Carson (Kit) ATHERTON

25 September 1989

Kit first went to PNG as a member of the 2/6 Commando Company after training at Foster. He fought in the Owen Stanley campaign, Ramu Valley, Wau and Kaiapit (where as RAP Sergeant he was awarded MID).

He returned to PNG in 1946 as a member of the Public Health Department at Lae. Later he was posted as Medical Assistant to Mumeng where he built the Native Hospital. In 1949 he married Pat and returned to Mumeng with the Commonwealth Department of Works building bridges at Patep and Mumeng. He then transferred to the Public Works Department and worked at Lae before being transferred as Works Supervisor to Kavieng and then Mt Hagen, retiring in 1971.

Everywhere he went, Kit had a beautiful garden after only a few months and his home in Frankston, Vic, is noted for its acre of lovely shrubs and his pot plants. Kit is survived by his wife Pat, sons Nicholas and Martin and stepson Julian.