Fr Kevin Kerley SM was born in 1928 and brought up in Gympie, Queensland, where he attended the Christian Brothers’ College to university matriculation level. As a civilian high school boy he served in 1944 and 1945 in the Volunteer Air Observers’ Corps, unpaid work for the RAAF. For this he was presented with a certificate as a record and in appreciation by the RAAF, signed by Air Marshall G. Jones, Chief of Air Staff. After working as an officer of the Commonwealth Bank in Brisbane from 1946 until 1949 he undertook training at the Marist College in Armidale, NSW, and was professed as a Brother in the Society of Mary in September 1950. He worked as Assistant Bursar at St John’s College near Lismore, NSW, from 1950 until 1953.
In January 1954, Fr Kerley transferred to the Bougainville District of the Oceania Marist Province, Territory of New Guinea Mission, where he was based for most of the next 48 years. As a Marist Brother, he pursued a number of occupations until 1972: at Mabiri helping with the book keeping of the Mission’s sawmill and with first-aid on the mission plantation labour lines; taking charge of the carpentry workshop at St Christopher’s Technical School, Tsiroge; acting as Master of the Mission vessels, Jabiru (renamed St Thomas) and St Joseph; and directing various building projects. He was assistant Diocesan Procurator in 1954 and 1962. In 1963 and 1964 was the first Brother to be appointed the Procurator.
In 1973 and 1974 Fr Kerley transferred to the Marist Training Centre at Tutu on Taveuni in Fiji as Bursar, and in the following years studied theology and philosophy at the Union Theological Institute in Hunters Hill, Sydney, graduating in 1978.
Fr Kerley was ordained as a Deacon in December 1978, and in January 1979 returned to Bougainville to undertake mainly parish work in Tinputz, Tekoknih and Tearouki. In September 1980 he was ordained as a Priest, and in January 1981 underwent heart by-pass surgery in Brisbane.
Back in Bougainville early in 1981, Fr Kerley continued Parish work on the west coast at Sipai and Tsimba, with visits to Kuraio Parish. In early 1984 Fr Kerley was appointed reference Priest at Manetai Parish and joined the Kieta Area Ministry Team that covered the Parishes of Tubiana, including Kieta township, Koromira, Marai, Tunuru, Deomori and Manetai. (Arawa and Panguna towns were separate parishes, independent of the Kieta Area Ministry Team, though geographically within their boundaries.)
In November 1988, when the crisis in Bougainville erupted, Fr Kerley was living in Manetai, working quite a bit in nearby Tubiana and Tunuru Parishes, as well as visiting Arawa, Kieta and villages throughout the Kieta Ministry Team area. Father had for years recorded religious events in his catechist's calendar. After 16 November 1988, when workers at Loholo marched in protest to the Premier, Joseph Kabui, at Arawa. Fr Kerley began inserting daily notes in the calendar recording more of his movments and local events, especially of a more critical nature.
On 22 November 1988 militants raided the munitions magazine of Bougainville Copper Ltd in Panguna and made off with the explosives. The first power pylon was dynamited on the Port Mine Access Road and the ‘pink palace’ (the BCL Office) at Panguna was burnt. Fr Kerley observed that guerrilla warfare had come back to Bougainville for the first time since World War II. During the next three and a half years Fr Kerley continued parish work from Manetai. The war spread north from Panguna. In January 1990, Kuveria Jail in Manetai Parish, which Fr Kerley had visited regularly until December 1988, was burnt down by the BRA, killing some warders and a young daughter of one of them. The Riot Squad retaliated, burning villages of innocent people along the road.
The conflict in the Bougainville area continued to get worse until 1st March 1990 when the PNG Security Forces withdrew under a cease fire agreement. About September 1990 the Security Forces came back to Buka, and bit by bit extended their influence South, reaching Manetai by July 1992.
At that time Fr Kerley was still in Manetai. He was one of only about half a dozen non-citizens who had remained in Bougainville right through this part of the crisis. On 22 July 1992 Fr Kerley was evacuated by helicopter from Manetai to Hahila on Buka, at an hour’s notice, under orders from Security Force Officers.
Fr Kerley was unable to return to the Manetai area, despite obtaining a clearance from the PNG Defence Force in December 1992. In the Buka and North Bougainville area Fr. Kerley was occupied, working as Chaplain with wounded and dying soldiers and civilians at Buka and Sohano Hospitals, and helping displaced people, as well as engaging in other pastoral and parish work. In January 1993, the Oceania Marist Provincial wrote to Fr Kerley thanking him for his “faithfulness and courage to have worked with the suffering people of Bougainville”, and advising him to take a break, including medical attention in Australia and registering for the old age pension. He went South in March 1993.
Fr Kerley returned to Bougainville in November 1993, but was unfairly deported to Rabaul from Buka in late December under orders from a Colonel in the PNG Defence Force. Fr Kerley received support from Michael Ogio, the Minister for Bougainville Matters, and others such as Michael Somare, who recognised that the mainline churches needed to be involved in the search for a peaceful solution in Bougainville. Nevertheless the Colonel’s will prevailed and it was not until October 1994 that Fr Kerley was given approval by the PNG Defence Force to re-enter Bougainville.
Fr Kerley’s angina recurred while he was working under Archbishop Hesse in New Britain. This was probably brought on by the unfair and ungrateful treatment, including the deportation. Medical staff at Vunapope ordered him to return to Brisbane for treatment in April 1994.
In December 1994, when Fr Kerley came back to Bougainville, Operation Bungwantaim gave him travel clearance to stay indefinitely at Manetai mission station. Manetai was under siege by the BRA. The PNG Defence Force soldiers wore flak-jackets when they went out of the mission station as the BRA in the bush were likely to shoot at them any time. At the end of 1995 Fr Kerley again went to Australia for a check-up, as ordered, and to maintain his pension claim.
Returning to Bougainville in early 1996, Fr Kerley could not go back to Manetai as the BRA were raiding right up to Buka. In the meantime, based at Hahila, Fr Kerley worked on aid projects in Buka and North Bougainville and on pastoral work, especially as Hospital Chaplain.
In August 1996, after the BRA attacked them at Manetai, the Security Forces pulled out. Fr. Kerley was allowed by both sides to work in the Manetai area over the Christmas 1996 period.

Files on Bougainville compiled by Fr Kerley, including diary entries, notes, press cuttings, leaflets and some photographs, 1988-1996; “Skeds” (transcripts of radio broadcasts), Nov 1990-Aug 1995; photocopy of Fr. Emmet McHardy, Tunuru Baptismal Register, 1929-1931; Leo Scharmach MSC (Vic. Apost. Rabaul), Manuale Missionariorum, Catholic Mission, Vunapope, 1953; G.W. Tromf, “Life & Religion of Traditional Societies in Melanesia”, n.d.

See Finding aids for details.

Jai Ram Reddy (born on 12 May 1937 in Lautoka, Fiji) is an Indo-Fijian statesman who has had a distinguished career in both legislative and judicial branches of the Fijian government. He was admitted to the Bar in New Zealand in 1960 and in Fiji in 1961. Between 1966 and 1970 he was Crown Counsel and Principal Legal Officer in the Attorney-General’s Office. Between 1970 and 1997 he was a senior partner of a law firm.

Reddy entered politics when he was appointed to the Senate in 1972, by the then leader of the opposition Sidiqu Koya. In 1977 he became leader of the National Federation Party (NFP). In this role he was Leader of the Opposition in the Fijian Parliament between 1977 and 1984; and again between 1992 and 1999.

Judge Reddy briefly served as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice in the Bavadra Government until its overthrow in a military coup in 1987. Judge Reddy was a Member of the Constitutional Review Commission which reviewed the 1990 Constitution of Fiji and removed all discriminatory provisions against Indo-Fijians. In 1998 Judge Reddy was made a Companion of the Order of Fiji in recognition of his service to Fiji. In 2000 he was appointed President of the Fiji Court of Appeal but resigned his commission in August that year, following the overthrow of the lawfully elected government. He was re-appointed President of the Fiji Court of Appeal in January 2002, and retains his commission as Justice of Appeal (on leave).

File labelled "Prime Minister", 1978-1996.
File labelled "Governor-General", 1977-1984.
File labelled "Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, House of Reps", Apr 1987-Feb 2009.
J.R. Reddy Speeches (also speeches by other individuals).
See Finding aids for details.

Rev. Neville A. Threlfall, who was a Methodist missionary in New Britain, is a historian and writer. His published works include, One hundred years in the islands: the Methodist/United Church in the New Guinea Islands Region, 1875-1975, Rabaul, 1975; and Volcano town: the 1937-43 eruptions at Rabaul, Bathurst, N.S.W, c1985, with R.W. Johnson.

Contents:
An unpublished history of Rabaul and East New Britain, PNG, Ts., 2 vols., 682pp., arranged as follows:
Prologue. The Town that Shouldn’t Be. p.1
Part I. Before the Town
Chapter 1. A Harbour without Shipping, p.3
Chapter 2. Ships Arrive, 1700-1884, p.27
Chapter 3. A German Colony, 1884-1902, p.48
Part II. A Town and its People
Chapter 4. A Town is Born, 1902-1910, p.76
Chapter 5. A Cosmopolitan Community, 1910-1914, p.104
Chapter 6. No More ‘um Kaiser, 1914-1915, p.138
Chapter 7. The Long Occupation, 1914-1921, p.162
Chapter 8. The New Masters, 1921-1930, p.185
Chapter 9. The Non-Masters, 1921-1930, p.217
Chapter 10. Depression and Development, p.240
Part III. A Town Destroyed
Chapter 11. Eruption and Evacuation, 28 May-6 June 1937, p.259
Chapter 12. Future Uncertain, 1937-1939, p.298
Chapter 13. Shadows of War, Sep 1939-Dec 1940, p.325
Chapter 14. The Shadows Deepen, 1941, p.338
Chapter 15. War with Japan, Dec 1941-Jan 1942, p.359
Chapter 16. The Fall of Rabaul, 20-23 Jan 1942, p.377
Chapter 17. Under New Rulers, 1942, p.398
Chapter 18. Withering on the Vine, 1943-1945, p.417
Chapter 19. Peace in a Wasteland, Aug 1945-Jun 1946, p.439
Chapter 20. Not to be Rebuilt, 1946-51, p.457
Part IV. The Town Lives Again
Chapter 21. Rabaul Rebuilding, 1952-60, p.496
Chapter 22. Prosperity and problems, 1961-70, p.540
Chapter 23. The Mataungans March, 1969-1970, p.566
Chapter 24. A Year of Shocks, 1971, p.592
Chapter 25. Towards Independence, 1972-1975, p.617
Chapter 26. Facing the Future, 1975-1984, p.641
Epilogue. The Town That Is, and Shall Be, p.655
Bibliography and List of Sources, p.664

Reverend Norman F. Cocks was born in Harrow, Middlesex, UK. He went to Hackney and New College, London, and was ordained at Skinner St. Congregarional Church, Poole, Dorset on 25 November 1934. His Pastorates in England were Poole, 1934-1940, and High Cross Tottenham, 1940-45. Rev Cocks was then appointed to the post of Australian and New Zealand Secretary of the London Missionary Society, 1945-1970. He transferred to the Anglican Church in Tasmania, was ordained Deacon in St. David's Hobart on 19 October 1970, and was subsequently ordained as an Anglican priest. His portrait is in the "LMS Chronicles" of February 1945 and June 1947.

Volumes 2-5, pp.150-651, of the autobiography of Rev. Norman F. Cocks completed in Hobart in 1987. Ts., photocopy. Chapter headings as follows. Vol.2, pp.150-299: So to London; A change of Wind; Outward Bound; Australian Landfall; Over the Tasman; Papua Invitation; Trial and Reunion; Eleanor Rivett; Traveller’s Days [1947]; More Gleanings from 1947; World Council of Churches – Amsterdam 1948; The Naming of the Ship ‘John Williams VI’; Visit of ‘John Williams VI’; Our New Home and Office; To Fiji and Samoa. Vol.3, pp.299-450: Home Again; 1951 and Britain Again; ‘Passage to India’; ‘Home from the Sea’; India – Australia – Papua; Royal Flush; Island Shadows; The Dickens Fellowship; Another Papuan Journey; A Year of Anticipation; South African Pilgrimage; ‘The Golden Route’ and the Cape; ‘Home’ Again; La Suisse; Transatlantic. Vol.4, pp.450-550: Across the North American Continent; Time Passes; 1961 – An Eventful Year; 1962 – So Many Changes; Port Moresby 21 November 1962; Pleasant Island Again; Churchwise; Another Year; 1965 Constant Movement; Papua ‘The Ecumenical Crisis’; The Wanderers Way. Vol.5, pp.550-651: What is ‘Normality’?; Papua Again; Night Flight to Independence; ‘The Gilbert and Sullivan Colony’; The Penultimate Year – 1969; Farewell Papua New Guinea.

The Fiji Voice was the official publication of the Fiji Independent News Service which was established in 1987 to publicise events related to the coups in Fiji. The Fiji Voice was edited by Dale Keeling, a Sydney journalist.

No.1, Sep 1987: No.2, Oct 1987: No.3, Dec 1987: No.4, Feb 1988: No.5, May 1988: No.6, Aug 1988: No.7, Jan 1989: No.8, Mar 1989: No.9, May 1989: No.10, Sep 1989: No.11, Dec 1989: No.12, Feb/Mar 1990: No.13, Apr/May 1990: No.14, Jun/Jul 1990: No.15, Sep/Oct 1990: No.16, Dec 1990: No.17, Mar 1991: No.18: May/Jun 1991: No.19, Aug/Sep 1991: No.20, Nov/Dec 1991: No.21, Apr/May 1992: No.22, Jul/Aug 1992: No.23, Oct 1992: No.24, Dec 1992.

The Fiji Situation Report was the press service of the Fiji Independent News Service which was established in 1987 to publicise events related to the coups in Fiji. The Fiji Situation Report was edited by Dale Keeling, a Sydney journalist.

Fiji Situation Report, Oct 1987-Nov 1990. See Finding aids for details.

In the Fiji Independent News Service (FINS) was established in Australia in June 1987 under the wing of the Movement for Democracy in Fiji following the first coup in Fiji. It ran an effective media campaign aimed at persuading key Australian and New Zealand trade unions to maintain trade bans on Fiji. FINS press releases and its newsletter, Fiji Situation Report (PMB Doc 419), gave details of arrests, human rights violations and political news, providing an alternative perspective to the established international press. The FINS Chairperson was Don Dunstan; the Directors were Krishna Datt, Dr Tupeni Baba, Senator Bruce Childs and Professor Ted Wheelwright

Reel 1 Instructions and correspondence, May 1987-Sep 1988
Reel 2 Correspondence, Aug 1988-Jul 1990
Reel 3 Correspondence, Jun 1990-Jul 1992

Nauru's environment has been devastated by 100 years of phosphate mining. Mining of Nauru’s phosphate deposits began in earnest after the First World War under a joint Australian-New Zealand-British venture, the British Phosphate Commission. This mining was carried out with no regard for future rehabilitation and on terms that deprived the Nauruan people of reasonable returns for the sale of its phosphate in world markets.

In 1987-1988 the government of Nauru held a Commission of Inquiry into the rehabilitation of its worked-out phosphate lands. In 1988 the Commission published a 10 volume report which concluded that the island's former administrators - Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom - were responsible for the rehabilitation of worked out areas of the island mined during the period of the Mandate and Trust.

After several unsuccessful requests to the Australian government for financial assistance, Nauru took the findings of its Commission of Inquiry to the International Court of Justice which admitted a case against Australia. The case aroused much interest and controversy with Nauru receiving vocal support from world-wide environmental groups. A Compact of Settlement was reached in 1993 before the substantive hearing took place in the International Court in which Australia agreed to pay the Republic of Nauru a cash payment of AU$57 million and AU$2.5 million annually for 20 years. This money was to be used on development projects. New Zealand and the United Kingdom each agreed to contribute AU$12 million ex gratia towards the Australian out-of-court settlement

Transcript of proceedings, as follows:
Open Sittings, Days 1-33, 35-36, 39-52, pp.1-4191, 23 Feb 1987-30 Jan 1988.
Closed Sittings, Days 25, 30, 33, 34, 37 & 38, pp.1-591, 23 Nov-11 Dec 1987.
See Finding aids for details.

Geoff Walls coordinated the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Botany Division's Biological Diversity Project for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands funded by the Commonwealth Science Council from 1986 to 1988. The author's summary report Traditional uses of plants in New Zealand and the Pacific ... (Havelock North, DSIR Oct. 1988) was distributed to PMB Member Libraries in July 1989.

4 papers:<BR>Paper No. 1: Commonwealth Science Council Biological Diversity Project perennial plants of New Zealand and South Pacific Islands, project plan for 1986. January 1986 - 4 pages<BR>Paper No. 2: Cook Islands visit, July-August 1986: reports on a visit as part of the Commonwealth Science Council's Biological Diversity of Perennial Plants project. September 1986 - 21 pages. Identifies for future research plants of high traditional human value throughout the Pacific: notes serious effects of mealy bug infestation of pandanus on production and sales of Atiu women's handicrafts: draws attention to Bill Sykes' work towards a comprehensive flora of the Cook Islands: summarizes discussions with Cook Islanders on traditional plant uses<BR>Paper No. 3: Commonwealth Science Council Biological Diversity Project, New Zealand and the Pacific: progress report, March 1987 - 14 pages<BR>Paper No. 4: Commonwealth Science Council Biologial Diversity Project, New Zealand and the Pacific: regional position paper, prepared for Commonwealth Science Council, November 1987 - 13 pages. Describes progress 1986-1987: defines project's aims as cataloguing information regarding existing plant use: conserving the traditional knowledge and the plants: and facilitating current and future plant use: recommends project development for future action.

Langdon's book, The Lost Caravel, was published in June 1975 by Pacific Publications Pty Ltd, Sydney. The book puts forward the theory that the crew of a Spanish ship, the caravel San Lesmes, lost in the eastern South Pacific in 1526, played a prominent role in the prehistory of several Polynesian islands, including the Tuamotu Archipelago, Society Islands, Austral Islands, Easter Island and New Zealand. The San Lesmes was one of the ships of the expedition of Garcia Jofre de Loaisa which left Spain in July 1525 to obtain a cargo of spices in the East Indies. Langdon’s sequel, The Lost Caravel Re-explored, published in Canberra in 1988, gathers his evidence in support of the presence of European castaways in the pre-Cook Pacific, focusing on the fate of the crew of the San Lesmes and including a revised chapter on Easter Island and additional chapters on New Zealand.

Correspondence, 1987-1995, on research and other matters relating to the publication of The Lost Caravel and The Lost Caravel Re-explored. Arranged, A-Z, by correspondent.
<b>See Finding aids for details.</b>
See also PMB 551 for Robert Langdon’s Lost Caravel correspondence, 1967-1975, and PMB 999 for his correspondence, 1976-1987.
For original documents relating to the Loaisa expedition see PMB 135-140.