21 December 1973

Government Settlement

Republic Of Nauru

Central Pacific

21 December 1973

Dear Mum & Dad,

I am trying out my new Parker pen which I received for Christmas. We were very pleased to hear of Bruce & Gahey’s new son though rather disappointed we didn’t hear the news until 10^th December. No doubt they are all settled into their new routine by now.

It really hasn't felt like Christmas here until this week, probably because in Australia at least you are aware the weather is getting hotter whereas here there has been no change. The goods available here over the last few weeks are almost unbelievable. The “Rosie D”, a 12,000 ton vessel in the Nauru fleet arrived from Japan about 2 weeks ago choc-a-block full of goodies for Christmas. About 40 Toyota cars arrived at almost give away prices. For example, a Toyota Crown Deluxe, including air-conditioning, radio, electric windows, automatic, etc.. for $2,700. Peter O’Dwyer (brother-in-law) paid $4,300 for the basic model. There are toys by the 1,000’s also at bargain prices, sound equipment (Akai & Sanyo) dollars below what they were previously on sale at.

To add to the confusion on the roads, the local Datsun dealer received about 15 cars & about 6 weeks ago a load of Falcons arrived. As there is only about 20 miles at the most of road it is very like city driving everywhere you go. The phosphate royalty cheques were distributed the other day for the quarter ended 30^th September with some Nauruans receiving $20,000 to $40,000 so all in all there is an impression of affluence around the island.

Last Saturday was general election day (held every 3 years). I spent from 1 pm to 6 pm sitting under a palm frond shelter just over the road from the beach in my official capacity of Presiding Officer. I was also a scrutineer & spent from 6 to 10 pm counting votes. There were only 3 new members elected out of the 18 member parliament.

Shane continues to thrive & is a really beaut little kid. He can now support his own head & is smiling occasionally.

We have lost our neighbours on both sides as they have completed their contracts & left on a ship last Sunday. There has been quite an exodus of expatriates over the last few weeks.

I have accepted the position in Honiara & we will be leaving here in early February. Andy may travel down by ship a bit earlier. I will fly down as soon as my notice is finished. The problem is that at the end of a contract the Republic usually insists on sea travel. The chances of a ship leaving just after I have finished is pretty rare so I will have to make up the difference & fly down. I am really looking forward to a break as I haven’t had a break from work longer than a couple of days since the end of 1970. We hope to have about 2 weeks in Australia & a couple of days in Surfers on the way back to Honiara. I am sure the job there will be far more challenging than here & also better financially. Andy is keen to go so apart from the physical problem of shifting there doesn’t appear to be any reason why we shouldn't make the move. It also gives me the chance to cash in on leave I have accrued, i.e.. About seven weeks & only take two.

There must be more news but I will catch up with it next time. I want this to catch the mail.

All the best for Christmas, I will try & ring.

Love from the Nauru Tuers

Greg

4 December 1973

Government Settlement

Republic Of Nauru

Central Pacific

4 December 1973

Dear Mum & Dad,

My last letter probably came as a bit of a surprise but I have had my eye open for ages, which is natural I think even if just to see how your present job, salary etc. compares with what is around. This job was actually advertised in a New Zealand paper that I borrowed. I applied some time ago but in the first place they appointed an accountant from New Guinea because he was able to start straight away. He turned out a dead loss & is leaving just after Christmas.

These applications seem pretty harmless at the time, but now I really don’t know what to do. Statistically the jobs are similar. Because of the Republic Provident Fund contribution, if I stayed 3 years I would collect a bonus based on my present tax free salary of $6,250 + 5% = $6,562 & by June 1974 will be $6,500 + 5% = $6,825. Salary in Honiara initially is $8,000 – tax $1,120 = $6,880 & after 3 months increases to $8500 – tax $1,350 = $7,150. I’m sure that the salary increase in going to Honiara will be taken up by the extra duty on most items. Salary at Honiara would be subject to a 6 monthly review whereas here it is indefinite & can remain the same for years. All other benefits, house, medical, electricity etc. are identical. The house at Honiara is new & has a fantastic view but it is smaller & un-established. It is relatively isolated compared with here with only one house in front (down the ridge) & one higher. Although the trees grow very quickly, at the moment they are only 1’ – 2’ high. I think it would take a lot longer to fit in down there & not working with many Europeans getting to know people would take some time.

On the credit side are that it is tremendously interesting place, beautiful scenery, rivers, mountains, islands with plenty of places to go & things to do. Shopping would be much better for Andy. As far as the job is concerned it appears to be a challenge & I would have a lot of independence. Now I am bored & working for a bloke who is completely incompetent. The only thing that keeps me going is the thought of the odd trip to Melbourne (next one 18^th January).

If I resigned from here on the 25^th (exactly 12 months) & gave 2 months notice I will have fulfilled my part of the contract. The Republic will then have to pay all our expenses back to Melbourne. I could use this to get Andy, Darren & Shane back to Melbourne for a break before going to the Solomons. At that time I will have a leave entitlement of 7 weeks which I will take off the notice & only have to put in a week or so after 28^th January. My main reason in hesitating is that I feel to go may be a bit selfish as personally I would enjoy the new job but I think initially at least the family would be disappointed. Andy is keen even after my description of the house but she didn’t go down & really can’t picture the place to make a comparison. Basically I think the place is a lot more like a big town after our community life here.

I had a very enjoyable weekend in Honiara & Ron McGuire & his wife looked after me very well. Friday night was a barbeque at the Mendana Hotel. Saturday morning was work followed by a tour of Honiara. Saturday afternoon Ron took for a drive to the end of the north road out of Honiara, the whole 43 miles. The bitumen only lasts about 4 miles & then its gravel. The road passes lots of villages (all the houses are of grass & on stilts), coconut plantations & jungle. The northern end of the island is quite mountainous & the road fords about 10 rivers as there aren’t any bridges. There are some beautiful sheltered bays along the way, white sand & surrounded with coconuts. The waters between Guadalcanal (the northern end) & the island of Savo, 6 miles away saw some of the heaviest naval battles of World War II.

Saturday night was a meal at a Chinese restaurant followed by a few hours at the Honiara Club. Sunday was pretty quiet & the plane was due at 4.30 pm. It was delayed & I was advised it would be in at 9.45 pm. I was then invited to a dinner that the McGuires were going to & left there at about 9.30 pm to go to the airport. Andy met me at the airport with a couple of kids sound asleep in the car.

So I really don’t know. I think we will probably go.

Tonight is our wind up dinner for Apex being held at the Meneng Hotel. They have a French chef there these days & the food is very nice (it’s a mixed night) I am on the Executive these days as treasurer. We still haven’t had any rain.

See you later,

Love Greg

PS. I have just received a firm offer by letter from Honiara. The present accountant has agreed to stay until early March. They are willing to recruit all of us from Melbourne so that if I accept we will all be able to spend a couple of weeks in Australia during late February.

Love from the equatorial Tuers (Andy, Greg, Darren & Shane)

1 December 1973

Menada Hotel

Honiara, Guadalcanal

British Solomon Islands Protectorate

1 December 1973

Dear Mum & Dad,

Well surprise, surprise. Here I sit on a small patio from my hotel room, a stone’s throw from the water lapping a coral beach. The hotel is situated overlooking a small bay, the sky is blue & on the horizon I can see the Florida Group rising from the sea. The islands seem to be quite mountainous. A couple of hundred yards away there is a small settlement of Solomon Islanders & they are working on their canoe. It is 7.30 am Saturday morning & the sun has been up for about an hour & a half.

What am I doing in this paradise you are probably asking?

I arrived yesterday afternoon on Air Nauru. It is an all expenses paid trip courtesy of the Kalena Timber Co. I am having a look at a job as Accountant which on paper sounds very attractive. The company is administered from Honiara by another company called Solomon Motors which acts as buying agent. Its logging site is on a large island to the north-west called New Georgia at Viru Harbour. It employs 250 Filipino workers & exports logs direct to Japan. It is a little hard to be unbiased because this place is really beautiful & a few trips to New Georgia, which would be necessary wouldn't be hard to take. I am off to have talks with the manager at 9 o'clock so I will finish the letter off tonight.

Its lunchtime now & as a result of talks this morning, salary $8,000 with a review in 3 months. Airfares for me would be Nauru – Honiara & Andy & the boys from Melbourne – Honiara. That way Andy can go down to Melbourne on the Republic, stay a week or a fortnight & come back to Honiara on the company. I also saw the house. It is new, 3 bedrooms & on a ridge, very high with a beautiful view over the harbour with the Florida group of islands in the background. House, electricity, gas, water, telephone, medical, dental, and hospital, all provided. They are to write to me on Tuesday (Tuesday’s Air Nauru) & if they’re happy will offer me the job on the terms discussed today.

That’s the story from here. This place has a very British influence & I get the impression there is class distinction within the public service as well as to the Melanesians. The manager, a Queenslander called Ron McGuire is picking me up at 1.30 pm for a tour up the coast.

I’ll let you know as soon as anything happens,

Love Greg

22 November 1973

Government Settlement

Republic Of Nauru

Central Pacific

22 November 1973

Dear Mum & Dad,

Thanks for the congratulations etc.. for the birth of Shane. It is nice to have the 3^rd bedroom occupied even if he does wake us up in the middle of the night. He is feeding very well & you can almost see him grow. There is a pretty established pattern that the kids born on the island (expatriates) usually grow into big kids. Andy hopes to breast feed as long as possible because of the milk situation. Darren thinks Shane is great & we are very pleased with his reaction. We have finally received our last lot of supplies ordered for Shane eg. nappies, bottles etc. from Myers & some bits & pieces from Mothercare in England. These all arrived yesterday off one of the ships. We had been getting by with some thin nappies from China Town.

Yesterday we had a gang of prisoners at the house cleaning up the yard. It was in a hell of a mess with material from the renovations & repairs to the roof all over the place. They even cleaned up the garden. It is still dry but our water situation was improved today with the arrival of the new 32,000 ton “Kolle D” on a run from Tasmania to Japan with a pretty big load of Tasmanian water. I have heard a rumour that we may be faced with power restrictions soon because of a cut back in diesel fuel for the generators. Some of the people who run air conditioners to protect expensive sound equipment from rust are getting worried.

There isn't anything more to report. I've enclosed a copy of a chapter from “Auditing” by Irish that may be of some assistance to Bruce, if he hasn't already made a decision. Your comments in the last letter came as a bit of a surprise as I thought you were pretty settled in Warnambool. I would be interested to hear what the turnover & gross profit have been in the business Bruce was looking at.

On that note I’ll sign off. Hope you are fit & well.

Love from Andy, Greg, Darren & Shane