I worked in Bougainville for around three years, some of that time at the mine. Stayed with my two sons in a village for some time. What lovely people we were able to meet. We spent time on the weekends visiting some village friends on the mine access road. Would love to visit the island again and hopefully find some old friends. Den
I worked there from July 74 to Dec 88 with a short break part way. It was my best job and the best part of my life (although the place had some health challenges). I still love the memories.
I worked in Panguna as a young fitter in '77-'78 and have fond, good memories of the place and people though I still remember clearly the environmental problems showing themselves downstream of the mine. Change had to come. I wish you all very well. Lukim yu.
A huge chunk of my life was consumed by the infamous Copper Mine project. First set foot at Barapinang Valley January 20, 1969 as student undergraduate civil engineer from what is now UNITECH. Attached under a Mr.Max Eden, first Site Mine Planning Engineer .Retrenched 1989 when mine was on verge of being shut down.
The Moroni people, children and people all over Bougainvillea did know or experience mal nutrition at the time. They had never migrated to other parts of PNG. If you saw them anywhere else in PNG, they were there for reasons of their studies in educational institutions, being employed ith organizations or conducting formal businesses. I lived and worked there for the government for ten years. Left before the Bougainvillea crisis. I've always loved this place.
I was there during Exploration, Mine Infrastructure constriction, start up, Operations and Closure. Witnessed loading of 1st shipment of copper concentrate on MV ANN MARIE BROVIG at Loloho port. MV BOUGAINVILLE MARU WAS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN JAPAN SHIPYARDS 🎉
The arrogance and naked greed of someone who uses copper and other minerals and doesn't have a clue how the material is won like Naila Fanene How did you respond to this post Naila, through magic?