Thomas George AITCHISON

29 July 1999, aged 88

Tom Aitchison (sometimes known as ‘Tommy’) grew up in Victoria, and graduated from Melbourne University with a degree in Economics and Commerce. In 1933 he went to the Territory as a Patrol Officer. He revelled in the challenge. He was one of the first Government officers to serve in the Eastern Highlands when that area was being opened up in the 30s and was involved in surveying the first section of road leading down into the Ramu and Markham Valleys, which eventually became the Highlands Highway. In 1936 he married his wife Sylvia at the Upper Ramu Police Post.

With the advent of war, Tom joined the Army and served in ANGAU, the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit. Tom played a leading role in the evacuation overland from Wewak to Port Moresby of a party of Chinese fleeing the Japanese. This journey, through some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world, was achieved in six weeks without the loss of a single person. At war’s end, Tom—now with two daughters, Judy and Kaye—re-joined his old department in the PNG civil service and he and his fellow officers set about the formidable task of rebuilding the shattered country. Tom rose through the ranks to District Commissioner and in this capacity served in Madang, Manus and New Ireland.

In 1957 he was appointed Chief of Division, Government and Research. His Division played a leading role in the planning and implementation of the first national census in PNG, the preparation of a common roll, and the conduct of the first House of Assembly elections. He subsequently rose to the position of First Assistant Director and Acting Director of the Dept of District Administration.

In 1968 Tom retired to Schofields, in Sydney’s West, where he acquired a small acreage, upon which he bred and established facilities for the agistment and spelling of race horses. He was an active member of the RSL in both PNG and Australia. During his final years Tom moved to a retirement village where he was able to maintain his independence almost to the last.

Tom is survived by daughters Judy and Kaye, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His wife Sylvia predeceased him. Taken from the eulogy given by Malcolm Lang