TPNG Forestry July reunion in SE Queensland [AU]Friday 24 Jul 2026 After a period of some fifty years, former TPNG Foresters met in South East Queensland between 9th to 16th July 2026.Dick McCarthy, editor of the PNGAF magazine series -Australian foresters in Papua and New Guinea from 1922 to 1975, travelled to Queensland to acknowlege the efforts by many of the TPNG foresters who provided invaluable assistance over the last decade in documenting those forest scientists efforts.  The PNGAF project (in serialised magazine format posted on the site issuu.com/rbmccarthy) covers the history of Australian foresters in PNG from 1922 up till 1975. It attempts to explain the strange coming together of methods, opportunities, and motives of early Australian foresters to enact lasting social changes within the PNG Forest Sector. At the same time, it provides an insight into the introduction of sustainable forest management practices and tree growing into the privately owned forest lands of PNG. Many people and organisations have contributed and continue to contribute to this social forest history project especially because its format is non-commercial and for educational purposes. The main gathering was held at the beautiful Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve – Mountain View Restaurant Maleny on Monday 13th July 2026. It was a fitting venue for a group whose professional lives had revolved around scientific forest management of PNG’s forests. The reunion was made possible through the efforts of Des and June Harries assisted by Dr Barry Gray. Their hospitality and organisation were greatly appreciated. For some it had been over fifty years since they last met. Although the years have passed quickly, conversation certainly hadn't. Within minutes the group were recalling their days in the PNG Forest Service, the people they worked alongside, the challenges faced and the friendships that developed while working in one of the world's most remarkable and relatively unexplored forest environments. During the visit they presented Dick McCarthy with a copy of The Magic of Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, accompanied by a thoughtful inscription acknowledging his work in recording the history of forestry in Papua New Guinea. It was an unexpected and much-valued gesture that he will forever honour. By 1975, Australian foresters had undertaken initiatives for the development of detailed flora mapped inventories of the various forest systems of PNG; community based forest management interventions including a forest concession system catering for all parties, i.e. landowners, government agencies and developers; industrial wood processes for the conversion and treatment of PNG woods coupled with development of a structured wood processing and construction industry; silvicultural techniques and establishment of PNG species in plantation format; forestry technical and tertiary training institutions and the involvement of the Papua New Guinea people in thieir forests economic development. This ongoing PNGAF social history project would not be possible without the ongoing support and input of PNG historians and especially senior Queensland Forest Scientists. The implications for Australia and PNG of political, economic and security development in terms of PNG forestry is that there is a long standing and significant wood trade between Australia and PNG especially Queensland, encompassed within a sphere of similar forest types, similar plantation species and forest products bound by many existing long-term areas of mutual co-operation (e.g., forestry training) within the respective government and private sectors. During the period up to 1975, there was a need for PNG as an emerging nation to develop its forest sector to assist in creating its own economy utilising its resources (including wood fibre) but at the same time ensuring peoples’ interests were protected. This PNGAF project is to ensure that this forestry knowledge and the lessons of the past help current and future forest sector personnel to develop their own perspective re developing PNG’s forest sector. More >> Source: Dick McCarthy, Editor PNGAF magazine Image credit: Andrea Williams  |
Copyright 2004-2026 © Innovatek Ltd. All rights reserved. |