Peter Garrett is new Montevideo Maru patron

From MvM Newsletter 8

December 2009

Montevideo Maru Memorial Committee

 

PETER GARRETT is the new patron of the Montevideo Maru Memorial Committee.

In February, he will take over the role from Prof Kim Beazley, recently appointed as Australia’s ambassador to the United States.

The Committee was established a year ago to ensure greater national recognition for events surrounding the fall of Rabaul in 1942 and Australia’s greatest maritime disaster, the sinking of the Montevideo Maru with the loss of 1,053 troops and civilians.

Peter Garrett’s grandfather, Tom Vernon Garrett, was a prisoner on the Montevideo Maru.

Tom, a planter, was born in London UK and served in World War I with the 6^th Light Horse Regiment.

He lived at Varzin Plantation on New Britain and was 54 when he died.

“My grandfather’s death was mentioned in passing at family events, but it wasn’t until my mid-twenties, when I saw an article concerning the incident, that my understanding was filled in,” Mr Garrett said.

“It’s time to fill a huge gap in our history,” Mr Garrett said.

 “By giving recognition to one of the most significant and tragic events of World War II, we can honor those who lost their lives and provide a much-needed commemoration of this extraordinary event.”

“The sinking of the Montevideo Maru was one of the most significant events of World War II but is still relatively little known. It is an important part of Australia’s history and, given my family connection, I was pleased to become Patron of the committee.”

Peter Garrett AM MP was elected Labor Member for the electorate of Kingsford Smith at the 2004 federal election and was appointed Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts following the election of the Rudd Labor Government in November 2007.

He is a passionate advocate and campaigner on a range of Australian and global issues, particularly related to the arts and the environment.

He came to public prominence as a member and lead singer of the Australian band, Midnight Oil.

In this role, he wrote the lyrics of a popular song, In The Valley, which drew its power from the Montevideo Maru sinking and other tragic events that had affected his family.

My grandfather went down with the Montevideo

The rising sun sent him floating to his rest

 

 

 

Hurricane Katrina - Incredible Pictures!

Magee is 150 miles North of Waveland, Mississippi where the Hurricane made
land fall.
Worth passing on!!!
The dance with Katrina, part of her beauty as she left destruction on her
exit. They are remarkably dramatic.
The following picture was taken from the third story balcony of Saint Stanislaus College located next door to Our Lady of the Gulf church in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi on the morning of August 29th, 2005. This is believed to be the initial tidal wave from Hurricane Katrina. The tidal wave was approximately 35 to 40 feet high. When it slammed into the b each front
communities of Bay Saint Louis and Waveland Mississippi to completely destroy 99% of every structure along the beach for 9 miles and over ? of a mile inland. The destruction only started there. The flooding that continued inland destroyed the contents of all but 35 homes in these two communities of approximately 14,000 people.
Can you imagine holding your camera steady enough to take these photos!
These pictures were taken by a man in Magee, MS where the eye of the storm passed through - what an experience.

PNG Ports Corporation Ltd changes work culture

Caption: PNGPCL CEO Brian Riches speaking at a port managers’ conference in Port Moresby earlier this year.-Picture courtesy of PNGPCL

 

PNG Ports Corporation Ltd is making significant efforts to change its work culture from that of the public sector to one of the private sector, according to CEO Brian Riches.

“There has been a significant effort by management to shift the PNGPCL work culture away from that of the private sector to one which reflects that of the private sector,” he said in his Christmas message.

“However, management is committed to making the necessary changes to transform the work culture into an environment that reflects a viable and efficient operation, where customer service excellence and productivity are the primary focus of both employees and management alike.

“Making the necessary cultural changes will continue to require the support the human resource department through training, development, coaching and mentoring programmes and the implementation of an effective performance management system.

“This training and development cannot be undertaken in isolation.

“Its success will be dependent upon all levels of management understanding their own capacity requirements.”

PNGPCL is currently one of the largest employers in the commercial sector, currently employing 450 staff, with nine vacancies for contract officers and 268 non-contract officers.

Mr Riches also announced that the Klein System, a port-specific information technology system, was currently being rolled out in Lae and would run for approximately four months in parallel with the current system, before going live.

“It was developed with the intention of interfacing automatically with the PNGPCL’s financial management system and this phase of the project is yet to be finalised,” he said.

“Testing is being undertaken in Port Moresby.”

PNG Ports Corporation Ltd cannot improve wharves, CEO admits

Caption:  Port of Lae…one of the few that is making money in the country.-Picture courtesy of PNGPCL

 

PNG Ports Corporation Ltd does not have the financial capacity to improve facilities through the country, according to CEO Brian Riches.

Mr Riches made this blunt assertion to staff in his 2009 Christmas message last Friday.

“Currently, PNG Ports does not have the financial capacity to improve facilities to bring them up to acceptable operating standards due to cash flow issues and funding shortfalls,” he said.

“Most of the existing wharves and berthes throughout the entire PNGPCL port network were built in the early 1960s.

“We are currently strategising maintenance and organising capital investment into the port infrastructure for the safety and operational capacity of PNGPCL’s existing infrastructure.

“Investments for capital infrastructure such as reconstruction of PNGPCL berths and new container terminals remain a high priority by the board and management.

“However, the benefits derived from investment will not be maximised unless coupled with improved operational efficiencies and performance.”

Mr Riches said in 2008, PNGPCL’s three largest ports – Lae, Kimbe and Port Moresby – under the PNGPCL management generated 93.7% of total revenue.

“All other ports are not considered to be commercially-viable and PNGPCL argues that they are maintained and remain open as part of the organisation’s ongoing commitment to its community service obligation,” he said.

“With the exception of Lae, Port Moresby and Kimbe ports, PNGPCL classifies all other ports as non-viable commercial operations.

“While the financial performance of the smaller ports has improved somewhat over the past five years, there is still considerable cross-subsidisation occurring.

“PNGPCL management is committed to creating subsidiary companies for each of these ports that would operate under the umbrella of the existing parent company.”

Mr Riches admitted that PNGPCL’s engineering department currently lacked the necessary capacity to support and manage engineering and structural requirements of PNGPCL infrastructure.

“Executive management is committed to the rehabilitation of the engineering department,” he said.

“Primary area of focus for engineering will be the development of maintenance and apex infrastructure for next five years, which will identify and prioritise financial expenditure requirements.

“It is recommended that the department work closely with the project team, finance department, operations and port business managers for this process to be undertaken successfully.

“For engineering to function effectively, communication with all the internal and external stakeholders will be critical to the future investment and maintenance of infrastructure and port operations.”

Mr Riches said PNGPCL also placed high emphasis on such areas as occupational health and safety (OH and S), and security at its ports due to international treaties, customs and best practice port security requirements.   

Boeing take off

For those of you who are unaware, Eva is the airline of Taiwan. This is a wonderful photo.
Eva Air Boeing 747-45EM taking off from runway 36L at Amsterdam-Schiphol .
The great timing and angle, and the size of the 747 makes this shot look quite surreal.
The distance to the fence was 145 metres (475ft)  !

A home away from home in Port Moresby

Chief Executive Officer of PNG Ports Corporation Limited Brian Riches (left) about to make an entry into the newly-established Seafarers’ Centre as General Manager-Corporate Services Jerome Peniasi opens the door.

The Seafarers’ Centre has been established by PNGPCL for transiting seafarers to relax in and keep in touch with business colleagues and family members when passing through Port Moresby Port on business trips.

The Seafarers’ Centre has a lounge room, Internet café, telephones, tea room and provides beautiful scenery looking out towards the Port Moresby Fairfax Harbour.

 

mv Mondi unveiled

Mrs Ila Temu, wife of PNG Ports Corporation Limited Chairman, Dr Ila Temu,  formally unveiling the newly-acquired pilot boat mv Mondi last Friday, December 11, 2009 at the PNGPCL Head Office jetty. The pilot boat was named after Mrs Temu.