TERRY EDWINSMITH
IT has always intrigued me how the idea of the Iduabada Technical College working with the PNG Defence Force arose.
Relying on the recollections of WO2 Dan Winkel, who was present at the initial stages of this joint scheme, it is thought that the Army wished to send PNG soldiers to Balcome in Victoria for apprenticeship training.
However the authorities ‘Down South’ expressed concern with this concept and instead requested that soldiers with some expertise in trade subjects be sent for more advanced training.
Seeing the merit in this argument, those in charge at Murray Barracks decided to enrol soldiers at Iduabada Technical College for initial training in trade subjects.
The College Principal at this period was Des Large, a long-time resident of Port Moresby and active in many local societies and clubs. He agreed to take the soldiers on condition the Army helped in staffing the College with qualified teachers.
Des enjoyed playing darts at the Murray Barracks Sergeants’ Mess and it can be assumed that the genesis of this joint venture was hatched over a beer and a game of darts on a Friday night.
This occurred at about the same time in 1966 that the first group of National Service Education Sergeants arrived in Papua New Guinea to commence RAAEC (Royal Australian Army Educational Corps) duties at various battalions throughout the Territory.
It then became the duty of WO2 Dan Winkel to sort the ‘wheat from the chaff’ in the selection of a suitable candidate for Iduabada. A morning of interviews took place and the successful candidate was Donald Benson, who, possessing trade and woodworking skills, became the initial Education Sergeant appointee.
Don boarded the Army bus each morning as it took RAEME (Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) apprentices to the College for the 7:30 am start. Classes ended at 2:30 pm when Don returned to Murray Barracks for a late lunch and an afternoon free of other duties.
Des Large requested that the Army teaching staff wear civilian clothes whilst they were at the college as many of the pupils they were teaching were civilians.
So Don Benson, the first Nasho appointee, became a pioneer in this joint endeavour. At the conclusion of his posting to TPNG, upon completing his two year compulsory service, it is believed that the Murray Barracks adjutant, a Major Bruce Boyce, furnished him with a glowing reference.
The second appointee, Ken Morcom, was interviewed for the job in Australia. He possessed trade teaching qualifications but found himself engaged in other teaching duties when he arrived in Port Moresby.
A recent view of those times was expressed by retired Lt Col Roger Jones (TPNG 1967-69), who recalls that, “As it happened, at that stage (in the mid-1960s) with Vietnam putting increasing demands on the AMF at home, both in the arms and key services areas, RAEME was one of the few services with both a capacity and an interest in making some contribution into PNG.
“The original RAAEC role in PNG, as seen from AHQ in Canberra at that time, had been clearly focussed on the need for more (and more effective) PNG officers and on more general Ordinary Ranks development, with that general 'civil affairs' underpinning common to both.
“But at that stage I suspect that the recognition of the ultimate need for a PNG 'defence force' as distinct from its then model of an 'all PNG infantry with a leavening of AS staff and other arms/services backing' was certainly non-existent in Moresby and only just beginning to develop in Canberra.
“I don't recall the issue of how the development of an all-arms/services PNG Army might be encouraged ever being discussed in Moresby at either policy or practical level - at a personal level, it wasn't really until I was subsequently on the staff at the Army Staff College and being the Directing Staff supervisor to Ted Diro and Paterson Lowa that I even gave much thought to the matter myself! I would be interested in other people's views on that subject.”
A change in approach to teaching duties at the Technical College saw subsequent RAAEC teachers undertake Science and Maths subjects as their areas of responsibility. The role of members of RAEME whose students were being educated during this period is unclear. They appear to provide some escort services on the daily bus run to and from the Barracks as the Science/Maths lecturers travelled independently to Iduabada Tech by their own transport.
Unfortunately one of their number, a NSW serviceman, John Martin, lost his life in a motorcycle accident whilst travelling to the College in 1969.
It is thought that the RAEME instructors did provide trade training at this time at the College. This would make good sense! Indeed the last conscript teacher, Peter Shackleford (1972-3), recalls that this was indeed the case.
Peter has said that when he told friends about his national service period, he would say he wore civilian clothes, taught science at the Technical College and went to the Barracks (Murray Barracks) to collect his mail and pay.
From time to time he took his turn at supervising the army apprentices getting on the bus at the Barracks and again at the College for the return journey. Occasionally he took evening homework/tutoring sessions with the army apprentices back at Barracks.
During College holidays, he attended the Barracks and wore the PIR uniform, but he had no regular duties or responsibilities there during those times. Peter stayed on to complete his 18 months of national service after the Whitlam government gave conscripts the option of leaving the army early.
A slightly different view was expressed by Denis Jenkins. When he arrived in Port Moresby about the end of October 1970, he and another Victorian, Jim Bates, were assigned to the Maths/Science section of Iduabada Tech. Neither had any trade qualifications.
His understanding of the overall planning may not have been complete, but he assumed that they were sent out to the College because there was a sizeable contingent of Army apprentices doing electrical or mechanical trades, carpentry or cooking and possibly other courses that he had forgotten, and that he and Jim were the staffing trade-off for having 50 or so extra students on the College premises.
Jim and Denis travelled together by private car to Iduabada for the 7.30 am to 2.30 pm school day, and each taught Maths (six periods) and Science (five periods) at about Form 3 / Year 9 Australian standard to three separate classes.
This was a total of 33 periods in a 40 period week, a pretty hefty load, but the students were co-operative and enthusiastic, and this daily routine was certainly preferred to 'Army life' back at the Barracks.
They were also occasionally involved in school sports or other events outside the classroom at Iduabada. Denis was not aware of any RAEME people at the College during his tour of duty.
During College holidays, the Army Juniper Greens were donned from time to time, as they were called in to do inventories and various other tasks as well as taking turns as Duty Sergeant when the roster needed filling.
Overall, servicemen appointed to the Iduabada Technical College enjoyed the job and as young teachers, found it valuable experience to take into their future careers.
The Iduabada Technical College has progressed on to this present day. Few of the staff or students over the years would contemplate such a colourful history, except Des Large and the small group who made it happen.
Soldiers from the RAAEC, in order of service during this time prior to PNG Independence in 1975 were Sergeants Benson, Connell, Rae, Fennell, Martin, Mason, Roxburgh, Spiteri, Bates, Jenkins, Smithard, Wellman and Shackleford.
Further PNG Military reading may be found at www.NashosPNG.com