In 1963 at the ripe old age of 21, I went to TPNG (Territory of Papua New Guinea) to teach there. I joined the Judo Club and made some friends. A few years ago one of the fellows, Charles, started to try and find members of the club in Australia. (Most of us had returned to Australia after TPNG gained independence.) Charles found a few of us and organised a reunion, since then we have had a reunion every year. This year it was held in Stanthorpe, a small town in the Granite Belt ranges, 223km west of Brisbane.
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Some of the friends I made were Del, Graham and Charles.
46 years later we meet again. This time Charles had found Michelle a previous junior member of the Pt Moresby Judo Club. Michelle is opposite me.
Graham, me, Penny, Michelle, Charles and Del.
In 1965 Charles went to Japan to train for six weeks, while there he earned his Black Belt 1st Dan. In 1971 he and Penny were transferred to Lae, where he started another junior and senior club, He was awarded life membership of the Pt Moresby Judo Club and the PNG Judo Federation.
I was only in the club for one year 1964 and obviously didn't have any photos taken. I reached the Orange Belt level. I especially enjoyed the self defence lessons.
What a group! And what a friendship all these years. They are the best ones.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing Diane. You enjoy life to its fullest -- and this is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOhhh, you have hidden talents...
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, Diane.... I think it's great --especially these days---for kids to learn self-defense... It's also a good discipline...
ReplyDeleteGlad you were involved with the group--even for a year...
Hugs,
Betsy
That's too funny, nobody looks like an (ex) Judoka, lol! I never did Judo, but my men did and I had something to watch and laugh about. My son made it to I don't remember what belt I but then switched to something similar, but I forgot the name. Anyway it's martial art.
ReplyDeleteDiane....It was a wonderful reunion, and great to see the photos from way back. Really, my friends from the TPNG Judo Club from all those years ago are my close friends today, together with their spouses. Life is a great journey as we grow older and the disipline and respect we were taught in those days is still with us in our senior years......Indeed a terrific group.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that you can keep in touch with friends from long ago, Diane!
ReplyDeleteI always wished I took some self defense classes just to be on the safe side.
Amazing - great to catch with friends after so many years.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful story. You must have been over the moon to meet up witj old friends of all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteWow, my son went up to Brown belt and doesn't want to continue.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you teach in PNG? I have a very good friend who went to PNG for a long time, first as a nurse, then as a teacher.
My husband went last year, so they can talk about PNG.
My photos of PNG were taken by him.
http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2009/05/friday-shoot-out-water.html
I meant to say Sam did Karate. Not Judo.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting glimpse into your past.
ReplyDeleteI was looking forward to a photo of you. It's good that you're able to meet up with those friends from the past. Everyone must have been thrilled by Michelle's great success over the years, and I'm sure she's had a positive influence over many young people over the years.
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