Hello, a friend sent me your website and I can tell you that I was one of the "single girls" living at Panguna between 1969-1971. I was Secretary to Don Pearce of Conzinc Rio Tinto and was madly in love with Marcus Clarke from Tyabb but left after two years to travel the world just to find out if everywhere else was a laid back as Bougainville. I was one of many who made the big trip from the mine site to Kieta and spent several days thereafter just about unable to walk another step. I remember the Riot Squad coming over from Rabaul when there was an uprising against the mine site, but most of all I remember the wonderful people that came and went. Please publish my email address in your missives if you so desire as it would be fantastic to catch up with anyone who wants to.
Peter, do as you wish, I am sure we all had a lost love that we look back on with fond memmories. I am in Kilmore, Victoria, where I originated from when I first went to Bougainville. Am living at home with mum (now she is back on her feet as I nursed dad at home until he died in January last year) Spent last twelve months doing Agency nursing around Victoria and am about to embark on a permanent job while at Uni doing a Rural Critical Care Course in Shepparton through Melbourne Uni - that should keep me out of trouble. Thanks it would be nice if you publish my name and email address in the Honour Roll.
Where exactly is Nelligen?
Tyabb is a small town towards Frankston I would have to look through heaps at present to find some photos, I did have some that I kept for sure of Henry Moses as he was the first black Santa Claus I had ever seen (before living in USA for 9 years), Henry had his cotton wool beard on and his lap lap and nothing else. Will look for photos when possible, the fires down here have been keeping us on our toes - will put it on my to do list.
Thanks a bunch it will be fun to see if I get any replies, I mean to say, who could have forgotten me. I remember one of the girls, Ellen who hooked up with Peter and when they left they went by a small sail boat to return to Qld. Amazing how things you think you had forgotten come back, thanks so much for having the website.
Sincerely,
marlenecoff@westnet.com.au
