Book cover of 'When the Garamuts Beat: a memoir'

When The Garamuts Beat — A Memoir of 50 Years in Bougainville

Paperback: A$28 plus postage. 388 pages with black and white photos and maps. ISBN 978-0-6453256-2-1

How to buy: Purchase the paperback online. Postage is calculated per book so if you would like to buy multiple copies, please contact Christine to work out a suitable postage rate.

PDF download: Purchase the PDF for AU$8.99. ISBN 978-0-6453256-3-8

About the book

This is a memoir about adventure, faith, and peril that will interest anyone captivated by Pacific history, the impacts of WWII, and the social change that ensued.

WWII brought catastrophic hardship to Bougainvilleans. Missionaries such as Miltrup, who remained behind after nearly all the European civilians fled the islands, experienced those same hardships. Being a German national was no guarantee of safety. During his years of captivity under Japanese occupation, Miltrup narrowly avoided execution twice before making a dramatic escape in 1945. With the aid of Coast Watcher Paul Mason and his Bougainville commandos, Fr Miltrup walked barefoot across the mountains to the Allied forces based at Torokina.

This memoir also deals with the tumultuous changes that followed the war, as PNG and Bougainville embraced self-determination in the closing years of Australia’s colonial administration. There's a lot in the book about Buin culture and a way of life pre-WWII. Franz Miltrup’s life was one of total commitment and love for the people he chose to spend his life with.

What readers have said …

Reviews

Great news that it’s now there for the younger generations to read!!

Pat Dreyer. 1 Nov 2023

Just finished reading your book. You've done an absolute brilliant job. I'm very impressed with the amount of research you've had to do. A Great read. Thank You.

Ken D. Joel 1 Nov 2023

I have finally started reading Franz Miltrup’s memoir. I just seemed to always have a reason for not starting it; but I finally have and now I sit up late at night. It is a fabulous story and wonderfully edited. I am now finding reasons to pick it up and continue.

Dennis D. 29 July 2023

“In the early hours of this morning, I finished the wonderful book that you spent so many months organising. It is a real credit to you Christine. Franz would be thrilled with what you and Harry have done. I found it hard to put down and read it in a few days. So thank you so much from the bottom of my heart”.

Margaret T.

“It was a mighty good read, especially concerning his relationship with various Japanese officers who treated him with respect….The other thing that hit me with the book was the dedication of so many people to their mission for their whole life. I knew many such people from my time as a didiman around New Britain and New Ireland so the catalogue of those who spent their life on the mission was very interesting. Miltrup seems to have lived in a degree of poverty, maybe a Marist habit.”

Jack B.

“For all of us who are familiar with Bougainville and with mission life, it is indeed a fantastic read. I hope it is a best seller. Once more congratulations”.

Edmund D.

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