Introduction

1974 was the last year of Australian governance of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Events of that year left a lasting scar, saw the Princess Royal visit Port Moresby and ended with a riot between two opposing rugby league teams that locked down the capital for the weekend. The year might have been an indication of the turbulent years that were to come after independence in 1975. Then again, life is always, “toey,” in New Guinea and it may have just been another typical year.

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The Ringer

Princess Anne, or the Princess Royal, as she is known, visited Port Moresby on an excursion in 1974. In those days I was ten years old. I had the job of being the school’s bell ringer. The school bell was a recycled shell from World War Two. It hung of a jerry-built frame of steel and chain. I recall it being a drop-shaped bell and hollow, that let out a loud, “Clang, clang,” clanging sound that could be heard across the school yard.

I was the bell monitor and on the day of the visit by the Princess, to the nearby Admin college library, I was a touch more keen to sound the bell, for the whole school to gather to walk a short distance, to visit Princess Anne. It was about 10am and we were to meet just after the first morning lesson. I was restless for this special occasion. When the time arrived I ran excitedly outside to ring the bell.

You had to strike the old wartime metal shell casing with a stiff steel rod. As I picked up the weighty device, a six foot tall Papuan girl, Emily, appeared out of the blue behind me. She wanted the credit that day of sounding the royal clang. Yet I was still holding onto the steel-stick when she grabbed it from behind. With a hefty strike she struck the metal bell. I was still holding the rod which carried my hand to the shell, crushing my index finger against the rock-solid steel. I screamed like a girl!

Emily showed no sign of regret, as I wailed and writhed, with blood gushing from my crushed hand. She cast off the stick, racing away, to gather with the rest of the assembly and see the Princess.