Latest news with #Kokoda
ABC News
12-08-2025
- General
- ABC News
Son Milne Bay veteran opens up on battle ahead of VP day
Papua New Guinea was the site several major battles in the second world war, with campaigns like Milne Bay and Kokoda playing critical roles in the overall allied victory. This week Australia and the Pacific will celebrate that victory when they commemorate VP Day. It stands for victory in the Pacific and this year marks 80 years since the allies claimed victory after the Japanese surrendered in 1945. However victory could not have been achieved without contributions of islanders, one of which was the late Cesil Abel. He served at the Battle of Milne Bay aboard a small transport ship which transported troops and supplies to and from the battle.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NRL boss thinks calling the new Papua New Guinea team the Angels is a good idea - here's why it could leave the league open to accusations of racism
NRL bosses are currently finalising a shortlist of names for the Papua New Guinea side, who are set to enter footy's top-flight in 2028. While a number of logistical matters are still to be finalised regarding the franchise's entrance to the league, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys has revealed that a suggestion has been made to call the new side the 'PNG Angels'. That nickname is still to be finalised, with league chiefs considering multiple other options too. 'I don't know what the team name will be at this stage,' V'landys said, according to The Courier Mail. 'There has been a suggestion for the team to be called the PNG Angels. 'I've had one very creative person suggest that nickname because of PNG's history with Australia and it's not a bad idea, but there will be a number of options considered.' ARLC boss Peter V'landys has revealed that league chiefs have been considering several names for the NRL's newest franchise in Papua New Guinea and said the 'PNG Angels' had been suggested But the name, the 'PNG Angels', could leave the league open to some accusations of racism. PNG's men's national side are called the Kumuls, while the country's women's national team are called the Orchids. The nickname the 'PNG Angels' is understood to honour and reference the Papua New Guinean citizens who gave aid to Australia's soldiers during the Kokoda Campaign during World War II's Pacific Theatre. Australian soldiers had 'affectionately' called the Papua New Guineans the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels' during the conflict. According to The Australian War Memorial, the name appeared to gain prominence in 1942 when Sapper Bert Beros of the 7th Division Royal Australian Engineers wrote a poem called the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels'. The piece of literacy paid tribute to PNG citizens as heroes who had assisted Australia in the war effort. Many PNG citizens involved in the conflict brought supplies to the battlefield and carried injured or sick troops away from the conflict. The poem was published and picked up by multiple Australian news outlets, with the work said to have encapsulated much of the affection that many Australian soldiers felt towards the Papuans. A famous image was later released by the Australian Department for Information photographer, George Silk, who took a now-historic picture of a blinded Australian soldier, Private George Whittington being led to a hospital by carrier Raphael Oimbari. The image has been republished many times over the last century, to pay homage to the Papuans and their service during the campaign. However, the Australian War Memorial reports that there are 'some contradictions around the history of the conditions and treatment, perceptions and attitudes and remembrance and recognition of the Papuan carriers of the Second World War.' 'Evidence of mistreatment, poor conditions, and conscription of labour present a contrasting story of some Papuans' experiences as carriers.' It adds that some Papua New Guineans have 'mixed feelings about the alleged disregard of such issues by both the Australian and Papua New Guinean governments.' The War Memorial highlights that many carriers were not referred to by name, but by terms that would now be considered racist today. It also notes that Raphael Oimbari's identity was not realised until 1972. 'The colonial constructs through which the carriers have been viewed has led to their war stories becoming mystified and the carriers themselves nameless. Rarely are carriers specified by name but rather by generic terms we would now consider racist.' 'In particular, Karl James argues that the term 'natives' used by Australians during the war period had 'clear implications of white authority and colonial values' in the relationship between Australians and Papuans.' Other scholars have also questioned the use of the term the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels', including Dr Erika Smith and Dr Ingrid Mattews, who published an article on the University of NSW's website that reads: 'The phrase "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" is far from affectionate - it reflects 500 years of racism.'
Sydney Morning Herald
09-06-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
My tiny suburb birthed two huge celebrities, but that's not why we look down on our neighbours
There are two 'Gullys' out here at the base of the Dandenong ranges: Upper Ferntree Gully and plain old Ferntree Gully, and I've lived in both. The names are similar and the postcodes are the same, but they have very different identities. Upper Ferntree Gully is 29 metres higher in elevation than its bigger neighbour, which was called Lower Ferntree Gully until the early '60s when residents agitated to drop the 'Lower', in part because they felt it made them seem inferior to their 'Upper' neighbours. They always were a touchy lot down there. My wife and I have lived in Upper Ferntree Gully for almost 30 years, after a landslip further up the hill in Upwey forced our young family to leave our quaint (read rundown) hills cottage in 1992. That is a story for another day. While it was a costly and traumatic episode in our lives, it was a silver lining to find our current home, in an ideal suburb. A five-minute walk from our place brings us to the local train station, supermarket, four coffee shops, a historic pub, the 1812 theatre, primary school, medical clinic, two cricket grounds, hospital, Sunday market and the Dandenong Ranges National Park. A few minutes across the border into the suburb of Tremont (pop. 69) is the '1000 steps' – now known as the Kokoda memorial walk – arguably the most popular bushwalk in Melbourne. Here, lyrebirds can sometimes be seen and or heard, and wallabies and echidnas are common among the gums lining the numerous tracks within the park. (A tip: if you're considering doing the steps, avoid weekends, which can get very busy, and wet weather, as the steps are steep, slippery and narrow.) How many other suburbs have that variety of services and natural attractions within such close proximity? Loading Melburnians have visited this area since the 1860s seeking fresh air and visual relief from the city's mostly flat landscape. The place takes its name from the famous 1857 painting by German artist Eugene von Guerard, Ferntree Gully, which now hangs in the National Gallery in Canberra. The journey up here was made easier when the railway came through in 1889, with a station named Lower Ferntree Gully established near the cemetery and, two kilometres further along the line, another one at Upper Ferntree Gully. Most people only glimpse Upper Gully as they drive through it on weekends. They miss the steep and often narrow streets, the large, beautiful gardens, and eclectic range of houses that give Upper Gully its character. It is a quiet place during the week, and only really experiences congestion on weekends as day trippers pass through on their way to the hills (please don't call them mountains, only people who live up there call them that). Many come to ride on Puffing Billy, which started from here in 1900, before the line to Belgrave was electrified in 1962. We get a bit more rain than in Melbourne, and it's usually a couple of degrees cooler in summer. Snow is unheard of; you have to go up to Olinda or higher if you want to savour that particular delight.
The Age
09-06-2025
- General
- The Age
My tiny suburb birthed two huge celebrities, but that's not why we look down on our neighbours
There are two 'Gullys' out here at the base of the Dandenong ranges: Upper Ferntree Gully and plain old Ferntree Gully, and I've lived in both. The names are similar and the postcodes are the same, but they have very different identities. Upper Ferntree Gully is 29 metres higher in elevation than its bigger neighbour, which was called Lower Ferntree Gully until the early '60s when residents agitated to drop the 'Lower', in part because they felt it made them seem inferior to their 'Upper' neighbours. They always were a touchy lot down there. My wife and I have lived in Upper Ferntree Gully for almost 30 years, after a landslip further up the hill in Upwey forced our young family to leave our quaint (read rundown) hills cottage in 1992. That is a story for another day. While it was a costly and traumatic episode in our lives, it was a silver lining to find our current home, in an ideal suburb. A five-minute walk from our place brings us to the local train station, supermarket, four coffee shops, a historic pub, the 1812 theatre, primary school, medical clinic, two cricket grounds, hospital, Sunday market and the Dandenong Ranges National Park. A few minutes across the border into the suburb of Tremont (pop. 69) is the '1000 steps' – now known as the Kokoda memorial walk – arguably the most popular bushwalk in Melbourne. Here, lyrebirds can sometimes be seen and or heard, and wallabies and echidnas are common among the gums lining the numerous tracks within the park. (A tip: if you're considering doing the steps, avoid weekends, which can get very busy, and wet weather, as the steps are steep, slippery and narrow.) How many other suburbs have that variety of services and natural attractions within such close proximity? Loading Melburnians have visited this area since the 1860s seeking fresh air and visual relief from the city's mostly flat landscape. The place takes its name from the famous 1857 painting by German artist Eugene von Guerard, Ferntree Gully, which now hangs in the National Gallery in Canberra. The journey up here was made easier when the railway came through in 1889, with a station named Lower Ferntree Gully established near the cemetery and, two kilometres further along the line, another one at Upper Ferntree Gully. Most people only glimpse Upper Gully as they drive through it on weekends. They miss the steep and often narrow streets, the large, beautiful gardens, and eclectic range of houses that give Upper Gully its character. It is a quiet place during the week, and only really experiences congestion on weekends as day trippers pass through on their way to the hills (please don't call them mountains, only people who live up there call them that). Many come to ride on Puffing Billy, which started from here in 1900, before the line to Belgrave was electrified in 1962. We get a bit more rain than in Melbourne, and it's usually a couple of degrees cooler in summer. Snow is unheard of; you have to go up to Olinda or higher if you want to savour that particular delight.
The Guardian
09-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Adani names two dead Australian war veterans in documents alleging protest conspiracy against it
Adani has named two dead Australian war veterans in court documents alleging they were part of a conspiracy against the coalmining company. The fourth version of Adani Mining's claim against environmental activist Ben Pennings – which has been afoot for more than four years – now names Kokoda veteran and climate activist Bill Ryan as an alleged co-conspirator. Ryan died in 2019, aged 97. 'Why the hell can't Adani leave Dad to rest in peace rather than drag us through this bullshit?,' Ryan's son, Colin, told Guardian Australia. The Queensland supreme court struck out substantial parts of Adani's claim last year, describing some elements as 'confused and embarrassing'. Adani's allegations of a conspiracy – which accused Pennings of acting with 'unknown conspirators' to disrupt the company's contractors – were disallowed by Justice Susan Brown, who gave Adani leave to replead its case. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter In its new filing – the fourth version of Adani's statement of claim since launching the case in 2020 – the company has now named four alleged co-conspirators it says were involved in an agreement with Pennings to participate in direct protest action against contractor Downer Group in 2017. Mike Fitzsimon (referred to in Adani's claim as 'Mike Fitzsimmons'), a Vietnam veteran who died in 2022, is listed as a co-conspirator alongside Pennings and Ryan. The other alleged co-conspirators named by Adani are elderly Vietnam veteran Maurice Tolley and 'Donna Smits', whose name also appears to be misspelled in the document. They were named in court documents, but only Pennings is being sued by Adani. 'Dad had a tough life, served his country in war and tried to protect us all [with his climate activism],' said Colin Ryan. 'He died a hero to thousands but now I have to tell the grandkids and great-grandkids he's part of some Adani conspiracy theory in the supreme court.' Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Pennings said Ryan and Fitzsimon were 'heroes, dedicating their final years to protect us from climate breakdown'. 'I'm not sure what's happened that's led Adani to pick them out now, years after they have passed away. It is just another twist and turn in this harrowing five-year saga.' The company said in a statement that its legal proceedings were 'solely against Mr Pennings', and that other alleged co-conspirators were 'simply named in our evidence of Mr Pennings' activities'. 'Any attempt by Mr Pennings or Mr Ryan's family to suggest otherwise is incorrect and speaks to the way Mr Pennings has conducted himself throughout this case,' the statement said. 'We make no apologies for protecting our rights and the rights of hard-working Queenslanders to go about their legal and legitimate work.' Adani said its amended pleadings presented a 'strong case' against Pennings, including that he sought to disrupt the operations of the Carmichael coalmine, its suppliers and contractors. Justice Paul Freeburn published an interlocutory judgment in the case in March, establishing a timeline for Pennings to file an amended defence. He said the case appeared to be 'making no real progress towards a trial'. 'And so, some four-and-a-half years into the litigation, the plaintiffs have recently filed and served their fourth version of the statement of claim and now expect, by their proposed directions, a further amended defence, a reply and a regime for particulars and disclosure. This is in respect of events that occurred between 2015 and 2020 – that is, between five and 10 years ago,' Freeburn said. 'The proceeding has not languished through a lack of resources. The judgment of Brown J in December 2024 explains that a costs statement prepared by the plaintiffs, in respect of some costs orders in favour of the plaintiff, claimed $1.1m. 'That was described by Her Honour as a 'startling amount' given the applications occupied less than two days [of] hearing time, albeit with some level of complexity. 'On any view, the litigation has consumed large slabs of the parties' resources and the court's resources. It is hard to escape an overall impression that the parties are mired in the trenches of interlocutory warfare.' Adani claimed Pennings had 'spent years trying to delay these civil legal proceedings from going to trial'.
