Rehabilitation on Bougainville

At the cessation of hostilities some thirty thousand troops were in Bougainville; in order to keep these men occupied, many and varied sporting activities were staged. At Torokina a re-habilitation centre was commenced with classes to assist soldiers to return to civilian life. Classes included accountancy, catering, wool classing, woodwork, painting, welding, automative maintenance, land clearing and plant operation. Also the arts were well represented with instruction in music, theory, harmony, voice production and piano playing, modelling in soap and clay and sketching. The Torokina rehabilitation training centre catered for Army, Navy and RAAF personnel and in the early stages also had American and NZ "pupils". About half of the instructors were Privates or Corporals. Exhibition tennis match held at Torokina on 17 November 1945. Players were: V255894 Bertram Gardner Tonkin, YMCA Representative, School Boy Champ; Captain G Davis, former WA Champ; Bombardier R Stephens, former WA Champ; Leading Aircraftman A Carpenter, NSW Blackwell Cup Rep. Interstate cricket match between NSW and Qld servicemen held on 24 November 1945 at Bretherton Oval, Torokina. Captain of NSW team - Wendall Bill, NSW Interstate batsman. Captain of Qld team - Ken Mossop, Qld Interstate player, now in RAAF. Winner - Queensland. Also identified: F Lehy, opening bat for NSW; Len Johnston, bowler; P Crouch and D Mottershead, opening bats for Qld; R Young, Qld batsman. At the athletic and cycling carnival held at Gloucester Oval, Torokina on 1 December 1945: Captain A H McGeogh; Signalman Logan; QX37392 Warrant Officer II Garth Madders. SX26031 Captain Ross Bowden, 15th Brigade Signals Section (Liaison unit eduction) speaking to troops. Squadron Leader R Marsh addressing troops on rehabilitation at Bosley Field, Torokina.