He's Seen Rabaul

Rise Again

Mr. Richard Broadhurst, of

Rabaul, is one of the more per

manent citizens of that town,

which is known for its recurrent eruptions, wars and other dis

turbances.

HE has seen it disappear under dust and ashes, only to rise again, despite the efforts of the Administration to move it to a safer site.

One can share his affection and pride in a town which refuses to be beaten, and this is a welcome change from the pessimism and whinges of many who come and go through the years.

Dick Broadhurst was born in Sydney in 1907, of old Colonial stock.

He was educated at Sydney Boys’

High School and later studied economics at Sydney University.

After some experience in advertis ing, he joined Burns Philp and was sent to Rabaul in 1933.

He spent 1934 in Madang, and continued his studies which enabled him to qualify as an accountant.

Later studies made him a member of the Australian Institute of Cost Accountants.

His happy years as a bachelor—or, if you prefer, his lonely single life— ended in 1936, when his charming confidence with women won him the heart of an SDA missionary’s daughter.

His bride, Mavis McLaren, had lived in the Islands since early childhood, mostly in Fiji, and she had a special gift for native languages.

In the 1937 eruption Mavis and

(Continued on p. 99)

A Brett Hilder Profile

t were in the last car which got >ugh Tunnel Hill and on to uawutung, where they camped at late J. O. Smith’s place with •owing number of other refugees, he torrents of rain had swollen rivers and cut the roads, and one had any dry clothes, schooner appeared at Wunawu ? three days later and collected arty of 70, including the Broad sts, who were landed at Kokopo, re the Catholic Mission at tapope did a superhuman job.

•I? became associated With J. L. Chipper, and took up a timber lease at Open Bay.

In 1 2, 40> he was looking after the Shell Company s interests at Salasiaua»5 iaua » a nd the goldfields area.

In 1941, he joined J_.ever Bros, in Sydney as an accountant, and was with them for six years.

In 1948, he became secretary to the Westcott Hazel Engineering Steel Companies. After a visit to Rabaul in 1949 he took up a banana plantation on the Tweed River, and spent the next two years in the timber industry in South Queensl an d.

He then returned to Rabaul to live, becoming a director of J. L.

Chipper & Company Ltd. in 1952, and he is still on that board as well as being a director of the Bougainville Company, Chipper

Holdings Ltd., and managing director of Papua New Guinea Credits Limited Dick has had a lot to do with the modern phase of Rabaul’s develop ment, and has been active in the formation of several companies and businesses there. He was chairman of the New Britain Bakery from 1953 to 1957.

The Chipper interests, while mainly based on timber, also include cocoa plantations, building and real estate, importing and exporting, in surance, and have agencies for machinery, and for cars.

The Broadhursts recently bought a home at Wahroonga as their Syd ney headquarters. They have three children; Robyn, who was married last year in Perth, and Kevin and Alan who are both attending Knox Grammar School in Sydney.