I've worked in scores of different places and more than a dozen different countries, but there've been only two places that were absolutely life-changing for me: Papua New Guinea first in 1970 and then half-a-dozen times later, and Burma in 1975.
Being part of the team from all over the world that built the Bougainville Copper Mine created an esprit de corps that kept me in touch with people from all over the world. In early 2003 I decided to collect their reminiscing recollections on a The Bougainville Copper Project website which at first resulted in a huge avalanche of emails and phone calls from the many thousands of expatriates who built the mine and subsequently worked it.
More than fifty years after the mine was built, the ranks have thinned out, with many having gone to the 'Big Copper Mine in the Sky' and others having become too feeble to put pen to paper, let alone type along on a keyboard. Only the occasional email tells me that the website is still being read. Here is the-first-in-almost-a-year email from Rex Brooks who was one of the pioneers who helped to explore the copper deposit in 1964:
Hello Peter,
I was randomly browsing and came across your blog. I was amused by
the photo of you in the article "The die was cast", as it could have been a
photo of me from that era, similar age and build, identical glasses and same
dress sense. It brought back memories of a time of my life I won't forget.
I was recruited in Cairns by Ken Phillips for a job with CRA Exploration. We
arrived in Kieta in April 1964 and commenced geochemical sampling around
Kupei mine. The team consisted of Ken, myself (field assistant), Ian Wilkie
(field assistant), Edgar Mucenikas (geochemist) and Neville Robinson (Mines
Dept. liaison).
We moved across to the western side of the range and set up a base camp in
Panguna valley, see photo attached. This spot is where the BCL Admin,
warehouse and workshop later stood around 1970.
I did many and varied jobs and managed to see many areas in PNG, all the
while being paid for the experience. I gradually drifted into Supply and
worked with Ken Nelson for several years. After three years I thought I was
missing out on "life" in Australia and left, but within 6 months I was back,
with a new bride, and stayed until 1970.
Anne and John Barnham were our next-door neighbours at Panguna. My first daughter was born in this period and I can remember my wife being swamped at the markets by the meris wanting to touch the baby's fine white hair. I followed Ken Phillips to Ok Tedi with Kennecott Exploration but two years later, now with three daughters, I settled at Greenvale Nickel Mine for 20 years! The day Greenvale mine closed I was on a flight back to PNG for 10 years of FIFO at Porgera. My last job in PNG was with Morobe Mining at Hidden Valley in 2012. I am now retired on a small property outside Townsville and have become adept at doing absolutely nothing. In the time I spent in PNG I often came into contact with many ex-Bougainvilleans. Without exception they all portrayed the "bug" that seems to get into your blood after a stint up there. Bougainville was home and you went to Australia on leave. I am gradually reading through all the old posts but sadly age seems to be cutting down the ranks. All the best to you, Peter, for keeping the memories alive.
Regards
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And thank YOU, Rex, for helping me keep those memories alive!
