Alan William ANDERSON

4 February 2012, aged 92

Born at Haberfield in Sydney on 30 April 1919, he attended Scots College 1929-1936. At 20 he enlisted in the AIF when war was declared and served in the Middle East, North Africa and what was then New Guinea, until the war ended. His father Alfred had established Anderson’s Smallgoods early in the 1920s and Alan returned from the war and worked in the family business while his father in 1947 decided to see what potential there might be in the Territory of P&NG for purchase of war surplus equipment and subsequently meat imports. He established a business selling meat from refrigerated ships first in Port Moresby then Rabaul, before actually opening a butcher shop there.

When Alfred’s ill health necessitated his return to Australia, Alan took over and expanded the business into a supermarket which then also expanded into Lae in 1972. His sons Alan Jnr and David eventually managed these stores until their sale to the East New Britain Development Corporation (one of the most successful Provincial Government enterprises in the country).

The Anderson’s Foodland jingle became one of the most well known in the country, and Freddy Foodland almost as famous as Ronald McDonald! Alan’s foresight built the company into a highly regarded business, and Papua New Guineans queued up to work for the store when it opened in Port Moresby in 1988.

He also expanded the family interests into the plantation industry on the Gazelle Peninsula. Gela Gela Plantation was acquired in the 1950s and interests expanded with the acquisition of Ramidal and Warana plantations. The group moved from predominately copra to cocoa growing.

In retirement he spent time fishing and travelling, overseas and in Australia. His wife Jenny (Brereton) had predeceased him in 1984 so he did this on his own. He also made frequent visits back to PNG and always had a soft spot for the country. He developed emphysema (he was a 60 a day man) however this did not become a big problem until very late. He was ready to go and told us that he had had a good life. He died peacefully and without pain on 4 February and will be missed by his family. Alan Anderson (Jnr)