Salamaua National Titles 1987
by Kerry C. King
A small group of “Old Timers’ and a few members of Lae Game Fishing Cub Committee met at the Commodore Deck in early August 1986 to generally discuss the up coming 12th National Titles to be hosted by Lae Game Fishing Club. Holding it out of Lae would be the norm, however there appeared to be a feeling that Lae should then turn it on as they did once before in 1977 at Finschhafen. This time beautiful Salamaua was the target area – would it be possible? Some 20 nautical NM south of Lae, no roads or infrastructure present, but beautiful surrounds and of immense early New Guinea history including the War in the Pacific.
At this time I was not a member of either the two committees, but was approached to see if I would have a go, having experienced a similar responsibility some 10 years earlier in Finschhafen. I agreed my conditions were simply, I had control and able to appoint who I required to enable the project to be a success. Hence people not necessarily on either Committee were sourced for their skills.
Very few full Tournament committee meetings were held, may be only about 5 in all. I liaised with each person re their responsibility and sought extra assistance from that specific direction if need be. Each month I issued a full, report in the way of a Newsletter, which accurately covered progress, outstandings, who was responsible for what together with extensive visibility of our helpful sponsor companies. We still had no major sponsorship deals like today. Some 400 were posted throughout PNG each month – great awareness was created in the community.
Committee was made up of:
Tony Breakspear - President LGFC, Ian Bull, Don Elliott, Ron Ball, Jeff Tait and myself
However due to the unusual nature of the Tournament, many people were approached due to their specific skills and were major contributors to it’s success.
Moorings Keith Kingston, Bob Petersen & Bob Hunter
Fuel Bob Petersen, Keith Kingston & Bob Hunter
Lighting Tony Breakspear
Score Board Terry Ryan
Coomunications Bob Petersen
Safety Officer Fred Hubert & S. Freeman
First Aid Kerry King
Fish Tackle Dale McCarthly
Competitors Bag Barbara Dyhr & Coco Hubert
Mechanical Breakdown Dave Palmer & Mike Zimmerman
Transport to Salamaua Fred Hubert & S. Freeman
Insurance Officer Don Elliott
Weigh Master Ian Bull, Jeff Tait & Don Elliott
Invitation Preparation Brian McMullen & Kerry King
Trophies Barbara Dyhr & Coco Hubert
Accom. at Salamaua Wayne Johnston, Jim Jacobsen & Ron Ball
Official Point Scorer Brian McMullen & Sue Elliott
Government Liaison Kerry King
Security Mike Quinn & Ron Ball
Finance Director George Sellar
Bar Facilities Mike Quinn & Bob Hunter
Social Directors Karen Mead, Ineke Hunter, Jackie Peard & “Andrew Sisters”
Nominations Bob Petersen
Lae Co-ordinator
Photographer
Publicity Officer
Visitor Boats Fred Hubert
Companies that assisted greatly included Morgan Equipment – provided Komatsu Power in form of 35 KVA and 27 KVA Gen sets, Boroko Motors supplying the use of Ford Tractors and trailer to move our Reefer Containers, Gen sets etc. New Guinea Motor Winders supplying service personnel to maintain refrigeration and power. Bunting Stevedores with container trailers. Ted from Popondetta had a barge that he regularly towed to Popondetta from Lae with his supplies for re sale. This was station in Salamaua Harbour. It had diesel, petrol and associated oils.
Tony Peard managing Collins and Leahy, started manufacturing ICE – together with Niugini Table Birds, Bob Hunter designed 1sq.ft metal collapsible scale frame trays. Our target was 15 tonnes of extremely hard ICE.
Trevor Neal then of Pagini Explorations was used to organise excursions - to the original Salamaua Airstrips, both villages, the war guns, etc. Scuba diving took place twice clearly under a qualified instructor as well as beacon snorkelling activities. Wind surfing, with skiing and tobogganing – all at small fuel cost. On shore fishing competitions were a daily event it’s daily prizes available. A helicopter was stationed at Salamaua for discount charter flights around the isthmus – this service was very well utilised especially when people finally returned home after the Titles were completed.
Hence the fishing week at Salamaua was for the family with activities available to occupy every mother. We had a daily transport service for moving both people and cargo. The vessel – MV Barbarian departed LYC each morning around 9am and returned to LYC 5pm each evening.
As we had some 120 – 130 anglers competing and some 45 boats as well as another 100, sometimes 150 visitors, Salamaua was extremely busy. The main road, named Laukui street was ablaze with street lighting. Sleeping requirements meant each household was full and still would be insufficient for the numbers. Wayne Johnston and Jim Jacobsen arranged to borrow 20 size 4 bed army tents from the PNG Defence Force with the associated beds. These were erected on suitable vacant land. Wayne Johnston commenced a production line at Buambub Plantation and produced some 50 wooden bed bases.
Due to the substantial increase in people resident on the isthmus the toilet situation had to be addressed. Wayne Johnston took control of establishing some male/female bush toilets, about 4 off near Haus Kibung near the water front. They were magnificently put together however each time the tide came in we had severe water-table problems!!
These were all organised by Paul Carroll and his men at Haus Kibung. Breakfast was at 4am, lunch for those that ordered it at the breakfast sitting and dinner each night. All meals had to be purchased other than the presentation dinner (K15.00) for the competing anglers.
The food provision list together with the necessary equipment and cleaning materials was very detailed and extensive.
The Salamaua LabLab presentation dinner was a sea food extravaganza for some 150 people. I still have the provision print out list compiled by Paul Carroll.
As Salamaua had torrential rain over these Titles, I was concerned about diarrhoea, dysentery outbreaks with so many people living so close. Paul Carroll was meticulous with the kitchen hygiene and I splashed my friend Milton around on all benches, tables, kitchen items continually. There were isolated cases that I was able to control.
There had been an acute shortage of rain at Salamaua leading up to the Titles and all water tanks were empty. We sunk a bore down at Haus Kibung. I took water samples the analysis came back showing total coliforms, 9000 of which 700 were faecal with a total plate count 110,000 which meant it was extensively polluted and not suitable for human consumption.
Wayne Johnston then came to the front and supplied a 1200 litre water tanker on a trailer to assist. We also had the new water tanks in place and praying for rain.
Did it rain! Salamaua was the recipient of an extraordinary depression. The visibility was reduced to only a few meters, not by rain but by fog/cloud at water level. Boats departing Salamaua could not see Lutu Point and most could not locate Benalla Banks. Ian Bull was skipper on “Pussy Galore”, a 30’ Powercat recently purchased by Jeff Tait. Ian was travelling at some 20 knots thinking he was on the outside of the Lasanga - Fly Island area when he noticed over his left shoulder, where there was a very slight break in the weather, high mountains - they should not be there – immediate stop was necessary. Ian had travelled without mishap at some 20 knots through the inside with no visibility and avoided somehow all the reef structure inside Lasanga with only a hand held compass jammed between the knees (new boat, not quite finished!). Salamaua was deluged with rain, and certainly no shortage of water, the opposite became the problem!
The weather conditions were eerie, the extensive low pressure system was such that the cloud base was actually at sea level – one could not see it was typically fog-like conditions, never seen before or since in memory. No GPS systems in these days.
Supplies
Supplies were delivered to Lutheran Shipping, and a self propelled barge ‘ Gastala’ was charted to uplift it all. The following is a list of main items:
3 x 20 Insulated/Refrigerated containers on individual trailers
4 x generator sets 35kva, 25kva
1 x agriculture tractor, 4 WD, W. Johnston
1 x Bulldozer
4 x new fresh water tanks, 1000 gallons and down pipes for haus Kibung and school – also for our immediate purpose.
1 x fresh water trailer tanker 1200 gallons – W Johnston
1 x 15 tonnes of very solid ICE
1 x Floating Pontoon 70 foot long which was to be located along the front wall of Haus Kibung. Bob Petersen was responsible for this.
6 x large BBQ, very heavy and manufactured by Bob Hunter. Some are still at Salamaua.
50 x wooden Bed bases – W. Johnston
1 x LGFC Weighing Gantry
All necessary food, beverage, kitchen requirements.
Fuel supplied by Mobil - 20 x Diesel 200L, 2 x Benzene 200L, 3 x ctns Engine Oil, 1 x Rotary Fuel Pump
On the Floating, now self propelled barge which was the Mobil Floating Fuel station, manned by Dave Harkin. We had -
30,000 litres bulk fuel, 20 drums 200L diesel, 50 drums 200L Benzene, 25 ctns 2 stroke oil, 16 ctns engine oil, 2 Bowsers, 1 Tank pump, 1 Transfer pump & 8 Fire extinguishers, 2 for ship 1 for the wharf.
Also 2 x 200L drums with tops cut for rubbish on Fuel Station. 1 roll ratrin paper for hands and 5L detergent for spills on deck.
Bar Facilities (Mr Quinn’s requirement – who to argue?)
1 x glass door refrigerator
1 x large deep freeze
1 x drink cooler machine
144 x Johnny Walker Red 40oz
108 x Bundaberg underproof 40oz
24 x vodka 40 oz
12 x Gin 40oz
24 x Bacardi 40oz
40 Riesling Flagon 2 Litre
4 x Claret Flagon 2 Litre
50 x 50 SP Kegs
450 x 24 SP ctns
15o x 24 Pepsi ctns
20 x 24 Lemonade Ctns
50 x 24 Soda ctns
10 x 24 Dry ale ctns
10 x 24 Tonic ctns
10 x 5 litre orange
10 x 50 Tetra pak Milk
10 x 50 Tetra pak orange
10,000 Plastic cups
80 x 24 whiskey soda prepak
50 x 24 Bundi & pepsi prepak
These last two items were mixed and bottled and crown sealed at the SP Pepsi factory ex Serafini's Soft drink factory. We subsequently caused one person to threaten legal action over this stating that they could easily be sold to juniors or to persons who did not drink – even though this did not happen. Interesting to note in today’s market, they are doing what we innovated back in 1987. These drinks were very popular and easy to dispense. The necessary chips, peanuts, coasters etc were all thought of.
The kitchen requirement was immense from the utensils, cleaning, food items – this list is too comprehensive to detail here.
Salamaua Shop was put in place selling everything from fishing gear to a collection of towels, laplaps, ladies, kids and men’s ‘t’ shirts, ladies costume coverups all with a Salamaua souvenir emblem stamped on them. Good trading was experienced in the clothing line, which sold out for a generous profit.
The Gastala was extremely heavy and the schedule was set for it to arrive in Salamaua – SAMOA BAY on the full tide, the worry being getting close enough to shore. As usual the barge was some hours late, we actually thought at one stage it left for another destination. Loading of the cargo was an immense undertaking, Don Elliott was very prominent in this, all the time under very heavy rain in Lae.
Upon arriving at Salamaua we were unable to discharge on the northern bank due to lack of water. We then proceeded around Lutu Point to the southern eastern beach section and discharged many items, then proceeded back to Haus Kibung were the 20 insulated containers were off loaded out to the small beach section along side Haus Kibung.
Due to isolation problems, we printed our own ‘Salamaua currency’. This was in the form of a ticket either 50t, K1.00, K1.50. This was on sale prior to Easter in Lae. This minimised greatly the amount of cash on hand at Salamaua. It was numbered and non-refundable! All drinks at the bar were only obtained by using this currency.
Considerable effort had to be put into this activity due to lack of sponsors. This section was managed by the ‘ANDREW SISTERS’. In charge was Karen (Mead) Quinn with great assistance from Ineke Hunter, Marie Anderson, Jackie Pead and Deidre Ryan. This was the first of the Miss Billfish Social nights – fun it was, but financially! - the incredible cast drank the profit upstairs creating ‘dutch courage’ –
Ian Bull – Lotta Bull
Kerry McDonough – Karen McDonough
Mike Quinn – Michelle Quinn
Bob Sinclair – Sally Sinclair
Bob Petersen – Roberta Petersen
Phil Garnsworthy - Pippa Garnsworthy
Kerry King – Carlotta King
To name a few and hence the great expense of the free booze to get us under way!
These Titles were interesting from the point that for the very first time we realised we had a very good marlin source on our door step. As we were Salamaua based, most boats simply went round Lutu Point and fished down towards Lababia. Hence unbeknown to us we were right on top of the shelf and structures that we now find a good source of marlin. When I first heard the radio calls coming claiming marlin sightings, I thought people were ‘seeing things’, however after some very substantial hookups, Carl Tolg, Mike and Karen evidence was substantiated. Many marlin were lost due to (made quarter) gear and line class as well as expertise.
Monday after the Titles saw the Crying Towel Breakfast – where free psycho-analysis was dispensed to all those that had been through so much to catch so little.
Following the session, we had a auction – to clear all goods left over so we could minimise the return cargo load. It involved all the beds, nets, booze, food, BBQs, everything as long as the price was half reasonable – unused spirits etc were solid cheap or returned to Steamships for credit. I think someone actually sold his boat.
Unfortunately the withdrawal from Salamaua at the completion of the Monday Crying Towel session was like the fight scene in Gun Fight at OK Corral! Our security had been so efficient we managed to keep those (always present at these times) undesirables out of our banis. However in the end they managed to steal one 50L keg and promptly despatch it. This then turned them into being very dangerous. Mike Quinn and Don Elliott at Haus Kibung with Tony Breakspear stayed that night to protect the supplies as those that had already stolen one keg were feared to return for more. They arrived with empty bottles with plastic wicks, 12” files, claw hammers etc. The villagers also got involved trying to restrain these drunken dangerous people. We knew of the problem in Lae and the Lae Police were despatched in a helicopter – there were arrests made!
The atmosphere at Salamaua was extremely enjoyable and friendly. It was, with all the effort, enjoyable to run due to the commitment of many specialised hands to do the job at hand. It was actually managed by a group of people rather than a committee and the fact that all participants were together on the one location made for a very happy enjoyable social time over the week.
Would we do it again?
Kerry C King
© Copyright 2001-2004 Lae Game Fishing Club and Kerry C. King. All Rights Reserved.