Ng's Retiring
p. 87 · Read in the full issue
Champion
Ivan Champion, who recently
:ired as Chief Commissioner : Native Lands in Papua and ;w Guinea, was bom in Port oresby in 1904. His father, H. . Champion, had arrived there 1898 to work with Burns lilp, and was later Government cretary for 30 years. /AN was educated at the South port School in Queensland, and ned up as a patrol officer in 1923.
In 1926-27, he and Karius achieved great epic of exploration in jssing New Guinea from the Fly the Sepik. Ivan made later iterations with his brother Claude d with Jack Hides, but received ■y little official recognition for his >rk at the time. This may have en partly due to his natural )desty and retiring nature.
Ivan’s book, Across New Guinea )tn the Fly to the Sepik was pub tied by Constable in 1932.
Ivan became an Assistant Resident agistrate in 1928, discovered Lake itubu in 1936, and served in ferent parts of Papua until 1942. iving had his share of experience small Government vessels, he was ;n made a Lieutenant RANVR on i approach of the Japanese, and -ved in the hydrographic service, ainly as a pilot, around the coasts
of New Guinea for the duration of the war.
He then returned to District Services and Native Affairs until the formation of the Native Lands Com mission in 1952. He was awarded the QBE in the Coronation Honours of 1953.
In 1929, Ivan married Elsie May Ross, and they have one daughter, Ivane, who is married to Harry Plant in Port Moresby.
Ivan’s brother Claude retired not long ago as P-NG’s Director of Civil Affairs, and brother Alan finished his service in the Territory as District Commissioner, Port Moresby. These three brothers, with their father,
certainly formed a strong segment of the Administration and set a wonderful record of family service, Although Ivan is the last of the Champions to retire from service, the Territory has not seen the last of him, for he intends to return as master of the ex-Government yacht Laurabada, now owned by Ted Yabsley, to trade around the Terri tory.
This lovely vessel will keep Ivan busy in his retirement, and that should keep him happy. —Brett Hilder.
A Brett Hilder Profile