The District Commissioner
This website contains additional historical information which may be of interest to readers of the book “The District Commissioner”. The book records the memoirs of David Milbourne Marsh OBE and his PNG nation building work 1940 to 1975 written by Beverley Rybarz and Jane Rybarz.
Book Highlights
The memoirs recount the life and work of Australian David Milbourne Marsh in Papua New Guinea during the years 1940 to 1975, as recounted by him in person to the co-author Beverley Rybarz.
​
A powerful first hand description of a part of Australia’s history.
More than eighty years after the end of WWII, memories of this time are fading. The young men and women from the time are now aged in their late 90s, or sadly, many have passed away.
​
It is the history of the development of the nation of PNG and the role Australia and Australians played in it.
David travelled to Port Moresby at the age of eighteen in 1940 to take up work as an assistant gold miner working for his uncle Bert Kienzle in the Kokoda area.
​
Within two years WWII had started. At the age of twenty, as a member of the Australia New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) and a Lieutenant in the Australian Army, David was in combat against the Japanese, rescued crashed US airmen, and scouted for Australian and enemy troops.
​
With the local population he built airstrips in remote jungle locations which saved thousands of lives and contributed to the allies winning the War. Missionaries and wounded soldiers were evacuated, military
personnel and vital supplies were transported, and the Japanese were driven out
​
After the war David worked as a pioneering Patrol Officer and District Commissioner building infrastructure including roads, bridges, hydroelectric plants, hospitals and schools, discovered gold and oil, and protected villagers from an erupting volcano. He was a mentor to many including the future PNG Governor General Sir John Guise.
​
At the request of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, David organised the celebrations and peaceful handover of power marking the country’s Independence from Australia in September 1975.
For his service David Marsh was awarded an OBE by Prince Charles (King
Charles III) in 1975.
About the Authors
Beverley Rybarz was educated at St Peter’s Girls College in Adelaide and worked as Confidential Secretary to the District Commissioner of Papua New Guinea, Mr David Marsh OBE, in Port Moresby in the 1950s.
She had previously worked for the Qantas Chief Engineer, Mr Kit Brown, in Lae, PNG.
In Australia Beverley worked as an Executive Secretary for a number of organisations in Adelaide South Australia before writing her first book “The Bridge Builder” which was published in 2005 by Wakefield Press.
Beverley, a born storyteller, is now nearly 96 and enjoying her retirement on the New South Wales Central Coast. In this photo, Beverley, aged 91, is working on "The District Commissioner".
Being involved with bringing this story to print has given her much joy and pride over many years.
Jane Rybarz was born in Port Moresby, and is the daughter of renowned PNG road and bridge builder Stan Rybarz, and author Beverley Rybarz.
She was educated at Belair Primary School, Seymour College, Scotch College, the University of Adelaide, and the University of South Australia.
Jane now refers to herself as an “accidental PNG historian” but is a Chartered Accountant and CPA by training. Jane commenced her career with the “big 4” firm KPMG where she worked for 7 years in their Adelaide and Cairns offices.
She then established the boutique practice Jane Rybarz Chartered Accountants in Cairns which she operated for almost 7 years including the latter years as the partnership Rybarz Zappulla Chartered Accountants with her business partner - Chartered Accountant, Financial Planner, and author Rita Zappulla - until the practice was sold. Jane won the inaugural Cairns Business Woman of the Year Encouragement Award in 1994 and a North Queensland Radio Marketing award in 1995.
​
After moving to Sydney in 1999 Jane worked in a number of interesting and challenging roles including that of :
-
Management Accountant with Southern Star Endemol (preparing sales budgets for and reporting actual sales results for TV shows like “Water Rats”, “Blue Heelers”, and “Home and Away”);
-
Film & TV Production Accountant with Moneypenny (where she worked on films like “Garage Days” and the TV series “Crash Burn”) ;
-
Financial Controller of Bazmark Inq the operating entity of film icons Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin (including during production of their film “Australia” and documentary “Romeo + Juliet The Music Edition”) ;
-
Director of Finance and Audit for NITV the National Indigenous Television Channel, from start up to consolidation with TV broadcaster SBS ;
-
Chief Financial Officer of Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation who reunite members of the Stolen Generation ;
-
Chief Financial Officer of Vanessa Stoykov’s financial education Evolution Media Group ;
-
Financial Controller of the prestigious private members’ organisation, The Women’s Club ; and
-
Financial Controller of the prestigious private members’ organisation, the Australian Club.
Her current role is Head of the Finance team at the Ettalong Diggers Club, an RSL club on the NSW Central Coast where she is enjoying being involved in the local community and being part of an entertainment and hospitality organisation which supports local charities and returned war veterans.
Jane is also currently a Board Member of Australian Women in Music, a not for profit charity driving a major cultural shift across the entire music sector, recognising the value, contribution, and achievements of female and gender diverse music industry creatives and practitioners. Annually they hold a Music Industry Conference and a televised Music Awards event, the AWMA’s, in Brisbane. She is a passionate supporter of the Australian live music industry.
Jane is a Board Member and Public Officer of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia, and is a member of the Gold Coast Papua New Guinea Club Inc.
She has served on the Boards of Aurora Community Television Ltd (including positions of Deputy Board Chairperson and Chairperson of the Audit and Finance Committee), WIFT - Women in Film and Television Association of NSW, Cairns Regional Gallery VIPs Association, FTA - Film & Television Association (FNQ), the Zonta Club of Cairns, and the Australian American Association Inc Cairns. She was an honorary auditor of the Far North Cultural Industry Association, and honorary consultant with Arts Law in Cairns.
Jane is the proud godmother of Alana Livesey and Miles Ghiggioli.
She believes “The District Commissioner” is one of the most interesting and enjoyable projects she has ever worked on. Jane has learned much about leadership and nation building in the process. She, like her mother Beverley, hopes the work shown in the memoirs book and this website is something both Australians and Papua New Guineans can be very proud of. ​For more information about Jane go to LinkedIn
Questions & Feedback
​Jane Rybarz
Chartered Accountant, CPA
Email jrybarz@hotmail.com
PO Box 86 Ettalong Beach NSW 2257
​​
Book Purchase Enquiries
​​Wakefield Press
16 Rose Street
Mile End
South Australia 5031
​
Phone – in Australia (08) 8352 4455
Phone – International +61 8 8352 4455
​