Most trainee teachers leave college and join a UK school in the initial stage of their career. Not so Richard Whiteside whose first job after training was to teach at a school in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. As a keen photographer, he was also able to assist the BBC to film Birds of Paradise which appeared in a David Attenborough programme.
Richard was telling his story to Hemyock Women about three years spent in Papua New Guinea which is 70% tropical rain forest and a country 4 times the size of the UK with a population of just 7million people. There are many different tribes speaking over 700 indigenous languages Thankfully most of them also speak pigeon English so that they can communicate with each other.
Richard taught science to 59 students and was the only white man in the province. On one occasion when he went on his own for a walkabout he arrived at a village and everyone welcomed him very excitedly. He found out that they thought he was Jesus as they had never seen a white man before.
Whilst there Richard was able to indulge in his favourite hobby, photographing birds especially the Bird of Paradise. He contacted the BBC to tell them of his ability to photograph these wonderful birds and David Attenborough and a film crew came out to PNG to film from the hides which Richard and his friend had built. The ladies were treated to some amazing photographs and film of the very illusive birds.
Richard was an Atheist at the time, but while he was in PNG, the father of one of his friends (who was a Christian) had a great influence on him and that is where he started his journey of Faith in Christ which continues to this day. Richard and his wife Alison run ‘Wildside Experience’ in the Blackdown Hills through which they communicate a love and awareness of nature through activities and experience.
Picture – Richard Whiteside at centre with some of the members of Hemyock Women
Hemyock - A Village on the Blackdown Hills
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