In February 1965 I flew back to Papua New Guinea after being on leave at home in Sydney. I had been recovering from hepatitis and after 8 weeks leave I was fit and well and happy to return to teaching in Port Moresby. I was still living in the women's hostel on Touaguba Hill overlooking the harbour. However, I had put my name down to share a house. The Australian Government paid our fares to go on leave and return as well as providing accommodation for us.
The only way in and out of PNG is by ship or plane. This is the wharf in Port Moresby taken from the roof of my hostel in 1965
I had a motor scooter to get to work and go sight seeing on weekends. This must have been Saturday because these are the boats that were filled with church going passengers for the Seventh Day Adventist Church. After church the people returned to their villages in these big canoes.
Hanuabada is one of the villages near Port Moresby. Many of the houses are built over the water on stilts.
Koki is another village in Port Moresby where the people lived on house boats.
Also at Koki there was a big market place.
Port Moresby Hospital in 1965. It looks much better today. I spent some time here with hepatitis and later with a bladder infection.
House of Assembly 1965. PNG was governed by Australia from 1901 until 1975 with an interruption during the second world war when the Japanese invaded. In 1975 an attractive new building was completed in the style of a traditional 'mens' house in the villages, for the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.
It was back to work for me at Korobosea 'A' (Australian curriculum) School. More buildings were being erected which made it fun on playground duty. The school is now Korobosea International School.
My class singing an action song. We were preparing for Education Week
Showing our best pages.
Almost time to go out and play. They were great kids to teach. No behaviour problems.
I do like these posts, it must had been terrible to have hepatitis. I always thought it would be great to live on houseboat but I get seasick so not really a good idea
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting career you had, Diane! I love the cheerful looks of your class children. They certainly look well-adjusted; have you ever run into any one or more of them later? The first thing that caught my eye of that assembly photo was the teacher "holding" her head! What fun to be young!
ReplyDeleteA good time for you that was. The children look happy.
ReplyDeletegood to see you now getting over the serious health issue and surging ahead again, lovely accounts from your early years in P.N.G. Dianne
ReplyDeleteDiane, I am glad your health problems were taken care of..It is great to see these photos from your teaching days. The children are all so cute. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteHappy memories, times children didn't have all those modern behaviour problems with all different names.
ReplyDeletethe last three photos are my favorite, i love the one that is the action song.. everyone looks so happy ....
ReplyDeletesuch cute students. i can imagine watching over them during recess would have been difficult with all the construction dangers!
ReplyDeleteThe place looks like a holiday paradise ! I mean the landscape. How cute our little pupils !
ReplyDeleteSuch cute kids and I was noticing how dressed up they all are. Not like schools today! Oh, the blue blue blue of that water. So beautiful. What an adventure for a young lady.
ReplyDeleteDiane the information is fascinating and the photos are beyond brilliant.
ReplyDeleteRecovering from Hepatitis would not have been fun.
What an incredible time in your life living in Port Moresby.
I really enjoyed this post. Your photos are wonderful and your students look as if they were a joy to teach and just be around.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing photos I didn't live in that time so foe me is very interesting. It was completely different time at school. The children were great. Definitely being teacher at that time was easier and more comfortable than now.
ReplyDeleteNice, as always, Diane, to see these photos from your teaching days and I can imagine you must sometimes wonder where your former students have gone now.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your early days stories. Not fun having to spend time in the hospital though. You always bounced right back again :D)
ReplyDeleteYes, I also noticed how well dressed the children were. Nice to know you had no problems with them - they looked a happy bunch.
It's interesting to hear that there were no behaviour problems in your classes.
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