Ted Diro

Ted Diro talks about the influences from his village on his leadership, including from his father. He outlines his early life and lack of contact with the outside world. He describes stowing away on a boat to Port Moresby in 1953 with the intention of furthering his education and perhaps becoming an interpreter.

Ted Diro describes taking the entrance exam for the Sogeri National High School where he completed grade 7-9, then Queensland sub-junior and junior exams. He briefly discusses the teachers and other pupils at Sogeri. He describes the allocation of clothing, rations and pocket money at the school.

Ted Diro relates how he was a member of cadets and his passion and interest for the military, and the high regard in which teachers and soldiers were held in PNG after World War II. He describes how his relatives were either soldiers or carriers in the war. He relates an anecdote about questioning the pay rate of incoming soldiers compared with the pay in the public service.

Ted Diro reflects on the attitude to the relationship with Australia whom he would look to for support to solve problems and raise living and education standards.

Ted Diro outlines his thoughts about independence, saying it never occurred to him even at Sogeri. He states that he first became acquainted with the concept while serving in the military on the border in 1965 when John Guise and Pita Simogen arrived at the Vanimo station and said they were speading the message of independence. He states he did not know what independence meant and was ambivalent about it.

Ted Diro discusses assuming more leadership within the Pacific Island Regiment as Australia withdrew. He states that promotion was rapid, and outlines his opposition to the rapid localisation program, preferring promotion on merit. He recalls asking Brigadier Lawrence Lewis to serve some time after independence as he did not think country was ready.

Ted Diro recalls the circumstances surrounding his appointment as commander at independence.

Ted Diro discusses the relationship between the military and the emerging political class prior to independence, and the military being in the enviable and prominent position of staging celebrations, parades and hosting VIPs.

Ted Diro discusses the point of tension over his 1977 meeting with the leadership of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) the Free Papua Movement.

Ted Diro recalls the events leading to the government discovering he was meeting with Rumkorem and his charge of disobeying a government directive.

Ted Diro reflects on the role of the PNG defence force and its relationship with government.

Ted Diro discusses his strategy for the intervention in Vanuatu and the deployment of troops and equipment.

Ted Diro describes the impact of the Vanuatu military intervention on the PNGDF in terms of administrative experience, propelling PNG into prominence among the Pacific nations, and in inscribing an ongoing relationship with Vanuatu much like the PNG-Australian relationship over Kokoda Trail.

Ted Diro outlines the strong relationship between the PNGDF and Australian DF, and the differences in the relationship with Indonesia. He describes the personal impact of the Vanuatu intervention on participants.