Series 567 - Personal papers of George Whittaker

Identity area

Reference code

AU ANUA 567

Title

Personal papers of George Whittaker

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Name of creator

(1904 - 1964)

Biographical history

George Whittaker was born in Chillagoe, Queensland on 16 January 1904 and attended Cairns High School, then the University of Sydney. He arrived in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea in 1925, working as a medical assistant with Department of Public Health. In 1933 Whittaker led the first medical patrol into the Central Highlands of New Guinea. He later established a cocoa plantation near Lae and in 1936 began practising as an optometrist in the town. In 1942-6 he served in various parts of New Guinea as a member of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, which was subsequently integrated into the Australian Army. Awarded a MBE in 1943 and mentioned in despatches the same year, Whittaker reached rank of captain and was discharged from army in October 1946. For ten years after the war he worked to rehabilitate Awilunga cocoa plantation. He was the PNG state president of the RSL from 1951 to 1955, also a member for the New Guinea Mainland in the PNG Legislative Council, and at one time a member of the Lae Town Advisory Council and Morobe District Advisory Council. The Whittakers left PNG and moved to Australia in 1957. George Whittaker subsequently made periodic visits to PNG in connection with his continuing work as an optometrist.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Notes, newspaper articles, personal correspondence, letters by Whittaker, diaries, photographs, letters and documents in relation to his business as an optometrist in Papua New Guinea, documents relating to Awilunga Plantation Limited, legal and financial records.

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Conditions governing access

Researchers must sign an access agreement

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Finding aids

  1. Item List for ANUA 567
  2. Pacific Manuscripts Bureau list - PMB1394.PDF
    see http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au.virtual.anu.edu.au/pambu/reels/manuscripts/PMB1394.PDF

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

The collection has been microfilmed by the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau and available from PMB Member Libraries or by purchasing it directly from the Bureau: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au.virtual.anu.edu.au/pambu/reels/manuscripts/PMB1394.PDF

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Dates of creation revision deletion

Created by Christine Bryan on 13 October 2016 from the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau record. Updated with item list by CB on 6 June 2017.

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