Timing is right to rehabilitate outpost

AMONG World War II’S enduring images are those of General Douglas Macarthur wading ashore from a landing craft, fulfilling his promise “to return”. These daylight photo opportunities were in sharp contrast to his 1942 midnight flit by PT boat from the Corregidor Fortress in Manilla Bay, where as an army engineer 40 years earlier, he was involved in fortification construction.

One such image was captured during the invasion of Los Negros, on eastern Manus Island when, after an 0817hrs main force landing on February 29, 1944, the South-west

Pacific Area’s thespian in chief landed at 1600hrs.

An objective of this element of the Admiralty Islands campaign was to secure strategic Momote airfield, post-war an operational RAAF base.

Manus Island remained a strategic outpost in Australia’s South-west Pacific defensive posture until Papua New Guinea Independence in 1975.

RAAF Lorengau and HMAS Tarangau were important logistic bases in the immediate post-war era, providing fuel and maintenance facilities for ships and piston engine aircraft.

During the Korean War Manus was a midpoint refuelling stop for troop ferrying aircraft, and as late of the Vietnam War the Vung Tau ferry HMAS Sydney transited via HMAS Tarangau at Lombrum.

Well appointed accommodation and amenities made them popular family postings.

Although there have been several proposals to rehabilitate and upgrade facilities to provide a joint PNGDFADF facility, nothing substantial has eventuated.

Given current regional tensions and Chinse interest in expanding its physical presence in the region, it would make sense to have again a major facility from which to extend friendly military capabilities.

Pre-independence Australia had a close relationship with its Papua

New Guinea territories, training potential military leaders and allowing them to serve within Australian ships and land units.

Close professional relationships were established, which in many cases have become lifelong friendships.

There are many issues which remain a mutual bond between Papua New Guinea and Australia, educational, cultural and sporting.

The two countries share a contiguous border where family alliances are strong but where heartless Australian bureaucrats with little of no knowledge of Papua New Guinea customs make arbitrary, often heartless decisions.

Sovereign Papua New Guinea is mature enough to negotiate its own alliances and defence co-operation agreements.

Perhaps however wise heads should sit down together, known in Papua New Guinea a “kibung, to discuss what binds not divides us.

Then Australia could perhaps return to Manus to establish a mutually beneficial base for our combined defence priorities.

Better support old friends than face new enemies.