His Territory

A Brett Hilder Profile

Days Go Back To 1922

John Charles Mullaly, OBE,

who celebrated his 70th birthday last month, is a New Guinea planter of many years’ ex

perience.

BORN in Melbourne in September, 1895, he went to Christian Brothers’ schools, then on to the university to read Law.

While still in his first year, he enlisted in the AIF in October, 1915, and saw action in the Middle East, though not at Gallipoli.

He was in the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to start with, but later trans ferred to the 43 rd Battalion to fight the rest of the war in France. He had an inside view of all the great battles, was wounded, and was com missioned in the field.

On returning to Australia, Jack found it hard to settle down, and jumped at a chance to go to New Guinea in 1922 as audit inspector of the Expropriation Board. This job required him to travel all over the Territory, inspecting plantations and their books.

He then transferred to Native Affairs, and became District Officer at Kavieng in 1925. Next he married

Ruth Saunders, and bought and settled down on Natava Plantation, New Britain. This plantation, 15 miles north-west of Rabaul, is still in his possession, although he now lives mostly in Sydney.

Jack became a member of the Territory’s Legislative Council in 1933, and also a member of the Executive Council.

In 1937 he was awarded the OBE for his work during the eruption at Rabaul; and in 1939 he joined the

Ngvr.

General MacArthur appointed him Director of the Combined Operations Intelligence Centre in 1942, a post he held until 1944 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He then became CO of the Training Battalion of the Pacific Islands Regiment.

At the end of the war, he got back to his plantation as fast as he could.

In addition to copra, he planted a lot of cocoa as a secondary crop.

He has seen the good job done by the Copra Board since the war, and now is keen to see a Cocoa Board set up with the same purpose.

Jack and his wife Ruth now live in a large home at Mosman. They have one daughter, Ann Barbara, who is married to Dr. Russell Cole.

Brett Hilder.

Mr. Mullaly.