the Big Firm

Amphibious Career in the Big Firm

GEORGE A. CLARKE, popular chief repre sentative of the Borns Philp organisation in Rabaul, New Guinea, has had a long connection with Pacific islands although he is still on the right side of 50.

He was born in Manly, a Sydney seaside suburb, but as a very young child went with his parents to Mapia Island (made famous re cently by the resurrected history of His Majesty O'Keefe), off the Dutch New Guinea coast, where his father was manager of a German-owned plantation.

There was no radio in those days, ships called from Sourabaya only every two months.

When war broke out in 1914 the Clarkes did not know for some time and then they re turned to Australia.

Young George went to school at Drummoyne and at the age of 15 began his working life in the head office of Burns Philp and Co.

Ltd., at 7 Bridge Street, Sydney. Nine years later he decided to put to sea—as assistant purser in the old "Mataram", later graduating purser to serve in several BP ships including "Macdhui", "Montoro" and "Malaita".

After six years at sea he returned to dry land again—joining the Rabaul branch of Burns Philp where he remained until enlisting in the AIF in 1940.

The war over, it was back to Rabaul as shipping-manager of the new subsidiary, Burns Philp (New Guinea) Ltd. He became branch manager at Rabaul about four years ago.

The amphibious Mr. Clarke is a keen follower of Rabaul sport—particularly football and baseball. He is one of the trustees of the New Guinea Club and of the RSSAILA.

He is married and he and the very charming Mrs. Clarke have one daughter. Miss Clarke is eight.— BRETT HILDER.