On a recent trip to Vanuatu to rest and discover more about storytelling, A TRACK WINDING BACK visited an evocative Havana Bay WWII roadside museum, a short trip on sealed road out of Port Vila. Its curator- Ernest- who has featured in various documentaries and travel guides, has a passion for found relics from WWII and the stories they hold. We often forget the intersecting story lines that bound Australia to the Pacific and the contribution and sacrifices many of the Ni Vanuatu - amongst other Pacific Islanders - made. If you are ever on Efate, pop in and say halo and olsem wanem'- hello, how are you to Ernest, nambawan storyteller and collector.
Of particular interest is Ernest's knowledge of the production of Coca Cola bottles, each with a different U.S state stamped on the bottom. They convey the everyday historical presence U.S forces in the Pacific - and so too, the 'mile a minute vine' introduced to hide armaments and camps which still runs rampant as you drive around the island. (Below) display. (Bottom) Ernest Senior & Ernest Junior: a great place to visit Grand Papa and learn stories.
