Finally: the Calvin Klein of PNG

 

AIR NIUGINI In-Flight Magazine

 

"Paradise", the in-flight magazine of Air Niugini, is available in every seat of every Air Niugini international flight, and also on selected domestic services.

The first issue of "Paradise" was published in July 1976, following the founding of Air Niugini itself in 1973, and the year after Papua New Guinea achieved its independence. Early editions are now avidly sought by collectors.

To read its current or a back issue, click here.

 

PNG's most-smoked newspaper

 

From the December 1969 issue of the PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY:

 

Seventy years of Pacific Islands Monthlies

Click here, then click on 'Browse this Collection',
then use the drop-down menu to select 'Set 461-480' and click on 'Go' to go straight to 1970

 

The National Library has recently completed the digitisation of the entire run of the Pacific Islands Monthly magazine, from the first issue in 1930 to the last in 2000, and all the issues can be browsed or the text fully searched on Trove.

The Pacific Islands Monthly (PIM) was founded in Sydney by New Zealand-born journalist Robert William (Robbie) Robson, who had moved to Australia during World War I. The first issue of PIM was in newspaper format and consisted of 12 pages. The number of pages gradually increased and by the 17th issue (December 1931) PIM had changed to a magazine style format. In later life it evolved into a glossier coloured magazine.

PIM was required reading for anyone interested in not only Papua New Guinea but also islands farther to the east, and after I'd moved to Guinea in the dying days of 1969, I never missed an issue. In fact, I've always thought that I got my first job in New Guinea with a firm of chartered accountants in Rabaul through a classified ad which I had placed in PIM sometime in late 1969, and some ten years ago even made a trip to the National Archives in Canberra with the express purpose of finding the ad and taking a copy of it.

I remember sitting in their cavernous reading room and paging through all twelve issues of their 1969 magazines and not finding anything that looked even close to the Job Wanted ad as I remembered it, "Young accountant (24), still studying, seeks position in the islands."

Now that PIM has been digitised, I've been able to search the same issues on the computer from the comfort of "Riverbend" but with the same result - NOTHING! So how and where did I advertise? One thing I know for certain: I did not reply to a Position Vacant advertisement. Strange how faulty one's memory can become.

Still, it was a treat to read those old issues and through them relive the six or seven years I spent in this wonderful and mysterious country that almost became a second home to me.

Take the opportunity to do your own exploring by either browsing through the issues looking for unexpected gems, or searching for particular people, places or topics. Endless hours of pleasure and edification await you!

Click here (click on 'Browse this Collection', then use the drop-down menu to select 'Set 461-480' and click on 'Go' to go straight to 1970).

 

From the November 1989 issue of the "Pacific Islands Monthly":

 

For a more readable copy, click here

 

 

From the January 1989 issue of the "Pacific Islands Monthly":

 

Chris Jefferies from Canada sent in this photo:

 

And he wrote, "The red arrow points to my room in the donga in the first camp up the road from Loloho."

That was called Camp 5 in my days in the early 70s but changed its name to Birempa later on, I believe.

If anyone can add any more information, please email me at riverbendnelligen[AT]mail.com

 

From the September 1969 of "Pacific Islands Monthly"

 

Let's get the ball (-mills) rolling ...

 

Papua New Guinea: Initiation and Independence

 

First published in 1976, "Papua New Guinea: Initiation and Independence" was the first book to interpret the key events that led to the nation’s independence in 1975.

In the book, journalist Don Woolford, a correspondent for the Australian Associated Press in Papua New Guinea, describes the ferment and excitement of the 1960s and 1970s, chronicling the former Australian territory’s political development from the first general election for a representative House of Assembly in 1964 through independence.

Key figures in the transition, including Michael Somare, John Guise, Albert Maori Kiki, and Josephine Abaijah, make an appearance and their contributions are analyzed adroitly. Woolford’s access to these and other important individuals, as well as to literature produced for the moment that is no longer available, make this an inimitable and invaluable record of the remarkable years that led to the creation of the nation of Papua New Guinea.

To read Chapter 3 on Bougainville, type or copy and paste

a group of village women wrestled with police

into the Search window below and click on the magnifying glass:

 

Bougainville Library Project

 

Lloyd Jones, whose "Mister Pip" sold 300,000 copies in Britain after it reached the Booker shortlist, is hoping to arouse similar enthusiasm for his venture in support of the real-life inhabitants of the island where his novel was set.

His Bougainville Library Trust has already made links with local people to help them plan, build, stock and fundraise for a community library (click here) – Jones calls it a "temple for story" – in Arawa, the largest settlement on Bougainville, an autonomous island that is within the political fold of Papua New Guinea.

Also planned is a cultural centre to house field notes from visiting scholars and historical materials from institutions around the region.

Click here to go to their facebook page.