The District Commissioner
Addendum 31: Mick Leahy
Additional information for Chapter 12 - Colonel Sverdrup and building of airfields at Safia, Fasari (Gasari), Embessa, Kinjaki, and Pongani
Information stated on the Australian Museum and Wikipedia websites state that Michael James Leahy (1901 to 1979) was born in Toowoomba Queensland, and was famous for his exploration of the Highlands region. With Mick Dwyer he walked across New Guinea in 1930 prospecting the Ramu River tributaries and the Goroka Valley for gold, and disproving the prevailing opinion that the highlands were unpopulated.
Mick and his brother Dan were leaders of the 1933 expedition that opened up the Wahgi Valley. Charles Marshall was part of this expedition and obtained copies of Mick Leahy’s photographs. He was one of the first Europeans to reach and climb the country's second tallest mountain – Mount Giluwe in 1934. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a Flight Lieutenant, and was assigned to the US Chief Engineer to build an airstrip in remote Telefomin. He was awarded the US Medal of Freedom with Bronze Palm in 1948 and in 1952 an MBE. He settled in the Morobe District as a farmer and died there.
The 1983 documentary ‘First Contact’ by Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson, which was nominated for an Academy Award, tells the story of these explorations using Leahy’s films, photographs and diaries”. They also produced a book of that same title.
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​The photo above is sourced from page 186 of the book “First Contact” by Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson and which has the narration “Michael Leahy, Wabag, 1934”.
The information below is from the website Pacificwrecks.com/people/veterans/leahy/index.html
“Background
Born February 26, 1901 born in Toowoomba, Queensland, the fourth of nine children of Irish migrant Daniel Leahy. In 1926, he left Australia and traveled to New Guinea in hopes of finding gold at Edie Creek. After suffering from an almost fatal bout of malaria upon trying to reach the gold fields, Leahy instead took a construction and labour management job based in Lae.
Highlands Exploration
In 1930, Mick Leahy with Mick Dwyer walked across New Guinea and disproved the prevailing opinion that the interior of the island was unpopulated. In 1933, Mick Leahy and his brother Danny Leahy were leaders of the expedition that opened up the Wahgi valley of the Western Highlands.
He was one of the first Europeans to reach and climb the country's second tallest mountain Mount Giluwe in 1934. However, Jack Hides had also laid claim to be the first to discover Mount Giluwe, so Leahy went to England in 1935 and forced the Royal Geographical Society to set up a hearing into the two opposing claims. The following year Leahy was awarded a grant from the Society and published his discoveries in their journal.
During the 1930s, Michael Leahy was searching for gold and contracted to New Guinea Goldfields Limited and built Bena Bena Airfield, the first landing ground in the Highlands.
World War II
During World War II, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. During 1944, Leahy was attached to the U.S. Army …. and landed aboard one of three CG-4A glider with U.S. Army engineers at Telefomin Airfield to expand the prewar runway for military use.
Awards
In 1948, For Leahy's services during World War II with the U.S. Army he was awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom with bronze palm and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). In 1959, he was made an honorary member of The Explorers Club.
Memorials
Leahy passed away at Zenag, Morobe Province in 1979.
Relatives
Dan Leahy (brother)
Richard Leahy (son)
Amanda Leahy (granddaughter)
Nicholas Leahy (grandson)
Sofie Leahy (granddaughter)”
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