The recent death of Frank Faulkner
Kevin Trueman, Mary Shirley, Wayne Heathcote, Robyn and Frank Faulkner, Angoram Club, late 1960s
(Photo provided by Ella Lucas)
It is sad, Frank was a really nice bloke, very unruffled, very easy going, very modest. Also kind to younger kiaps ! Peter Johnson
Frank, was a congenial, good-natured man and an excellent kiap! It is indeed sad to hear about his death. David Wall
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Frank FAULKNER (22nd December 2012 aged 75 years)
Frank first went to Papuan New Guinea in 1957 as a cadet patrol officer. He
was initially assigned to the Milne Bay District with later postings to the
Madang Sepik, and Central Districts. He finally left the service in 1975 with
the rank of District Officer.
In subsequent years Frank returned to Papua New Guinea and worked in
community liaison roles for mining companies at Lihir and Porgera. He was
also latterly employed as a camp manager by Oilmin Field Services Pty Ltd
which serviced international petroleum exploration companies operating in
the Southern Highlands and Gulf Provinces.
In betwixt field assignments Frank liked to frequent the ski resorts in Colorado
and Europe, or scuba dive in the Mediterranean and the Bahamas.
In retirement Frank resided in Angeles City in the Philippines.
Frank Faulkner was a genial, well informed and interesting person. He will be
missed by his many friends.
Harry Redmond
Source: Una Voce 2013,No 1 – March
Wayne Cross said,
February 26, 2013 at 6:11 am
26 February 2013
I could write a whole f*cking book but I won’t do that.
I am deeply saddened by Frank’s passing and pass on my condolences to his family. He was my first mentor as a Cadet Patrol Officer. In appreciation of that and the challenges he gave me including the opportunity of capturing Yauma and Yimbang that eluded several Patrol officers(taken from Chief Justice Mann’s commendation) we reminisced over that and other days at Angoram. I had taken a purpose trip to go see and thank him in person in Angeles City. He was very grateful for that. He was cool under fire. I always recall Frank sending me to Dr Manasse Saott to get a bottle of ether and a roll of cotton wall to start the stubborn hospital gen set. In another feat he donned a Scuba tank and brought up a motor off the Sepik Floor.
See you on the next Patrol Frank.
Wayne Cross
The Far East
WILLIAM DOWD said,
April 11, 2020 at 10:42 pm
I also knew Frank Faulkner .I remember that he was a really good bloke who looked after his staff very well.
My name is Bill Dowd and I remember arriving in Angoram with you as a cadet patrol officer.
I didn’t spend a great deal of time at Angoram as I was assigned to a patrol post at Yip which was up the Keram River.
I got on well with most of the natives at Yip ,except for a half caste by the name of Bill Eichorn . He was a very nasty ,dishonest bloke who had a pathological hatred for white people
I was sorry I did not return to Yip after I went on leave in 1970. I made the mistake of nominating Ambunti to return to as a patrol officer. The bloke in charge was Laurie Bragge who was very hard as a supervisor. I had intended to return to Australia in 1971 and Laurie Bragge made me decide finally. I had had enough of the living conditions outside the district office town. I had to throw away so much food that went bad because it was delivered when I was off on patrol .
I returned to Australia in February 1971 and enrolled to do a postgraduate diploma in Librarianship. I decided to do this course because I had always liked reading and books.
I was a librarian from 1972 until 1981 . I then joined the Commonwealth Public Service as a Customer Service Officer with Centrelink. I was with that Department until 2001 .I just did casual work from 2001 to 2010
I married a Chinese girl from Indonesia in 1981 and I have two sons ,George and David.
I returned to Papua New Guinea in 1978 for a month to work on a building project as a volunteer with the YMCA. I also went on a Princess Cruise about three years ago to Papua New Guinea . The cruise visited Alotau , Rabaul, Kiriwina , Trobriand Islands. I went snorkeling a few times around the Trobriand Islands and it was absolutely fantastic .
I retired in 2010 and ,since then I have been to Canada , New Caledonia , New Zealand , Japan , Hawaii, Alaska .
I hope you and your family are well and coping well with the Coronavirus restrictions.
You can send me emails at bdowd45@live.com.au .
Regards from Bill Dowd ( I hope you remember me )
Dianne Williams nee Cross said,
February 26, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Fascinating men. Love reading the stories on here and hearing of the adventurous souls of the early Sepik era and seeing David Wall’s adventures back and forth to the Sepik today. Thank you for the great perspectives. It’s really nice to see how things were and how things are today and to be able to share the history with our children. They dont make men like these guys anymore, at least not in my generation. 🙂 Our prayers are with Frank’s family during their time of loss.
deberigny said,
February 26, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Dianne, it’s really great to hear from you – I think I remember you as a little one when you were with your father & mother in Sydney in 1974.
Keep in touch, Dave
Debra Zeller said,
February 27, 2013 at 7:15 am
I was fortunate to have taken a trip with Frank in September, 1990 to KarKar, then we drove from Madang to Porgera. He was a terrific host and a most gracious man. Those of us who knew him will always remember him fondly.
deberigny said,
February 27, 2013 at 8:36 am
Yes, Debra, a fine man! David
Bill Barclay said,
February 27, 2013 at 7:16 am
Sad indeed to note Frank’s passing. I first met him on the chow line at ASOPA in February 1958. We teamed up and were posted to Milne Bay together – he to Esa-ala and myselt to the Trobs. Flatted together with Alan Johnston in Manly on the Long Course in 1960, and envied his MGA, and B. Kept up a relationship at a distance (as one does!) over a very long period. Last spoke to him when he was working on a huge olive development in Westerrn Victoria God knows how many years ago – just the same sanguine, laid back easy going gentlemen that I had known. Frank was was top guy, and excellent raconteur, and bloody good colleague in the field and on the ran-tan. Does anyone know what happened to him – Angeles City???
deberigny said,
February 27, 2013 at 8:34 am
Bill, I don’t know any details about his death – he certainly was liked and respected by many people. David