Series 561 - Frank Ryan's Papua New Guinea slide collection

Frank Ryan was born in Hazelbrook, New South Wales and in 1941 received the Intermediate Certificate from Tamworth High School. He was studying at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College when WWII intervened. On 30 June 1942, he postponed his studies and joined the RAAF. Frank’s war experience as a LAC (Leading Aircraftman) included service in the South West Pacific and in Calgary, Canada. He was discharged on 19 June 1949 and returned to his studies at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College. Frank was very keen to join the Public Service as an agricultural officer in Papua New Guinea. On 24 April 1950 he was accepted as an Assistant Agricultural Officer in the Department of External Territories, Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries. Frank spent from 1950 to 1970 in Papua New Guinea where he was held in very regard by the local people. He was responsible for setting up the first commercial native-owned cocoa plantation at Rabaul and was involved in setting up rice and coffee growing in Wewak, cocoa growing in New Britain and rubber and copra production in the Gulf District. Frank Ryan retired for health reasons and returned to Australia. He died on 5 March 2000.