This newsletter deals with the history of the Patrician schools of Redfern, Waterloo, and Forest Lodge.

Author: Kevin Scott
34 Ferguson St, Forestville, 2087
02 9975.6481
 
     MAY, 2002 - Volume 9 Issue 2
 
Redfern, Forest Lodge, Waterloo 1886 - 1967
Patrons Office Bearers Provincial Editorial
Fr Les Cashen (Forest Lodge)
Fr Victor Doyle (Waterloo)
President  Kevin Hilferty
Secretary  Les McMahon
Treasurer  Eric Leahy
Br Paul O'Keeffe Kevin Hilferty
Kevin Scott

Table of Contents

Featured this Edition:
Annual Mass
Br Benignus Kealy RIP
Brother Michael Gaynor RIP
Monsignor 'Lex' Johnson RIP
Glebe Scout Concert - 1942
There is More to Tell
Aitape and Its Surrounds
Patricians in Papua New Guinea

ANNUAL MASS
ST. JAMESâ, FOREST LODGE
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 9.30am.

It is fitting that in the 125th anniversary year of the founding of the Parish of Forest Lodge in 1877, we return to the Church of St. James, Forest Lodge for our Annual Mass.

There will be ample parking in the school playground at the rear of the church, off St. James Lane. 

We compliment those who assisted by bringing along a plate for morning tea on the last occasion. We look to your help once again. Our sincere thanks.

Many may not be aware that the first Catholic institute of learning in Glebe was St. Maryâs College, a famous Catholic school for boys in Sydney in the 19th century. It was conducted by the Benedictine Fathers on the Lyndurst Estate, above Wentworth Park, from 1853 to 1877. 

The Catholic Weekly of February 11, 1957 contains a two-page article regarding the College and the recollections of a famous ex-student, John Lane Mullins. It can be viewed, on microfilm, at the State Library, Macquarie Street, Sydney.

Father Martin Hugh Bernard Callachor, parish priest at Forest Lodge from 1882 to 1891 was a Benedictine. He was assisted by another Benedictine, Father Myles Edmund Athy from 1886 to 1891. For our Waterloo readers, it is of interest to note that they too were served by Father Athy OSB, 1870-1872 and Father Daniel Placid Quirk OSB, 1881-1882. Fathers Callachor, Athy and Quirk had all taught at St. Maryâs, Lyndhurst.

In 1877 the Lyndhurst Estate was sold to finance the building of  St. Patrickâs College at Manly.

FOREST LODGE PARISH CELEBRATIONS - IMPORTANT DATES.

Solemn Mass - Sunday, July 7, 2002 at 9.30am - to be celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Pell.

Parish Dinner to be held at Wentworth Park, Thursday, July 25, 2002  -  7.00pm for 7.30pm.
Cost $50 per head.


BROTHER BENIGNUS T. KEALY (RIP) 1880-1971
Provincial 1919-1927

Following the departure of the Provincial, Brother Boniface Carroll and the two delegates, Brothers Alphonsus Eviston and Baptist McGrath for the General Chapter on May 10, 1919 the province was left short-handed. 

Brother Paul OâConnor records. ãBut worse was to come. Brother Fintan OâNeill was first sent to Bathurst in place of Brother Baptist McGrath Îuntil help arrived from Irelandâ. On May 24, Brother John Lee, aged 60, died in Lewisham Hospital of Brightâs disease, a kidney infection. Two weeks later Brother Ignatius Hannigan died of the influenza epidemic. At the same time, Brother Clement Howlin and Brother Fintan OâNeill were in hospital with minor attacks of influenza.

ãThe Îflu epidemic of 1919 was most severe and people were not allowed to congregate in enclosed rooms without wearing a special mask. Brother Alphonsus Eviston recorded in his diary that he occasionally attended Mass wearing a mask.ä By Government proclamation schools were closed from January to March 1919 and later from April 1 and July 1; in the latter case for a fortnight, as is recorded in the Council Book of the Redfern community. These were days of great strain for the Brothers who often worked when medically unfit.

ãOn August 15, 1919, a cable was received announcing the new Regime: Brother Boniface Carroll, Superior General; Brothers Leo Slattery, Stanislaus Slattery, Stanislaus Bergin and Adrian Keogh as Councillors. Brother Benignus Kealy, who had been Acting Provincial, was appointed Provincial in April 1920. His council consisted of Brothers Alphonsus Eviston, Canice Grimes, Baptist McGrath and Celsus Daley. All were re-appointed to the same positions in 1922.

ãIn 1920 the province was heartened by the arrival of Brothers Raphael Phelan, Norbert Phelan and Arsenius Quann [changed to Serenus in 1922]. The year of 1921 saw the arrival of Brothers Cyprian Fitzpatrick and Evangelist Hanratty. 

ãApart from the installation of electricity and a cinematograph at Holy Cross in 1921 and the opening of Sacred Heart College at Dubbo the same year, the main progressive achievement of these years was the establishment of a monastery [Blessed Oliver Plunkett] at Forest Lodge in 1923. The first resident Brothers being Brothers Cyril Boland, Finian Byrne and Joseph Tierney. Another item of interest was the sale of our Armidale property to the De La Salle Brothers in 1926 for 250 Pounds. They had been renting this property from us since the late 1890s and at the time of the sale owed 15 Pounds for rent.

ãIn September 1921 a Holiday Fund was launched to provide for Brothers whose holidays were overdue. Brother Basil Cassidy had to wait 20 years for a holiday and Brother Fintan OâNeill stated in his application in 1924  that he had practically been on foreign missions since 1893, including eight years in India. Brother Bernard OâToole was granted a holiday in 1923 after 30 years; Brother Clement Howlin also in 1923; Brothers Patrick Fogarty and Basil Cassidy in 1924; Brother Fintan OâNeill in 1925 and Brother Austin McGrath in 1927.ä

But Brothers were still needed to help staff the prospective school at Dubbo in 1921. The Dubbo foundation was to comprise a primary school only. But, upon arrival, the parish priest placed a further requirement on the Brothers - a small secondary school with boarders.

In that further requirement, ãa small secondary school with boardersä lay the seed which would develop to
cause the expulsion of the Patrician Brothers from the Bathurst diocese by the then Bishop, Dr. M. OâFarrell  CM.

We will not dwell on the details of what, no doubt, were the saddest years in the Instituteâs history in New South Wales. Suffice to say that by letter dated December 11, 1924, Bishop OâFarrell requested the Brothers to withdraw from Dubbo and Bathurst. In an interview with the Provincial, Brother Benignus, the Bishop said Îthere was to be no farewelling of the Brothers.ä The Brothers removed their personal property at night and left secretly without telling any of their friends.

The matter was appealed to Rome, but their case was weakened by giving up possession. ãIf the Brothers had retained possession of both houses the Bishop would then have had the onus of proving his case to Rome for their eviction.ä [Annals].

Brother Paul OâConnor further records: ãEarly in March 1927 a rescript dated February 22, 1926 was received from the Sacred Congregation for Religious, giving the following verdict ãRecursum non sustineriä which may be translated, ãAppeal dismissedä.â

Upon his return from Rome and by letter dated November 22, 1926 Bishop OâFarrell advised Brother Benignus ãI am hereby removing, and do hereby remove, the Catholic Boysâ (Primary and Secondary) schools in Orange from the direction of your Brothers.ä

ãThe Patrician Brothers ceased to teach at Orange on ÎSpyâ Wednesday, April 13, 1927, but it was intended that two or three Brothers remain at ãCroagh Patrickä, which the Brothers had purchased in 1914 for 4250 Pounds, until the property could be reasonably disposed of and another novitiate set up in the vicinity of Sydney.ä

At Bishop OâFarrellâs insistence the Brothers left Orange on Christmas Eve, 1927.

In March 1928, ãCroagh Patrickä was sold to Bishop OâFarrell for 7000 Pounds with the Brothers retaining the ownership of some statues, a large crucifix and some books. The property became a boysâ orphanage. It is presently a private school.

ãDr. OâFarrell died of a cerebral haemorrhage on April 3, 1928. May he rest in peace.ä

In our past three issues we identified the Brothers through to 1919. We pick up this thread to 1927.

1920 Brothers Norbert Phelan, Raphael Phelan and Arsenius Quann [changed to ÎSerenusâ in 1922 ? one does not bear to think of what the boys at Mount Carmel, Waterloo made of ÎArseniusâ]  arrive aboard the SS Beltana on February 9 [SRNSW Reel 2109].
Brother Thomas J. Hunt dies at Ryde on June 12 in his 71st year. 

1921 Brothers Cyprian Fitzpatrick and Evangelist Hanratty arrive from Ireland. The vessel has not yet been identified.
Brother Cuthbert Corbishley dies at Orange on November 4 in his 68th year. His funeral is one of the largest  and most representative ever held at Orange.
Brother Laurence OâConnell leaves the Order at the expiration of his first annual vows.
Brother Joseph Daniel Tierney  of Orange is received into the Order in February. He arrived as a Junior in 1919.

1922 Brothers Eunan McCahill and Raymund Savage arrive aboard SS Baradine on October 16 [SRNSW Reel 2121].
Brother Francis Allan McDermott from Mackay, Queensland is received into the Order. He arrived at Orange as a Junior, aged 13 years in March 1918.

1923 Brother Ignatius Albert Barrett from Dapto is received into the Order. He arrived at Orange as a Postulant in July 1922.

1924 John Holton of Newcastle was dismissed as ãunsuitableä. Brother Paul OâConnor records: ãThe following information relevant to the dismissal of ãJackä Holton is vouched for by Brother Ignatius Barrett.
ãAt ÎCroagh Patrickâ there was a mongrel dog about as big as a large dalmatian, quite lean and hence displaying prominent ribs. Jack Holton painted this dog with a broad green stripe the whole length of its backbone and tail and with a yellow stripe on each rib. The dog then met Brother Celsus Daley in the main street of Orange and jumped up on him to show its affection. On his return to the novitiate, Brother Celsus interviewed Holton and dismissed him.ä
Brother Vincent Desmond Fordham is received into Order

1925 Brothers Eunan McCahill and Raymund Savage leave the Order.
Brothers Celsus Daley and Austin OâConnell sail from Sydney  in May to attend General Chapter.
Brother Oliver Healy arrives from Ireland, in all probability in the company of the returning delegates.
Brother Francis McDermott is appointed to Forest Lodge and Brother Ignatius Barrett to Mt. Carmel.

1926 ãMr Curran for some time a Christian Brother in Ireland joined our novitiate today, July 26. In September he was received as Brother Columba.ä
John Shanahan, from Mt. Carmel parish entered the novitiate on February 2 and is received as Brother Malachy in September.

1927 Brother Aidan  Doyle, Asst. General arrives on visitation
Brother Benignus Kealy  and some of his Council resigned in 1927 on date unrecorded in Brother Paul OâConnorâs writings. 

Brother Benignus Kealy sailed for Ireland in 1929. He never returned to Australia. He died at Mallow, Co. Cork, in his 92nd year, on May 7, 1971.

In memory of all mentioned in the above.
Requiescant in pace.

Explanatory Note: The above article is drawn from the writings of Brother Paul OâConnor (RIP) and Shipping Lists, CGS 13278  held in the State Records of New South Wales.
 


BROTHER PETER MICHAEL GAYNOR (RIP) 1871-1897

Brother Peter Gaynor appears in the Irish records in 1895 at Redfern and in 1897 at Albury where he died on December 26, 1897.

I have not been successful in identifying his arrival in New South Wales. I came to the conclusion that he may have been a ãcolonialä. No record of his birth can be found in the NSW registrations. 

Reluctantly, I obtained a copy of his death certificate from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. This is the first occasion in our research that I have found it necessary to purchase a death certificate in an endeavour to resolve the background of a deceased Brother.

The information contained in the certificate is as follows:
 

Date and place of Death Name and Occupation Sex and Age Cause/Duration/Doctor
Last Seen
Name and occupation of Father
Name and occupation of mother
Informat
1897
26th December
Albury
Michael Peter Gaynor
Teacher
Male/ 26 years Phitisis? pulmonitis
some years
20 Dec 1897
John Gaynor - Farmer
Unknown
Certified by John Lee
(no relation)
[Brother]

It further stated that he was born at Tipperary, Ireland and had been two years in N.S. Wales.

Why had I not found him in the shipping lists? Perhaps he had arrived as a bounty immigrant. The only Michael Gaynor arrived in 1880, aged 20 years and was clearly not the person I sought.

The arrivals in 1894 and 1895 were revisited. 

Brother Anthony OâNeill, Superior General, arrived  on the SS Oratrava on September 8, 1894. A complete check of the passenger manifest confirmed Brother Anthony travelled unaccompanied.

Brother Alphonsus Delaney arrived aboard the SS Austral on November 2, 1895. He was accompanied by Brothers W. Boyle, A(nselm) Kavanagh and C(lement) Howlin. Further on in the passenger manifest, a Brother Ryan is listed. I identified him as Brother Aloysius Ryan.  All are shown as Îschoolteachersâ. I have found no other record of a Brother W. Boyle or any other Boyle. I presumed he was a Brother of another Order travelling in their company and excluded him from my records. 

All vessels arriving from February 28, 1895 to February 29, 1896 have been checked without success.

Did Brother Peter Gaynor travel as ÎBrother W. Boyleâ? In 1895 he was aged 24 years, Brother Clement Howlin was then 19 years of age. Had Brother Peter Gaynor served in India? Had there been a switch of Brothers at Ceylon without the passenger manifest being updated? 

I have been unable to establish Brother Peter Gaynorâs arrival in NSW. There have been others of course, but explanations exist, such as landings in Melbourne. But all these travelled in company. The only other explanation is that he arrived with another Brother unknown and both landed in Melbourne. 

I fear, that unless there somewhere exists a written memorial to Brother Peter Gaynor, all we shall ever know of him is that shown in his death certificate. But of one thing we are certain. He was born in Ireland. 

Perhaps, in Tipperary there is a Gaynor family member who knows it all! 

Requiescat in pace.
 


THE PASSING OF MONSIGNOR ãLEXä JOHNSON (RIP) 1941-2002
Ordained Priest 
Sydney 
July 17, 1965
Parish Priest , Forest Lodge
1992-1999.

It is with deep sadness that we record the passing of Monsignor Alexander Maxwell Johnson who died on April 11, 2002.

At the time of his passing, Monsignor Johnson had just taken up appointment at Mascot after having been Parish Priest at Earlwood since leaving Forest Lodge in 1999.

During his time at Forest Lodge Monsignor Johnson also took on the added burden of the parishes of Annandale and Pyrmont, reflecting the shortage of priests to serve the Sydney Archdiocese.

Prior to coming to Forest Lodge, he was Dean of St. Maryâs Cathedral for a number of years.

Mass of Christian Burial for Monsignor Johnson was concelebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Pell, Bishops and Priests at St. Maryâs Cathedral on Wednesday, April 17, 2002. 

The Cathedral was filled with family members, colleagues and friends, joined with present and past parishioners who came together to celebrate his life.

Owing to a heavy storm the departure of the cortege to Macquarie Park (Northern Suburbs) cemetery was deferred to 11.00am the following day. 

Monsignor Johnsonâs remains were transferred to the Cathedral crypt and rested there overnight awaiting interment.

Requiescat in pace.
 
 


ALMOST 60 YEARS AGO

Someone sends you a bit of information and you place it loosely among your files. At the time, it appears to be of little significance. A few years later you come across a battered document and spread it out, join the torn pieces together and realise you have a wealth of information -  a program of an eveningâs entertainment, by those you had known in your youth. Many of them -  for a lifetime.

6th Glebe (St. James)
80th Catholic Scout Group

Presents

ãYouth on Paradeä 

TUESDAY, 1st SEPTEMBER, 1942

* * *
Patron: Right Rev. Monsignor Patrick Alphonsus Doherty, P.P. V.F.

Chaplain: Rev. Justin McGlynn

Group Scoutmaster: Edward J. Ryan, Esq., J.P.

Lady Cub Mistress: Miss Margaret McNair

***

M.C.:  Mr.  JACK FREEMAN

Programme

Item 1 ãUncle Herbert Visits Doctorä  (Comic Sketch)
Uncle Herbert                      Norm Burton 
Willie                                   Jack Donnelly
Doctor Killemoff                 John Moloy 
Item 6    HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
ãAll quiet on the Home Frontä              ãBurglar Billä
ãBananas and Quinces Restaurantä  ãStingey and Familyä
The Players:
            John Bryant, John Smith, John Phillips, 
Bernie Garraway, Stan Bradbury, John Humphries, 
Les McMahon, John Sankey, John Small, Ted Gard, 
Bernie Freeman and Stan Fletcher.
Item 2       ãPRINCE BARBERYä Musical Comedy
The Players
Sir Samuel Scissors      Jack Scanlon
Percy Palmolive     Brian Larkin
Bertie Brilliantine    Noel Sara
Billy Bayrum     John Sankey 
Timothy Talcum     Martin Jackson 
Theo Thug     Mick Lamrock
Claude Cleptomaniac    Jim Gilfeather 
Baron Ivgotanitch    Frank Walsh
Sir Herbert Maycatchem    John Moloy 
Item 7              ãLITTLE SWANSä  in
KEEP THAT SCHOOLGIRL PERFECTION
Scout Ballet
With grateful acknowledgement to Miss Graham 
of Graham-Burrows
[The members of the corps de ballet were not named.]

Item 8  Talent Quest - St James Cubs

Item 9 "Scout at Home" - Scout Chorus
 

Item 4 Scene: ãKING JOHNä 
Shakespeare
The Players
Prince Arthur   John Moloy
Hubert   John Campbell 

Item 5 VOCAL SELECTION
Gounodâs ãAve Mariaä Noel Sara
Brahmâs ãLullabyä Jack Scanlon & Chorus

Item 10    ãMURDER AT MIDNIGHTä
Act 1: 11.30pm at the home of Sir John Maldon.
Act 2: Early morning.
Act 3. Later same morning.
The Players
Galt, the butler  John Campbell
 Sir John Maldon  Kelvin Harris
Hiram C. Tucker  Jim Stenning
Slavin   Frank Rolls
Ronny Baxter  Frank Walsh
Inspector Walsh  Mick Lamrock
 Constable Charlie  Keith Cupitt

ãGOD SAVE THE KINGä

Acknowledgements

We wish to place on record our appreciation of the continued patronage of the Right Rev. Monsignor Doherty and to thank him for the many favours he has so graciously bestowed on us during the past four years.

We also wish to thank all those who have contributed in any way to the success of this eveningâs entertainment and in particular:

Rev. Fr. Justin McGlynn (Chaplain) Rev Fr. Patrick Landers

Rev Fr. Roach & Buxton S.J. for the use of  their original plays. 

Miss Graham of Graham-Burrows  Miss Pat. Butler (accompanist)

Members of the Ladies Committee  Messrs Grace Bros. Pty Ltd.

Mr. Stephen McCormack.

It was a grand night for all; the audience, the performers, the coaches and all involved in the production. 

But then these were ãthe good old daysä. World War II was on. No one owned a motor car. There was little or no money and you couldnât borrow any. You could leave the key in the front door and the back door wide open. Women and children could walk the streets at night without fear. The churches were packed from 6 am to noon for five Masses every Sunday morning.

Now, somewhere there is a war on every day of the week. Nearly everyone ãownsä a car. There is a lot of money around and you can borrow as much as you like. But that doesnât mean to say you have any money. You have to deadlock the doors, front and back, and put bars on the windows. At night, people fear for their safety on a train, let alone risk walking the streets. Very few go to Mass. We didnât think so then, but looking back, there was something very good about the 1940s!

Of the teenagers mentioned above, John Campbell, Jim Gilfeather and Jim Stenning enlisted in the RAAF in 1943 or shortly thereafter. Thankfully, all returned safely.

So many of these then teenagers and boys have passed on. On completing this article, I read it and then wept for all those who have gone.

Requiescant in pace.


THERE IS MORE TO TELL

I spoke with John Campbell, alumnus of Forest Lodge, regarding the christian names of some of the players featured in the program on the previous pages. To my utter amazement John forwarded several pages from his photo album for my perusal - photos circa 1942 to 1947. I chose four photos, three of scouts and one of the CYO. Mind you, John provided the negatives as well! It was simply beyond belief.

This was towards the end of March. I trotted up to my local photographer to find the shop windows papered over. I was seen leaning against the the shop door in despair. Where will I find a man with such genius at such a reasonable price?  A local businessman, in a past life, the licensee of a city hostelry I had frequented, patted me on the shoulder and, very confidentially, said: ãDonât worry, Scotty, he is re-opening in the shop opposite in a couple of weeks.ä Five weeks later the new store opened. Just in time to meet the timetable for this issue.

To appreciate the number of names of the players contained in the program and those who appear in the photos, they are listed in aphabetical order

Stan Bradbury, John Bryant, Pat Butler, Norm Burton (RIP), John Campbell, Bill Cummins (RIP), Keith Cupitt (RIP), Jack Donnelly, Stan Fletcher (RIP), Bernie Freeman, Jack Freeman, Ted Gard (RIP), Bernie Garraway, Jim Gilfeather (RIP), Marie Dunne, Kelvin Harris, John Humphries, Bill Hynes, Ray Ireland (RIP), Martin Jackson, Reg Jones (RIP), Mick Lamrock, Brian Larkin, Colleen Lee, Eddie Lovegrove, Brian McCormack (RIP?KIA at Milne Bay), Mervyn McCormack (RIP), Les McMahon, Jack McManus (RIP), Margaret McNair, Joan Miles, John Moloy, Joan Nakkan, John Phillips, Margaret Prendergast, Clif Purcell, Paul Rogers, Frank Rolls, John Sankey, Noel Sara, Jack Scanlon, John Small, Pat Small, John Smith, Jim Stenning, Rupert Wallace, Frank Walsh (RIP), Bernadette Winters, Claire Wonson together with five others, unidentified, in the photograph. In all, 55 vibrant young people.

I have recorded those known to me to have passed away. Sadly there will be a number of others of whom I am unaware. May they rest in peace.

In the CYO photo, I have identified Bernadette Winters - John is of the opinion it is Marie Dunne. Your help is sought in identifying those we have been unable to recognise. The original is a 2äx 2ä print and some of the faces are darkened by shadow, bending etc. At the time of the preparation of this article the digitally enhanced enlargement is still awaited. 
 
 

Frank Rolls, Kelvin Harris, Jack Freeman, Jim Gilfeather, Margaret McNair, Unknown, Bill Hynes,
Brian McCormack 
and an unknown cub.
Swift Patrol
Mick Lamrock, 
Frank Rolls, 
Jim Stenning, 
Bill Hynes. 
Frank Walsh, 
Keith Cupitt, 
Bill Cummins, 
John Campbell.

Catholic Youth Organisation
Forest Lodge Branch 
 Picnic at Royal National Park
1945

Back Row:  Rupert Wallace, Clif Purcell, Paul Rogers, Joan Miles, Reg  Jones, Jack McManus,
2nd :  Pat Small, Jim Gilfeather, Mervyn McCormack, Bernadette Winters, 
Colleen Lee, Claire Wonson
        3rd : Joan Nakkan, Elaine Passmore, Ray Ireland [head only], Lass ?,
              4th :Chap ? [partially obscured] John Bryant [bending]
              Front:  Eddie Lovegrove,  Chap ?, Dorothy Walsh,  Margaret Prendergast.



AITAPE AND ITS SURROUNDS

Brother Charles Barry arrived from Ireland in October 1959 in the company of Brothers Peter (Iranaeus) Higgins and Flannan (Brendan) McCann. They were the first Patricians from Ireland to arrive by Îplane. Brother Charles was appointed to Fairfield where he remained until the end of 1967 and was Principal there in 1966-67.  He spent the next 27 years in the West Sepik area of Papua New Guinea at Aitape, Nuku and Lumi. For the greater part of his time in Papua New Guinea, Brother Charles was Superior and Principal at these locations. He is presently attached to Delany College, Granville.

Raised on a farm, Brother Charles is experienced in handling horses. His story will capture your imagination. We are sure this is but one of many he can relate of his experiences in West Sepik.

Since his return in 1994, Brother Charles has regularly attended our Mass and Luncheon.

NO HORSEPLAY

On 24 January 1968 Gabriel McCluskie, an alumnus of Forest Lodge and HCC, Ryde, and myself were very warmly welcomed to Aitape, as pioneer Patricians, by another HCC alumnus, Bishop Ignatius Doggett ofm. Having flown from Port Moresby in a very dilapidated DC 3 (in fact it was the aircraft used by General MacArthur in his famous island-hopping campaign) and from Wewak to Aitape in a wartime spotter plane with Archbishop Arkfeldt SVD (RIP) at the controls, we had a panoramic view of the rugged terrain, the meandering rivers and the magnificent coral islands. 

The high school at which we were to work had been started by the Australian Franciscans, was called St. Ignatius, and  had just been moved to the mainland from Seleo Island. We settled in to the teaching routine fairly quickly with a staff of some Franciscan sisters, a priest and some lay missionaries. It was a co-ed school of about 350, all of whom were boarders and many had walked up to two days to get there. There were no roads to speak of, no electricity or telephones and communication was by two-way radio.

In October of that same year Bishop Doggett asked me to take two horses to a Passionist mission outpost called Ossima, near the West Irian border, where two elderly priests were finding it hard to do their foot patrols in thick rainforest about two degrees from the equator. I agreed to give it a try and a young lay missionary from Dapto, NSW, volunteered to accompany me. His name was Harry Hull, 20 years old, of farming stock but as inexperienced as I was in jungle trekking.
 
 







From Aitape to Ossima is about 150km but with not even bush tracks in many places, we had to travel a great deal further. In hindsight, our preparation was pathetic and wiser heads should have at least warned us if not actually preventing us from setting off.

On the very first day one of the horses fell off a twin log bridge over a narrow but very deep and muddy creek. The poor animal landed on its back and just lay there unhurt but suffering from trauma paralysis. Hours later it got to its feet and climbed the steep embankment with no ill effects. That night we washed in and then slept by the river putting our clothes on flat rocks so as to get the early morning sun. At night there was a flash flood and we lost everything. 

A heavy tropical downpour overnight combined with the sun directly overhead, but rarely visible because of the rainforest canopy, created extremely humid and energy-sapping conditions. Added to these woes, we had lost most of our food when the horse with saddle bags fell off the bridge. Harry had trousers and no shirt while I had a swim shorts and singlet and we still had five days to go.

We reached the foothills of a low mountain range on Day Three where we encountered some small villages and got coconuts and some bananas and a place to sleep. The villagers had been notified in advance of our arrival by garamut drums (three metre long hollowed out logs struck with a two metre pole.) These can send messages several kilometres and the information received in our case was ãtwo white skins are coming with animals much much bigger than pigsä. No women or children were to be seen on our arrival but after a while they began to appear and were fascinated at the size of the horses.

Mosquitoes were our constant companions but on Day Four we encountered lots of leeches and bees, which surprised us. Leeches are nasty blood-sucking creatures about two cms in length and can be removed with kerosene or a sharp knife. If pulled off, the head remains attached to the skin and causes tropical ulcers. The horses, now tiring appreciably, were badly affected as the only food they had was sweet potatoes which we had stolen from bush gardens.

By this time we were overdue and Passionists in Vanimo were growing concerned. Twice we heard their Cessna plane flying low overhead but mutual sightings or contact could not be made. Afterwards we were told police and a search party had been sent out but we did not encounter them. Crocodiles are common in that area but local hunters assured us they inhabited only the slow moving muddy creeks and not the fast flowing rivers we had to cross.

By Day Five we were really struggling. Harry was feverish with malaria and one of the horses went lame. At first we feared it had broken a foreleg and we would have to shoot it but after cutting up a saddlebag for its leather, we wrapped it tightly and moved on slowly. Early that evening we came across a huntersâ hut where an old man lit a fire for us using traditional firesticks. In exchange for a machete, he gave us a basket of sweet potatoes, wild bananas and a freshly-killed bandicoot (kind of king-sized rat with a long snout) and a good meal was enjoyed by animals and humans.

With Harry quite weak and the injured horse showing no improvement, our only viable option was for me to leave Harry and the horses to recuperate and go on alone to Ossima. From there I could send back food and help. Leaving my rucksack and heavy calibre rifle behind, I set off with a young guide before dawn in drizzling rain. While crossing the first of many rivers that day, the guide spotted a two metre plus crocodile camouflaged on a riverbank log on the other side. As soon as it became aware of our presence, it disappeared in the opposite direction with a sudden burst of energy.

After 16 hours of relatively easy walking, as the terrain was flat and the sky overcast, we arrived at Ossima mission station late at night. Next day carriers were sent with supplies to fetch Harry and the horses and they all returned safely a few days later.

After returning to Aitape on the mission plane I spent two weeks recovering from a bad bout of dengue fever which is an ailment rarely found in Papua New Guinea. In hindsight it was perhaps a foolhardy and definitely ill-prepared expedition but then again, Îyouth must have its flingâ.

- Charles K. Barry


PATRICIANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Brother Charles Barry [Aitape 1968-77, first Superior], [Nuku 1978-88, Superior & Principal] [Lumi 1989-94 , Superior & Principal].
Brother Gabriel McCluskie [Aitape 1968], Brother Bartholomew Gaffney [Aitape 1969-70]
Brother Raymund Eves [Aitape 1969-73], Brother Lawrence Cassar [Aitape 1970-75]
Brother Gregory Kerr [Aitape 1971-75], Brother Paul Leonarder [Aitape 1973-74] 
Brother  Blaise Madden [Aitape 1973-75], Brother Anthony Donnelly [Aitape 1975-76]
Brother Gerard Bulfin [Aitape 1976-80 ], Brother Paul OâKeeffe [Aitape 1976-81]
Brother Michael Vella [Aitape 1976-77, Nuku 1978-93], Brother Anthony OâConnor [Aitape 1978-87]
Brother Stephen Sweetman [Aitape 1982-85, Wewak 1996 & 2002-continuing], Brother Cronan OâMeara [Aitape 1986-96]
Brother Stephen Mutthatil [Aitape 1984-89, Mt. Hagen 1992], Brother Christopher Dawes [Aitape & Nuku 1984-92]. 
Brothers Stephen Mutthatil & Christopher Dawes on loan from the Indian Province.
Brother Michael Luff [Aitape 1987-89, Mt. Hagen 1992], Brother David Sullivan [Aitape,Lumi & Mt. Hagen 1987-1992], 
Brother Philip Turner [Nuku 1987-96, Aitape 1997-99], 
Brother Christopher Finucane [Nuku 1989-94], Brother Peter Ryan [Aitape 1991-92, 1999-continuing] 
Brother Philip Mulhall regularly relieved the above Brothers throughout the years.

Brother Norbert Yeku, first fully professed national of PNG, is community leader at Aitape in 2002.
 

1976 Community at Aitape
Charles is front, left
Norbert Yeku (centre) on the day of his Final Profession
1996 PNG Brothers
at Aitape