Former Gosport RAF manager awarded Royal medal
By Jo Lamb
A FORMER RAF logistics manager from Gosport has expressed their gratitude and honour on receiving an award from HRH King Charles III on behalf of Mission Aviation Fellowship [MAF]; which has operated a humanitarian flight service in Papua New Guinea [PNG] after a tragic event that occurred back in 1951.
Siobhain Cole was recently honoured with The King’s 50th Anniversary Medal marking the jubilee of PNG’s independence from Australia and has been awarded to recognise those who have made significant contributions to the country over the past five decades.
MAF began air operations in PNG in 1951, when Australian RAF Coastal Command Captain Harry Hartwig set up a base in Madang on PNG’s north coast along with a handful of Christian airmen. After almost 300 hours of bush flying to provide air-access for isolated villages, Harry’s Auster Autocar aircraft was reported overdue back from a Highland mission.
Almost two days later, Harry’s body and the aircraft were found 300 feet below the notorious ‘Asaroka Gap’ in the Eastern Highlands on Wednesday 8 August 1951. He died aged 35, leaving behind wife Margaret and their one-year-old daughter, Beth. Now aged ninety-seven and living in Melbourne, Margaret Baldock is an ongoing MAF supporter as she said: “I won’t forget that day. It’s still hard, but it happened. I’ve seen MAF expand and help so many people. That’s a big benefit – how many have been saved because of MAF.”
Siobhain first joined HAF as Grounds Operations Manager and relocated from Gosport to a remote outpost in Telefomin, which is located within the West Sepik Province of PNG. She has made contributions to the MAF as they have steadily become the world’s largest humanitarian air service and celebrated their seventh anniversary of its launch four years ago.
The medal was awarded to Siobhain on September 16 as PNG celebrated their independence day through a number of local and nationwide events; such as a flag raising ceremony and cultural performances. Pacific leaders further gathered to mark the occasion and it was announced that Australia will help Papua New Guinea build a new ministerial wing onto its parliament.
On receiving the medal, Siobhain said, “It was a great honour to receive this medal, but we feel very strongly that it reflects MAF’s aviation service over the past seven decades – we are just the ones who are here now. It’s very much a team effort and this award is for all the MAF staff in PNG who have worked throughout the years to serve the isolated people of this country.”
Readers can find out more about the MAF and their work across the world by visiting https://maf-uk.org, where they can donate to their cause and subscribe to their podcast entitled ‘Flying For Life’.
PICTURED: Siobhain Cole has expressed her gratitude and honour after receiving an award from HRH King Charles III on behalf of Mission Aviation Fellowship [MAF].
