Theodore Francis ADAMS

17 September 1998, aged 74

Theo Adams first went to New Guinea in 1944, aged 21, as a member of the 2/2nd Commando Unit of the AIF attached to the 7th Division. He joined the Unit at a place called Fita, eight days walk from Goroka. He was involved with patrols into territory which was occupied by the invading forces in the Ramu and later towards Shaggy Ridge, the scene of heavy action and losses of men and equipment. Theo volunteered to take part in these patrols. He was always cheerful and did his job as a signalman with great skill under awful conditions. Once he said that he was never afraid of going on these patrols until someone took a shot at him, and he has been frightened ever since!  But this was typical of Theo, always causing a laugh.

After the war Theo became a traffic officer with Ansett Airways at Madang and Goroka for a number of years. Latterly he was the Manager of Minogere Hostel at Goroka, operated by the Goroka Council as a middle range hostel and conference centre. He was an expert at organising functions, whether for Anzac Day or the Melbourne Cup. Minogere Hostel was also the site of the Goroka Swimming Pool operated by the Goroka Council and subsequently by the Eastern Highlands Capital Authority.

Theo’s wife Ato owned and operated several second hand clothing shops in Goroka in the 1990s.

Theo had over 30 years in Papua New Guinea. A large gathering attended his funeral including Ralph Conley, Hank Cosgrove and many from Papua New Guinea. He was given military last rites by members of the Commando Association.

Theo is survived by his wife Ato, sons John, Paul and Billy and daughters Dulcie and Lisa. Doug Franklin