Wales/Westpac Ex-PNG/Pacific Staff Reunion

About Us

If you wish to join us, please drop us an email.

Association

Our Annual Reunion 'happens' because of the efforts of your Committee, who - in turn - rely heavily on the support of the Bank, via the Staff Club.  While we have received (and hopefully will again) some modest but valued direct financial support from the Bank for the reunion, the practical ongoing support provided by the Staff Club is just as important.  Without this support it is doubtful that the Committee could continue to function in the way it does and it would be difficult to stage reunions of the type now enjoyed annually by so many participants.

Any organisation associated with the Staff Club and receiving direct or indirect assistance is required to be properly constituted.  This is a straightforward rule, which formalises the basis on which the Staff Club will deal with other bodies.

The constitution was formally accepted at the PNG Reunion Association AGM in 2003. Amendments to bring it into line with current law were voted on and accepted at the 2012 AGM and the expanding of the Association to cover other points of representation in the Pacific was accepted at the 2015 AGM.

Our History

Our yearly get together commenced as a celebration of the birthday of Peter Sloane on the 15th September.

Peter's first stint was as 2nd Officer Madang in April 1960, followed by Asst Overseas Exchange Officer in Port Moresby. Peter returned to Port Moresby in November 1965 followed by Rabaul and Lae. 1967 saw him promoted to Acct Goroka, followed by Acct Boroko in '68. He finally returned to New South Wales in 1969 and this saw the first of the "Papua Days".  About a dozen of "Sloanie's" friends gathered in his unit in Kirrabilli to celebrate his birthday.  Most of these were ex Papua  friends.

The records are blank for 1970, however we know that in 1971, Mike Walke, Max
Carrick, Ian Sommerville, Perc and Anne Hartley joined Peter in his unit at Neutral Bay.

Still keen for service in the Territory Peter returned to Mt Hagen as Manager in 1972.

1975 "Sloanie" left PNG for the last time.  He settled in Neutral Bay and as expected September saw a reunion of friends in his unit.

1976 and '77 saw a reunion at Lane Cove National Park with a number of young children attending with mums and dads. We have it on good advice that '77 was a cold and wet day at Lane Cove.

​The 1979 reunion was held at the NSW Leagues Club.  For the next 20 years this was to be home to many a memorable lunch that inevitably dragged into dinner and beyond.  Each year saw others return from PNG and the merry band grew under the direction and efforts of Peter and a small band of helpers.

The back end of the 1980's into the '90's saw then end of "The Long Lunch" and it was deemed politically correct to move the reunion event to an evening event only.

On the 14th March 2003 the committee agreed to seek affiliation of the club with the NSW Staff Club. This required us to become an Association with a constitution. Our current constitution is the results of the hard work put in by the committee of the day in forging a simple, workable and Bank approved document. A vote to retrospectively accept the Constitution was put to the 2003 gathering and was accepted unchallenged.

While the get together was always held on a Friday close to Sloanie's birthday at the 2012 AGM it was agreed that the event would move to be the third Friday in September.

And the rest as they say "Is History"

At the 2002 Reunion we thanked Peter for his efforts with a "This is your Life" presentation.

Peter led a full life that touched many people during both his working and private life. When we looked to expand the scope of our reunion to include the other Pacific Island Nations where expats had worked for the organisation, Peter spoke in support of the expansion saying "Let's give our friends a home".

Unfortunately "Sloanie" passed away on the 20th July 2022. He has left a great legacy for us all who participate in our reunions. We will not only toast his birthday each year, but his life and his memory. Here's to you Sloanie!!!

If you wish to join us, please drop us a note.

Past Organisers