Moem to Taurama in 46 days…The PNGDF patrol that did the 1000km trek in 1975

When Michael Somare and his peers decided they wanted to run their own country,
much of the land was  still unconnected by road. It was just a little over 20 years since
 the first outsider made contact with people in the highlands
In preparation for that transition, Papua New Guinean soldiers who were,  then,  part of
an Australian Army brigade, began preparing for independence.  There was a lot of
uncertainty as the Australian administration prepared to leave.
There were also discussions around weather or not the new country needed a military.
In Moem Barracks, Wewak, the command was also in a state of readiness.  
The troops were put through two months of grueling training in preparation for
possible civil unrest and for a 1000 kilometer trek that some of them would take from
Wewak to Port Moresby.
“The thinking at the time was to prove that the PNG Defence Force was in support of
the government.  At the time, there was also talk about not having an army.  This was a

way to prove to the government of the day that the army would stand behind it,”  says
retired Lt. Col. Geoffrey Key.
As a young lieutenant,  Geoffrey Key was given command of  the 15 man patrol chosen
from the two months of training. They were to carry two letters to Port Moresby – one
from the District Commissioner and the other from the Moem command.
“I still don’t know the contents of the letters. But I was to hand deliver them to the
Chief Minister, Michael Somare.  My commander said: ‘There will be no vehicle, boats 
or planes. You walk out of Moem and you walk into Taurama Barracks (Port Moresby).’
And that’s what we did.”
Lt. Geoffrey Key, was born in Finschhafen, Morobe Province. He attended Kerevat
National High School  where  was recruited as an army apprentice.  He was trained in
Australia as a radio technician.  During the transition period, he was sent for  officer
training at Portsea  where he later graduated as a 2 nd  Lieutenant.   
The journey took them from Wewak to Madang, Morobe then over the Owen Stanley
mountains and into Port Moresby.
“We trained on various terrain so that didn’t worry us. We were not given food. They
told us to live off the land. I chose the route so we travelled through the most populated
areas so it would be easy to find the supplies we needed.”
Among the 15 men, was Private Felix Wama who joined the army  in 1973. He said
many people in the rest of the country  didn’t understand the concept of the political
independence that was being decided for them.
“They didn’t have a clue. Some, like my fathers and uncles, said let Australia look after
us.”
The military was still part of the Australian Defense Force. They said ‘Private Felix
Wama, you have been chosen to walk from Wewak to Port Moresby.’”
Wama saw how disconnected the country was back then.
“Many of the roads we know now were all bush tracks. In Wau and Garaina, the terrain
was difficult. But we eventually got to Port Moresby,” Wama recalled.

Among his most precious possessions, are three photographs and a laminated letter of
commendation from the PNGDF Commander at the time, Brigadier James William
Norrie.
In his own words, the Brigadier spoke of a journey that took 46 days and traversed some
of the most rugged terrain.
The letters were hand delivered to Chief Minister Somare on Independence day.  
Geoffrey Key continued serving in the army. In 1980, as a major, he commanded troops
in Vanuatu when the PNGDF were sent  to help put down a rebellion as the island
nation transitioned to political independence.
Felix Wama returned from Port Moresby a corporal, recognized and promoted for his
achievements. He left the army after serving for eight years.