Today 22nd December 1923, John Andrew Groat married Alice Maude Sturtevant at 12 Lawrence Street Brunswick-Witnesses Dorothy Sturtevant (my Auntie Dorrie on mum’s side) and Mabel Groat (Aunty Mab). John Andrew Groat (known as Jack) would be grandfather to Paul, Dorothy, Andrew and Mary and great grandfather to their children. Also grandfather to Clinton and Charles Groat and great grandfather to Harrison Groat; grandfather to Christopher Bryant, Simon, Nicholas, Alistair and Joanne Reilly as well as great grandfather to their children.
Naringel Primary School 1964
1964 - Naringel Primary School Naringel Primary School was my first posting after graduation from my E Course in Rabaul. The course was only 6 months long but the lecturers were very experienced teachers or administrators (one was a educational psychologist and primary teacher lecturer from Sydney) so we did not lack expertise on the staffing side. I was picked up at Momote Airport by Mr Percy Jensen who was the Education Officer for Manus District (as it was called then) and driven to Lorengau where I would stay with Mr Jensen until the next day. After breakfast, the next day Mr Jensen drove me to Kim Foon and Sons where I set up a monthly account to dinau food and supplies until my pay came through. Because there was no electricity at the school, I bought a kerosene pressure lamp, a primus kerosene stove (there was only a wood stove at the house in Naringel at that time) , a kerosene iron and a new wick for the kerosene refrigerator! Every seemed to run on kerose...
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