Additional information for

Chapter 3 - A new chum in Papua And Yodda, gold, rubber, and cattle, and

Chapter 4 – And then came war, and

Chapter 5 - Getting away from trouble by sea)

 

Claude Champion was born in Port Moresby 30 June 1906 and passed away in Dee Why Sydney September 1982 due to liver failure. He was the younger brother of Ivan Champion and Alan Champion. He was an Australian public servant in Papua New Guinea who served as a member of the Legislative Council in two terms between 1951 and 1961.

 

Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Champion states “Born …. to Herbert William Champion CBE, who served as Government Secretary of the Territory of Papua from 1913 to 1942, Claude was educated at the Southport School in Queensland. Despite being discouraged from joining the civil service by his father, who feared being accused of nepotism, he was appointed a government clerk in 1927, before becoming a Patrol Officer the

following year.”

 

The Pacific Islands Monthly December, 1982 states that “in 1929 he accompanied BW Faithorn on a patrol up the Turama River and followed the Erave River to its confluence with the Purari. In 1937 he led a patrol, accompanied by FWG Anderson, from Kikori and after eight weeks’ travel made a base camp at Lake Kutubu. From there they went into the Wagafurari and Tarifuroro valleys. In 1940 he led another patrol, accompanied by RCM Turner, from the Strickland to the Tiomu.”

 

David Marsh mentioned that he was the Assistant Resident Magistrate at Kokoda in 1940 which was the year David arrived in PNG and was working as a mining assistant in the Yodda.

 

“During World War II he (Claude) was a member of the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) from 1942 to 1946, rising to the rank of Major.

 

Following the war, he was appointed Assistant Government Secretary. While he was acting as Government Secretary in the early 1950s he was appointed to the Legislative Council following the 1951 elections, alongside his  brother Ivan Champion. He remained a member until the following year when Steven Lonergan was appointed as permanent Government Secretary.

 

He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953.

 

In 1959 he was appointed Director of Civil Affairs, and also returned to the Legislative Council, as well as joining the Executive Council.

 

He retired in 1961 and moved to Australia. Following his retirement, he joined the Retired Officers Association of Papua New Guinea”.