S. Lloyd, M. Jeffery and J. Hearn. Taim Bilong Misis Bilong Armi: Memories of Wives of Australian Servicemen in Papua New Guinea, 1951-1975 Canberra: Pandanus Books, 2001

A Review by Greg Ivey

I found this book recently by accident when the title caught my attention. The small book contains factual, personal stories by European wives of PIR officers arranged in order from 1951 to 1975. Only 30 of the 155 pages coincide with our Nasho period of 1967-73 but most readers could also relate to the experiences of the women prior to 1967. The contributors number about one dozen wives and one widower.

The wives have contributed personal and government photos, black and white, to illustrate their stories. For example, Marlena Jeffery has included two photos taken during her wedding to (later Major General) Mike Jeffery at Taurama Barracks in 1967. Some stories relate to their working lives and some to their travels within TPNG but always to their relationships with the indigenous people.

In her preface, Jenny Hearn offers a taste of the stories:

“Unusual demands were made upon all of us. We had to cope with extra responsibility while husbands were away, often for several months at a time, inadequate housing and hausbois, and contribute to …schools, kindergartens, hospitals, church and charities. Nurse our children and endure tropical illness, the pervasive heat, insects, isolation, loneliness and years of separation from family, friends and even our children. Yes, there were sad and difficult times but there was also affectionate support, laughter, fun and good times too, in these predominantly youthful communities.”

The majority of the wives lived in married quarters at Murray, Taurama, Igam, Goldie River or Moem Barracks where they joined social and sporting networks with other wives in the Army or civilian life. Remarkably, several wives were able to find private accommodation to visit their husbands on duty at Vanimo. Written in the first person, the stories (and poems) are immediate, clear and engaging. The glossary is useful as are the references to the pioneering accounts by Dame Rachel Cleland who retired to Cottesloe, Western Australia.

The outstanding historian, Professor Hank Nelson, provides his characteristic, perceptive insight in his Introduction. This includes a brief overview of the PIB, NGIB and PIR from 1940 to 1975. So, although the stories will appeal mainly to female readers, it might do male readers no harm to skim through the book. You may be lucky, like me, to find a copy in a major public library (Dewey number: 919.53).

This book was one of several donated to Australian libraries by the PNG High Commissioner in 2005 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of PNG Independence.

G. J. Ivey