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RIP Jim Sinclair
It saddens me to advise Jim Sinclair passed away at mid night last night, 8 October 2017 at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Jim suffered from influenza compounded by pneumonia and other issues.
Jim wrote many books predominantly about aviation in PNG, including "Wings of Gold", the "Balus" trilogy, "Sepik Pilot" etc. Jim went to PNG as a Cadet Patrol Officer in the early 1950s and rose to his final posting as District Commissioner, Eastern Highlands District in the early 1970s. Jim is survived by wife Jan. |
So sad to hear of Jim's passing. What a legacy he left us.
RIP |
Wantoks,
To correct the record Jim died in hospital this morning, 9th October at 00.15. |
I am very sorry to hear of Jim's passing.
Not only did he write numerous books that brought enjoyment to all who read them, but most importantly he recorded the history of an era (basically the second half of the twentieth century) in PNG that would otherwise probably not have been recorded. In PNG nowadays there seems to be almost a policy of ignoring the past. Whether this is a futile attempt to erase the memories of a colonial era, or simply a preoccupation with the present (and what can be scammed from it), I don't know. I live in hope that future generations in PNG might wish to know more of their nation's history, and but for the efforts of Jim Sinclair (more of a labour of love than a commercial success), this history would be forgotten forever. May he truly enjoy peaceful rest. |
Jim Sinclair- 'Gone Pinis"-
Despite 2 years of mission flying in the Sepik in early 60s and TAA 68-73, never met but must have passed close. He had a remarkable feel for aviation even though not an aviator. The mission flying involved a fair amount of flying with the administration and consequently involvement with kiaps. It was apparent that this extended to the wider "binatang" community at a greater depth and explains somewhat Jim's level of insight into the ways of the balus. I was just a little disappointed in Jims scant coverage of the catholic mission flying in the localities of Madang and Wewak. I wondered whether this was reticence from the missions or something else. Other than that I fully empathise with the comments and particularly what he contributed to the history of that wondrous country. I hope his family can draw some comfort from his magnificent effort and dedication.
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Gone Pinis
Jim and his fellow kiaps were the glue that held PNG together through the years from WW2 to Independence. His Balus trilogy is one of my treasured possessions, and a lasting reminder of just how much aviation counted for in PNG. RIP |
Very sad to hear of Jim's passing. His books are a goldmine of information about the aviation history of PNG. Unfortunately nobody seems interested in continuing the effort.
RIP Jim. |
Also posted in PNG thread
RIP Jim Sinclair.
Still remember seeing back in 91/91, all three volumes of Balus for sale at ridiculously cheap prices at a business not far from Jacksons. I dithered at purchasing them back then!:ugh: Since then I managed to track down and buy volumes 2 and 3 at prices that whilst were a bit more than I would have paid back then, were still quite reasonable. Found a special edition of Volume 3, personally signed by Jim, and paid a pittance for it really.:D Try getting volume 1 though::= The last one I located was through some rare books mob. And they wanted nearly $800.:eek::eek::mad: No, that is not a misprint!:= As for Sepik Pilot and the others....good luck! Hint; have deep pockets!:} |
Originally Posted by Pinky the pilot
(Post 9920151)
As for Sepik Pilot and the others....good luck! Hint; have deep pockets!:}
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We all have to go at some stage but never the less he will be sorely missed and fondly remembered. Unfortunately we (my wife and I) never got to met him however we have all his books and feature in both Balus 1 and 2.
RIP Jim. |
Jim Sinclair OBE, recorder of PNG's colonial history, dies at 89 __________________________________________ By Keith Jackson NOOSA – James (Jim) Sinclair OBE, 89, the famed post-war kiap and prolific author of Papua New Guinea’s history, especially that of colonial times since World War II, died just after midnight yesterday at Sunshine Coast University Hospital in Queensland. He had contracted a severe form of influenza which was subsequently compounded by pneumonia and other complications. James Patrick Sinclair was born in Dubbo, NSW, on 18 April 1928. He attended Dubbo High School, Sydney Grammar School and the Australian School of Pacific Administration (ASOPA) in Sydney. In November 1947, he joined the Department of District Services and Native Affairs in the Administration of what was then the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. After attending an orientation course at ASOPA he travelled to PNG in August 1948 as a cadet patrol officer and served on many outposts as he progressed through the field officer ranks. Between 1969 and 1974, he was the last Australian district commissioner presiding over what is now Eastern Highlands Province. Sinclair conducted extensive exploratory and pacification patrols in Morobe and the Southern Highlands, opening the Koroba station in 1955, the Lake Kopiago base camp in 1956 and exploring then uncontrolled areas as far as the Strickland River. In 1959 he married Janece (Jan) Marie McGrath and they had three children. In an important way, Sinclair owed his later career as a successful author to Jan. Also in 1959, he was appointed as officer in charge of the Wau sub-district, later serving in similar roles in Finschhafen and Lae before moving to the Eastern Highlands in 1968 as district commissioner. Sinclair retired in 1975 around the time Papua New Guinea’s independence and embarked on his second career as a prolific recorder of PNG history, becoming a full-time author. His first book, ‘Behind the Ranges’¸ had been published in 1966 and told of his exploratory work in Morobe and the Southern Highlands. His publishing oeuvre ultimately came to comprise nearly 40 books (see bibliography below). Sinclair was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992, an honorary doctorate from the Australian National University in 1999 and a Companion in the Order of the Star of Melanesia in 2008. "Jim Sinclair was our leader...." - still from the 1958 documentary film, 'New Guinea Patrol' “We were so fortunate to have Jim Sinclair among us,” said Peter Salmon, publisher of the Ex Kiap website. Fellow kiap turned author Phil Fitzpatrick said: “Jim acted as a kind of focus point for kiaps. He was a quiet, gentle man; very humble”. “Jim was one of nature’s gentlemen,” Peter Brindley, who served under him in the Eastern Highlands in 1970, told the Ex Kiap website. “The world is a lesser place now.” “One of the old school,” said Ross Johnson. “His passing represents the end of an era. "Rest in peace, my friend, bihain bi mi lukim yu.” Long time PNG resident Rob Parer CMG OBE observed that “Jim was certainly PNG’s man of letters. He wrote such complete accounts of so many diverse subjects. Thousands of pages." And Parer disclosed how close Papua New Guinea and Australia had come to being denied Sinclair's chronicles. “A short time after she married him, Jan said she saw him tearing up a huge pile of sheets of paper held together by long bolts," Parer said. "When she asked him what he was doing, Jim said ‘just some stuff I've written and everyone in New Guinea writes stuff.' "Jan stopped him, and the rest is history,” Parer added. ///////////////// Select Bibliography Behind the Ranges: Patrolling in New Guinea, Melbourne University Press, 1966. The Outside Man: Jack Hides of Papua, Lansdowne Press, Melbourne, 1969 (reprinted 1971) Sepik Pilot: Wing Commander Bobby Gibbes DSO, DFC and Bar, Lansdowne Press, Melbourne, 1971 (reprinted 1977) The Highlanders, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane, 1973 (reprinted 1980) Wigmen of Papua, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane, 1973 Faces of New Guinea, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane, 1973 The Arts of Papua New Guinea, Robert Brown & Associates, Port Moresby, 1977. Colourful Papua New Guinea, Robert Brown & Associates, Port Moresby, 1977 Wings of Gold: How the Aeroplane Developed New Guinea, Pacific Publications, Sydney, 1978 (reprinted 1983) Up From South, by Jack O’Neill with notes and background by James Sinclair. Oxford University Press, 1979 Cape York to Coolangatta, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane, 1981 KiapKiap: Australia’s Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea, Pacific Publications, Sydney, 1981 (reprinted 1983 South Pacific Brewery, Robert Brown & Associates, Bathurst, 1983 Uniting a Nation: The Telecommunication and Postal Services of Papua New Guinea, Oxford University Press, Sydney, 1984 Papua New Guinea: The First 100 Years, Robert Brown & Associates, Bathurst, 1985 (reprinted 1989) Balus: The Aeroplane in Papua New Guinea. Vol One: The Early Years, Robert Brown & Associates, Bathurst, 1986 Balus: The Aeroplane in Papua New Guinea. Vol Two: The Rise of Talair, Robert Brown & Associates, Bathurst, 1988 Balus: The Aeroplane in Papua New Guiea. Vol Three: Wings of a Nation, Robert Brown& Associates, Bathurst, 1990 Last Frontiers: The Explorations of Ivan Champion of Papua, Pacific Press, Gold Coast, 1988 To Find A PathTo Find a Path: The Life and Times of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment. Vol One: Yesterday’s Heroes 1885-1950, Boolarong Press, Brisbane, 1990 To Find a Path: Vol Two: Keeping the Peace 1945-1975, Crawford House Press, Bathurst, 1992 South Pacific: The Games of 1990, Crawford House Press, Bathurst, 1991 PTC: Uniting a Nation Through the 1980’s, Crawford House Press, Bathurst, 1993. The Money Tree: Coffee in Papua New Guinea, Crawford House Press, Bathurst, 1995 Golden Gateway: Lae and the Province of Morobe, Crawford House Press, Bathurst, 1998 MastaMak: The Land Surveyors of Papua New Guinea, Crawford House Publishing, Adelaide, 2001 The Papua Club, Crawford House Publishing, Adelaide, 2002 GavamaniMadang. Divine Word University Press, Madang, 2005 Steamships Trading Company, Alan Caudell & Associates, Cairns, 2008 Gavamani: The Magisterial Service of British New Guinea, Crawford House Publishing, Adelaide, 2009 Mr B: The Life and Times of Sir Brian Bell, Alan Caudell & Associates, Cairns, 2010 Diwai: A History of Divine Word University, 2013 The Middle Kingdom – a major history of the Highlands Districts of PNG from the beginnings to Independence, Crawford House Publishing, Adelaide, 2014 The Creek: Edie Creek and the Morobe goldfield, Crawford House Publishing, Adelaide, 2015 |
Sad news indeed. I have copies of all of his aviation books, which I read and re-read quite often. What a contribution to Australia's and PNG's aviation history. I agree with a previous poster, if these books weren't written by him, the history and exploits of PNG's early aviators would never have been recognised or recorded. RIP James.
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