Malcolm Kela Smith

Malcolm Roy "Kela" Smith CMG MBE DFC (10 April 1943 – 5 April 2021) was a businessman, aviator and politician in Papua New Guinea.

Smith in 2009

Biography

Smith was born in London, England[1] in 1943, and emigrated to Australia as a child. He joined the Australian Army Aviation corps, and served as a pilot with the 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight in the Vietnam War for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[2] In 1969, Smith was posted to Papua New Guinea where he remained permanently, founding the aviation company Pacific Helicopters PNG and owning a shopping centre and hotel in Goroka.[3]

Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1993 Birthday Honours for services to the community and civil aviation,[4] and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2006 Birthday Honours for services to primary industry and the environment.[5]

He served as the Governor of Eastern Highlands Province from 2002–2012. Smith also served as a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea for the United Resources Party from 2003–2012.[6] He died at age 77 from complications of COVID-19 while under treatment in the intensive care unit at Redcliffe Hospital in Queensland, Australia.[3]

References
  1. "Former PNG Governor Malcolm Kela Smith dies from COVID-19 in Brisbane". PerthNow. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  2. "SMITH, Malcolm Roy". DVA Nominal Rolls. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  3. Zillman, Stephanie (6 April 2021). "PNG aviator and politician Malcolm 'Kela' Smith remembered after dying from COVID-19 complications in Queensland hospital". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  4. "No. 53338". The London Gazette. 16 June 2006. p. 52.
  5. "No. 58017". The London Gazette (4th supplement). 16 June 2006. p. 33.
  6. Kaniniba, Alfred (20 May 2017). "Soso, Kouza and Gore break dominance in 2012". Loop. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.