Brigadier McDonald visits PNG DPR/TV/353

A two-week visit to New Guinea by Citizen Military Forces officer, Brigadier S.M. McDonald, ended last week when he attended a bivouac at Mount Hagan, in the Western Highlands. Brigadier McDonald watched troops of the Papua-New Guinea Volunteer Rifles in training at the isolated camp, which was constructed by natives living in the area. As the new generation of natives blasted targets with modern rifles they were watched by villagers who still trust bows and arrows as their chief weapons. Headhunting is all part of a by-gone era, though, and Brigadier McDonald got a friendly greeting from the village elders. After a chat with the troops, the Brigadier gave some helpful advice to Recruit Private Michael Dangar. He later paused for a talk with the Commander of the Papua-New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, Lieutenant Colonel N. Bishop. As the exercise continued, a lone warrior in full ceremonial garb emerged from the bush to see what was causing all the noise. But the troops had no time to pause and stare back. It was a busy weekend for them.