L. Tonkin Photographs


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Sr. Lida Tonkin.  Collection of Photographs from Papua New Guinea, mainly New Britain and New Ireland, 1911-1943.

Annotations on the photographs indicate that Sister Lida Tonkin (Mrs L. Gill), a nursing sister from Young, NSW, first arrived at the Methodist Mission at Raluana in New Britain in 1916.

There is a Ts. transcript of part of a memoir by Lida Tonkin in Rev. Neville Threlfall’s, “Notes and Materials on the History of Rabaul and the Gazelle Peninsular” (currently held by the Bureau, Box 6A). Sr Tonkin writes in her memoir about Malaboga Hospital, which features in a number of the photographs, as follows:  “Malaboga Infant Welfare Centre was an inland hospital situated about 20 miles from Rabaul. This hospital and Sisters Bungalow were built by the Administration for the express purpose of bringing help to the needy people of the Baining Valley. In 1932 this hospital with equipment, also the bungalow, were passed over to the Methodist Missionary society on the understanding that we provide the necessary staff while the Administration financed the undertaking.”

The photographs were lent to the Bureau for copying by Mrs Gwenyth Fardon of Queanbeyan. Mrs Fardon and her husband, Rev. Ian Fardon, had lived in New Britain from 1956-1968. (See PMB 1169.) Mrs Fardon remembered that the photographs had a connection with Mary Woolnough who went back to Rabaul after the War.

The following images are currently available online:
Contact the Bureau for access to all the images in high resolution.
 

No.

Format

Text on photograph

Text on reverse

Location and date (where known)

1

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

 

A cremation in the Kavieng Circuit

 

2

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

 

A cremation in the Kavieng Circuit about 16/or/18

c.1916-1918

3

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

Condensers, Rabaul

 

 

4

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

Dugongs - Sea Cows - Cast up at Rabaul - As all were dead, it is thought due to earth tremor.

Dugongs, sea cows, cast up on the beach at Matupil, Rabaul 12/9/28. Something like 40. Said to be young ones and the suggestion made that an earth tremor at the time may have affected them so they were all dead and only young ones.

Rabaul, 12 Oct 1928

5

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

H.M.A.S Melbourne, Rabaul

 

Rabaul

6

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

 

Entrance to Government House

Rabaul

7

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

 

European Hospital, Namenula

Namenula Hill, Rabaul

8

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

 

After the eruption. - I always forget the date.

Presumably referring to the 1937-1943 eruption of the Rabaul caldera

9

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

A MON (NATIVE BUILD BOAT)

 

Appears to be Blanche Bay

10

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

MAKING LIME BAGS

 

 

11

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

NATIVE UMBRELLA (PANDANUS LEAF)

 

 

12

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

MAKING A BASKET from a coconut palm leaf

 

 

13

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

Coral to be burned for lime

 

 

14

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

See card from previously with Tutupele

 

Raluana (near Rabaul), 3 Feb 1920

Text on reverse:

Dear Addie,

Here you see a small house sheltering a wooden horse. The occasion is the preparation of a young man about to be married. This horse is only a small part of the decorations. There were three very tall poles all heavily decorated and festooned, then just at the rear a small house, somewhat larger than the one shown, & then this one.

The young man accompanied by a couple of friends remains in hiding for a couple of weeks while the girl is being bought the feasts etc. are being carried out. It is not practised generally but now and again you come across it. I have not been able to ascertain what are the qualifications for such ceremony. I had better send you birthday greetings as well as Xmas & new year.

With love from Lida, Raluana 3/2/20.

15

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

 

Raluana, 3 Jan 1920

Text on reverse:

Dear Florrie.

In this picture you see on the left next to the house the women who for a month slept on the grave which is marked in front by the leaves, decorations etc. which were stuck in as part of the ceremony. The woman under whose chin I have put a cross is a daughter of the deceased. Her little one is call Lida.

It was a great ceremony and the officials had a big day. There were about 50 women & each one in payment for their services was given a very large basket of food and about 2yds of shell money. The food consisted of a large parcel of root[sic] vegetable cooked in coconut milk, several dozen bananas, three or four shooting coconuts for planting. About X00 coconuts were used in all the parcels taken together. Xmas & New Year Greetings. Love

Lida. Raluana 3.12.20

16

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

 

Ulu I. Mission Church

L. Tonkin.

Young.

Ulu Island in St George Channel, near Rabaul.

17

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

 

The crowd who gather to welcome the Chairman Rev W.H. Cox, W. L. L. Linggood & Sister L. Tonkin. Malaboga 8.12.32

Malaboga (also Malabonga, now Malabunga) South of Rabaul, 8 Dec 1932

18

'Kodak Austral' Postcard

135mm x 80mm

FIRE DANCER, BAINIG [text printed in mirror reverse]

 

Baining?

19

 

 

Rev. W.H. Cox & Iparam Lo Bobo at the grave of Penu To Pitmur [?], the first New Britain ordained to the ministry

 

20

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Iparam To Bobo, chief beloved & who loaned his people 'taku' if they were short a waratabara time. A man greatly beloved by Mr. Cox.

 

21

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

The drinking vessel is a length of bamboo

 

22

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

A method of carrying pigs

 

23

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Cox Memorial Building (Snap taken on cloudy day to avoid black shadows from Mangoes in Mango Avenue). Memorial Stone is set in face of building under window on right hand side, name of building over door Jan. 19401 [sic]

Rabaul(?), 1941

24

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Malabonga Hospital 1932

Malabunga, 1932

25

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Hospital assistant's houses at Malabonga- built after we took over

Malabunga

26

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Malaboga Hospital (Dispensary, store, theatre, women's ward).

There are large native buildings used as general wards not shown in picture

1933

Malabunga, 1933

27

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Malabonga Hospital

The rear of the residence

Aug 1933

Malabunga, August 1933

28

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Malaboga residence

A corner of the hospital may be seen at the rear.

Malabunga, August 1933

29

Print

85 mm x 60mm

 

A section of the sewing class. Malabonga

Malabunga

30

Print

85 mm x 60mm

 

Women at Malabonga bringing home wood

Malabunga

31

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

MAKING BROOMS

[image no. 32]

 

32

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

MAKING STRING FROM GRASS

[image no. 31

 

33

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

MAKING A FISHING NET

[image no. 34

 

34

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

THE FISHER (107)

[image no. 33]

 

35

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

Mending his net

[image no. 36]

 

36

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

(86) A FISHING VILLAGE

[image no. 35]

 

37

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

A FISH-TRAP

[image no. 38]

 

38

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

OFF TO SET HIS FISH TRAP

[image no. 37]

 

39

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

SPLITTING CANE FOR TYPING PURPOSES

[image no. 40]

 

40

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

CANE FOR NATIVE ANCHOR CABLE

[image no. 39]

 

41

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

"KULAU" DANCE

[image no. 42]

 

42

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

CARVED WORK USED IN DANCES

[image no. 41]

 

43

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

(90) MEMBERS OF "DUK DUK" SECRET SOCITEY

[image no. 44]

 

44

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

"DUK DUK" PARADE

[image no. 43]

 

45

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

WOMAN & CHILD STH. NEW IRELAND

[image no. 46]

 

46

Print pasted on card

130mm x 80mm

0/3891/47 PARADING THE "DUKDUK"

[image no. 45]

 

47

'The Crown Studios, Sydney.'

Postcard

135mm x 90mm

Text on photograph: 5/3891/47

[Photograph the same as No. 46, but lacking title. Depicts many men on long canoes at a ceremonial event.]

 

48

'The Crown Studios, Sydney.'

Postcard

135mm x 90mm

0/3891/58

Watnabara church.

Gal. iron with concrete floor

College students before transfer to Uuxairima[?]

L. Tonkin.

Young.

 

49

'The Crown Studios, Sydney.'

Postcard

135mm x 90mm

 

Iona To Gigi chief of Raluana. Father of Isikel Mulas one time head printing office boy. Had a son Imson, which means "Isikel Mulas son

About 1911

c. 1911, Raluana

50

Postcard

135mm x 90mm

 

Pero To Kinhein(?), chief of Ialaheua(?) when I arrived at Raluana 1916. He shared in the portion of the murdered missionaries who were killed at "Lung na paraw" up on the hill, Raluana side of Malmaluan(?).

 

51

Postcard

135mm x 90mm

 

Raluana church in my time.

/16-/38

32

52

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Fish trap anchor out in roadstead off Raluana

Raluana

53

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Akuila To Ngaru apportioning the food to the various villages, after the annual mission gathering

 

54

Print

110mm x 65mm

 

Akuila To Ngaru & his wife (and I can't think of her name)

He was at Nangamiave[?] while I was at Malabonga & he was a great help to me

 

55

Print

130mm x 85mm

LEADING THE BLIND

Glrinda[?], Mrs Margetts "cook boy" & Taniel - Raluana

Raluana

56

Print

130mm x 85mm

GOOD CROP of COCONUTS

 

 

57

Print

130mm x 85mm

POUNDING POISON ROOT for ASPHYXIATING FISH

 

 

58

Print

110mm X 60mm

 

(1) Land of first motor car in Port Moresby

June- July 1916

 

59

Print

110mm X 60mm

 

(2) A second view of the same car.

 

60

Print

115mm x 85mm

 

Crossing Baining river.

Mr Wayne and boys

Baining River

61

Print

115mm x 85mm

 

Grass cutting with sarif [bush knife]

 

62

Print

115mm x 85mm

[No text. Depicts two men making cane chair.]

 

63

Print

115mm x 85mm

[No text. Depicts a boy eating a coconut.]

 

64

Print

80mm x 55mm

 

Rev and Mrs and K.A. Wenzel & Scharnhost [child]

 

65

Print

105mm x 60mm

 

Annual labor inspection - Gunantabu

 

66

Print

85mm x 65mm

 

Litia and Government Yaght at Molot.

Jubilee Day 21.9.25.

Rather Historical.

Molot [Island near Rabaul], 1925

67

Print

110mm x 70mm

 

Hertzer. This lady (?) designed the plan for draining the Rabaul town area.

Was at one time in Africa & H. M. Stanley a ham sandwich to … him - & from then on he began to mend. Told me by Schwester herself.

Lived at Palaupai up from [?]Jalabiua[?]

From Schwester.

 

68

Print

80mm x 65mm

 

An eruption picture, taken I think by Mr. Wilfred Pearce. Chairman's Sec.

 

69

Print (postcard?)

130mm x 80mm

ENTRACE BLANCHE BAY

 

Blanch Bay (Rabaul)


70

Print

160mm x 120

 

Japanese vessel. Mr Cox's departure. 1919.

Rabaul(?), 1919

71

Print

105mm x 80mm

[No text. Depicts Duk Duk men in ceremonial costume incl. masks with arms raised holding up tall hats with strings.]

 

72

Print

105mm x 80mm

 

Plaiting coconut palm leaves for sleeping mats. See one the boy is sitting on

 

 
*                      *                      *
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