My uncle recently spent a few years in PNG. He was really good at sending emails that were almost like a diary. From the stories he told I think it was much safer back in the 70's! Well it looked safer back then! :o)

War seemed to bond our two cultures better than business does in these modern times...just a thought....

*** My dad related a story about how he was nearly killed up there. There was a dispute over some of the workers who he had fired for not working. They went back to their village and organised a war party and came back to the main camp to challenge dad. He was sitting on the steps of the sleeping hut and these blokes were all standing, getting ready to spear him or whatever they were going to do. Then they stopped, turned around and went home. Dad's 'houseboy', an elder with Elephantitis in one leg had walked up behind dad and looked at all these young lads. I can't recall exactly what he did, but they decided that the retribution from him was going to be bad. Dad was never hassled again.
There is still a strong tribal culture in the highlands in PNG. Still tribal wars and stuff, but with Coke signs as a back-drop. Western concepts are corrupting a beautiful country.

*** Gee your Dad was really lucky! My uncle told similar stories - he worked for a mining company that employed the locals as well as Aussies, etc. Disputes are still settled with machetes even now. Your wonderful photos give the impression of carefree days in an untamed land - but it wasn't so!!!

I always wonder how our Diggers got on so well with the Fuzzy Wuzzies. Maybe they saw our soldiers as warriors and maybe had more respect for them and so helped them during WWII.

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Hehehehe..........such a shame I had to grow up huh!!!!

*** You're still my lil sister, and you're still a cutie
:o)

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