock and German voice at 2am one morning enquiring if we were still serious about coming with them to hospital… because the baby was coming! And what a wild ride that was: the pain of child birth echoing out over the dark and silent PNG landscape as we drove to Kundiawa (Chimbu Province). The party for Samuel was the first in a series of odd parties amongst the expatriate community [see A celebration for Samuel ]. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Fr. Kees Fr. Kees is the Rector of Good Shepherd College, essentially my boss; not the best boss I've ever had, but one with a great sense of humour! We all grew to love Kees very dearly and he looked after us in some difficult times with a lot of compassion. Kees is a Dutch SVD and had been in PNG for over 30 years; the SVD's are missionary priests who give their life, or most of their life, to their host country: this inspired much awe in us. Back \| Top
	Keren Mowbray Keren is my middle son, probably the one who changed the most while we were away. Keren was the one who was probably the most excited about going to PNG. See also Elke's Farewell and The Australia Family Mowbray. Back \| Top
	Br. Lambert The chief mechanic and general fix-it man for the Catholic Mission in Mount Hagen. An amazing fellow with a fairly gruff exterior initially, but we got to love him dearly and laugh with him on many, many occasions. Back \| Top
	Lindsay Lindsay is the youngest of the Clark Children, and a great friend to Nathanael. Back \| Top
	Margaret A volunteer who worked with the girls at Maria Kwin, which was a girls technical college at Banz. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Sr. Mary Sr. Mary is a Josephite Sister and a real work horse at Good Shepherd College. I think now, by her own admission, she is the oldest employee there. Back \| Top
	Mathias Mathias was a local identity in Fatima and Banz. I've written a short description here. Back \| Top
	Br. Maurice Br. Maurice is a Christian Brother working at Good Shepherd College doing all sorts of jobs, from attending the sick bay to teaching history and scripture. An avid bush walker, he took us on many an excursion. Back \| Top
	Michelle Michelle is the oldest of the Clark Children. Back \| Top
	Nathanael Mowbray The youngest member of our wee family. Nathanael really did go native, being befriended by young Bernadette, and in fact the whole Ding household. His Pidgin developed very quickly and he had the best accent I've heard in a white person (which the nationals loved). See also Elke's Farewell and The Australia Family Mowbray. Back \| Top
	Norbert and Elke Norbert and Elke were missionaries with the Lutheran Church. Norbert was the farm manager at the Lutheran Mission at Banz, which was known as Banz #1. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	PALMS PALMS is the Catholic Lay organisation which send us away to Papua New Guinea. Their website is here: PALMS, or contact them via email at palms@palms.org.au. Back \| Top
	Paul Paul was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis' team. Back \| Top
	Perry and Sandi Mowbray What can I say? Here I am, and my beautiful wife Sandi. Perry played his guitar in the jam sessions Iris (on flute), Jesse (on clarinet), Bill (on Nathanael's trombone) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell and The Australia Family Mowbray. Back \| Top
	Fr. Peter Fr. Peter is the Parish Priest of Fatima. He has been a missionary in PNG for over 40 years, and for most of that time in Fatima. Fr Peter started Good Shepherd College, initially down in Madang, and then moved it up to Fatima. An amazing man who helped broker a peace amongst waring tribes in the area, and now those same tribes argue who will have the privilege of burying him in their village. Back \| Top
	Smol Peri Smol Peri was not a great contributor during our stay, but one that I will remember for a long time to come. He was the boy of Jack (our student cook) and my nemsek. Back \| Top
	Tom Tom was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis' team. Tom was a bit of a joker, and was not a local fellow and therefore was at the bottom of the pecking order. Back \| Top
	Br. Tony Tony was the Deputy Principal at Fr Peter Secondary School. He, Andrew Mangi and Mark formed a formidable leadership team for the school. He is a Christian Brother and referred to himself as the lost white man in PNG. Back \| Top
	Fr. Valerian Fr. Valerian was a Priest who worked at Good Shepherd College. Back \| Top
	Vitas Vitas is, what Jack insists, the 2nd student cook. Vitas is a raskol too, but a little less lovable; I was always just a little suspicious about Vitas. Back \| Top

[ Home ] [ Letter Index ] [ Photograph Gallery ] [ The Actors ] [ The Lingo ]

Introduction

We're leaving on a jet plane…

The Banz Highway

So, this is Good Shepherd College?

My Mum's a Punk!

So, what have I done for the first four months?

So this is PNG?

The changing culture of PNG

1998 Christmas letter

Easter in Rabaul

A Christian country?

A celebration for Samuel

A land of the unexpected

A land time forgot

A safe country?

An independent country

It gets under your skin!

Time to say Goodbye

1999 Christmas Letter

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	Alan and Rovin Alan and Rovin were our most wonderful hosts on New Britain [see Easter in Rabaul ]. Alan is the father of the Clark Children who we were most blessed to see twice during our short stay in PNG. Back \| Top
	Alastair One of the Clark children who we lived with for many years in Sydney before going to PNG, and were happy to see twice during our stay in PNG. Alastair, Jesse and Keren always had an amazing creativity to their play; they were always doing the craziest things together. Back \| Top
	Andrew A Carpenter with the John Nambis building team. A quiet man, upstanding within his community, who was very active in his local church. Back \| Top
	Andrew Andrew was an AVO volunteer who was posted to the Lutheran Mission at Banz and worked with Norbert. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Andrew Mangi Andrew was the Principal of Fr. Peter Secondary School. Back \| Top
	Andy and Iris Andy and Iris were in Papua New Guinea with the GDS. Andy was a tropical agriculturist working at the Fatima Vocational Centre; Iris worked for a short period with the Charity Brothers in their handicapped programme. Iris played her flute in the jam sessions Iris (on guitar), Jesse (on clarinet), Bill (on Nathanael's trombone) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Bernadette Ding Bernadette is the middle child of John and Anna, and became a very close friend to Nathanael. Back \| Top
	Bill A Peace Corps volunteer who worked at Fr. Peter Secondary School as a chemistry teacher. Lovingly known as Dr. Bill, he borrowed Nathanael's trombone for the jam sessions Iris (on flute), Jesse (on clarinet), Chris (on guitar) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Billy Billy was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis' team. Back \| Top
	Bruno Bruno was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis ' team. Back \| Top
	Cherie One of the Clark children who came to visit us during our stay. Back \| Top
	Chris A Peace Corps volunteer who worked at Fr. Peter Secondary School. Chris played his guitar in the jam sessions Iris (on flute), Jesse (on clarinet), Bill (on Nathanael's trombone) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Fr. Fabian Fr. Fabian was a Franciscan Priest who travelled the Papua New Guinean countryside looking after the Franciscan vocations; he was murdered in 2001 whilst sleeping in his bed. He is not the first Christian Martyr in PNG and he will not be the last, but he was one that I knew and loved. Much has been written about Fabian, which I do not need to repeat here, except to say that his passing is Heaven's gain and our very, very sad loss; and it caused me again to put missions into the perspective that it deserves. Back \| Top
	Francis Francis was another PALMS volunteer who was teaching at the College. He also looked after the staff kitchen and the two national cooks, Maria and Kathy. The sketch was done by Jesse. Back \| Top
	Gabriel Ding Gabriel is a relation to John Ding and one of our security men. I never got a photo of Thomas, but they were the dynamic duo (not), unfortunately. They usually worked one week on, one week off; except when it was vacation at the College, and then because there were significantly less people around, we had them both on together [which is what I thought was happening in Dogs amongst the sheep ], but Gabriel particularly had problems [see Security ] Back \| Top
	Gerard Gerard was a volunteer with VSO and worked at Fr. Peter Secondary School as an English teacher. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Jack Ande Jack is the cook, he likes to say, the senior student cook, at Good Shepherd College. A bit of a raskol, but lovable all the same. His last child, which was born during our stay, was named after me (he is therefore known as my nemsek ). I was touched and suspicious about this, but my suspicions were ill founded as Jack only asked for a dolly once we had come back to Australia. Back \| Top
	Fr. James A Priest who worked at Good Shepherd College. Fr. James was the Priest who Nathanael sleep-walked onto in the Staff House one night. It was so funny: Sandi and I heard a noise mid sleep which you should not hear in the middle of the night: the front door opening and closing. We rushed out, along the path and into the staff house to find Nathanael standing in the middle of the Staff House asleep and Fr. James opening and closing his mouth but without too many words coming out. Finally all he could say was, "Um, he just came in!" We just said, "It's OK, he's asleep" and guided him back to his bed (with big smiles on our faces). Back \| Top
	Br. Jef A Charity Brother who had a love for things technical (which can just be a little difficult in PNG). Back \| Top
	Jeremy Jeremy was a volunteer with the Nazarene Church, who we came to know through our friends at Kudjip. Jeremy lived in Lae where he worked at one of the schools there as a teacher; and was very helpful to us on numerous trips to and through Lae [see The Triumphal Entry, Lae and Return in Four Days ]. Back \| Top
	Jesse Mowbray Jesse is, what the locals call, the longest of our boys. Absolutely head and shoulders above anybody else, which really made the school assemblies funny to look at [see The Vaipa ]. Jesse initially didn't want to go on mission (probably because he had the most to 'lose'), but after one of the PALMS information nights he was 'sold' and insisted that we were definitely going. Jesse played his clarinet in the jam sessions Iris (on flute), Chris (on guitar), Bill (on Nathanael's trombone) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell and The Australia Family Mowbray. Back \| Top
	Joanna Daughter of John and Anna, sister of Bernadette and Arnold. Joanna was one year ahead of Jesse at Fr. Peter Secondary School. Back \| Top
	Johannes Johannes was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis' team, and was the one who miraculously found the lost key [see The Miracle of the Keys ]. Back \| Top
	Br. John A Charity brother and long time missionary at Fatima. Br. John has seen the work at Fatima begin, flourish and now decline (primarily, I would suggest, because the school has come under the management of the Government). Back \| Top
	John and Anna John is the Dean of Students at Good Shepherd College, and lived on the College grounds with his wife Anna and family: Joanna, Bernadette and Arnold. Back \| Top
	John Nambis John Nambis was the foreman of the building works at Good Shepherd College when I arrived. John is a highlander, although his surname means beach [see nambis ], which was something he could never explain to me [see also The Nambis Family ]. Back \| Top
	Joseph Markham Joseph was the very capable gardener at Good Shepherd College. Back \| Top
	Karl and Peggy Karl and Peggy were volunteers with the GDS ; Karl working as a tropical agriculturist with the Fatima Vocational School. Peggy was to fall pregnant and have their first baby (Samuel) in Papua New Guinea [see Samuel has Come ], which was a brave decision, but one that blessed not only all the volunteers but all the nationals too. I still remember the little knock and German voice at 2am one morning enquiring if we were still serious about coming with them to hospital… because the baby was coming! And what a wild ride that was: the pain of child birth echoing out over the dark and silent PNG landscape as we drove to Kundiawa (Chimbu Province). The party for Samuel was the first in a series of odd parties amongst the expatriate community [see A celebration for Samuel ]. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Fr. Kees Fr. Kees is the Rector of Good Shepherd College, essentially my boss; not the best boss I've ever had, but one with a great sense of humour! We all grew to love Kees very dearly and he looked after us in some difficult times with a lot of compassion. Kees is a Dutch SVD and had been in PNG for over 30 years; the SVD's are missionary priests who give their life, or most of their life, to their host country: this inspired much awe in us. Back \| Top
	Keren Mowbray Keren is my middle son, probably the one who changed the most while we were away. Keren was the one who was probably the most excited about going to PNG. See also Elke's Farewell and The Australia Family Mowbray. Back \| Top
	Br. Lambert The chief mechanic and general fix-it man for the Catholic Mission in Mount Hagen. An amazing fellow with a fairly gruff exterior initially, but we got to love him dearly and laugh with him on many, many occasions. Back \| Top
	Lindsay Lindsay is the youngest of the Clark Children, and a great friend to Nathanael. Back \| Top
	Margaret A volunteer who worked with the girls at Maria Kwin, which was a girls technical college at Banz. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	Sr. Mary Sr. Mary is a Josephite Sister and a real work horse at Good Shepherd College. I think now, by her own admission, she is the oldest employee there. Back \| Top
	Mathias Mathias was a local identity in Fatima and Banz. I've written a short description here. Back \| Top
	Br. Maurice Br. Maurice is a Christian Brother working at Good Shepherd College doing all sorts of jobs, from attending the sick bay to teaching history and scripture. An avid bush walker, he took us on many an excursion. Back \| Top
	Michelle Michelle is the oldest of the Clark Children. Back \| Top
	Nathanael Mowbray The youngest member of our wee family. Nathanael really did go native, being befriended by young Bernadette, and in fact the whole Ding household. His Pidgin developed very quickly and he had the best accent I've heard in a white person (which the nationals loved). See also Elke's Farewell and The Australia Family Mowbray. Back \| Top
	Norbert and Elke Norbert and Elke were missionaries with the Lutheran Church. Norbert was the farm manager at the Lutheran Mission at Banz, which was known as Banz #1. See also Elke's Farewell. Back \| Top
	PALMS PALMS is the Catholic Lay organisation which send us away to Papua New Guinea. Their website is here: PALMS, or contact them via email at palms@palms.org.au. Back \| Top
	Paul Paul was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis' team. Back \| Top
	Perry and Sandi Mowbray What can I say? Here I am, and my beautiful wife Sandi. Perry played his guitar in the jam sessions Iris (on flute), Jesse (on clarinet), Bill (on Nathanael's trombone) and I (another guitar) were involved in. See also Elke's Farewell and The Australia Family Mowbray. Back \| Top
	Fr. Peter Fr. Peter is the Parish Priest of Fatima. He has been a missionary in PNG for over 40 years, and for most of that time in Fatima. Fr Peter started Good Shepherd College, initially down in Madang, and then moved it up to Fatima. An amazing man who helped broker a peace amongst waring tribes in the area, and now those same tribes argue who will have the privilege of burying him in their village. Back \| Top
	Smol Peri Smol Peri was not a great contributor during our stay, but one that I will remember for a long time to come. He was the boy of Jack (our student cook) and my nemsek. Back \| Top
	Tom Tom was employed as a carpenter by Good Shepherd College as part of John Nambis' team. Tom was a bit of a joker, and was not a local fellow and therefore was at the bottom of the pecking order. Back \| Top
	Br. Tony Tony was the Deputy Principal at Fr Peter Secondary School. He, Andrew Mangi and Mark formed a formidable leadership team for the school. He is a Christian Brother and referred to himself as the lost white man in PNG. Back \| Top
	Fr. Valerian Fr. Valerian was a Priest who worked at Good Shepherd College. Back \| Top
	Vitas Vitas is, what Jack insists, the 2nd student cook. Vitas is a raskol too, but a little less lovable; I was always just a little suspicious about Vitas. Back \| Top