The late Sir Mick Curtain, who passed away earlier this month, should be remembered for many of the infrastructure projects in Papua New Guinea that were undertaken over the last 50 years, according to Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.

Sir Mick Curtain. Credit: Courier-Mail

Sir Mick, who was born in Maryborough, Victoria, Australia on 30 July 1941, passed away in Douglas, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, on 11 September 2016, aged 75.

Sir Michael started the Curtain Group, along with his brothers Dan and David, in October 1966, with the company initially known as Curtain Bros PNG Ltd.

They had originally travelled to PNG for work with the Territory Administration and, not long after arriving in Port Moresby, they realised the potential for business opportunities and established the Curtain Bros business.

Greatest promoter

In the early days, Curtain Bros PNG was solely a civil engineering and construction company, focusing on roads, subdivisions and airstrips.

‘Sir Mick was the greatest promoter of Papua New Guinea’s potential and the capability and capacity of Papua New Guineans,’ said Curtain Bros General Manager, Justin McGann.

‘He also deserves thanks, and credit, for investing in the Papua New Guinea construction sector when other Australian construction companies withdrew.’

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The business today extends into mining, bridge construction, dam construction, shipping, wharf construction, dockyard construction and operation, major infrastructure establishment, property development and building construction.

Significant contribution

Motukea Island; Credit: Peter JohnTate

‘Sir Mick is likely to be best remembered for the significant contribution Curtain Bros made to the construction phase of the nation’s first LNG project, and even more recently the Motukea Island Port project,’ said Prime Minister O’Neill.

‘He also deserves thanks, and credit, for investing in the Papua New Guinea construction sector when other Australian construction companies withdrew from Papua New Guinea in the 1980s.

‘When others departed, when conditions were tough, he returned, invested, and showed his confidence in our future-confidence which the passage of time has more than justified.’

‘Sir Mick returned to Papua New Guinea initially to undertake uncompleted road projects in the Oro Province, and he rapidly developed Curtain Brothers into a major force in the nation’s construction sector, a position it continues to hold today.

‘When others departed, when conditions were tough, he returned, invested, and showed his confidence in our future confidence which the passage of time has more than justified.

‘Curtain Brothers has long been a major participant in the Townsville and North Queensland construction sectors, and an important business link between North Queensland and Papua New Guinea.

‘Papua New Guinea thanks Sir Michael Curtain for his commitment to the development of our nation,’ said the prime minister.

‘Out of respect for Sir Mick, and in honour of his memory, Curtain Bros will continue to develop the dreams that he initiated to their full potential,’ said McGann.

He is survived by Lady Jennifer and their children Peter, Louise, David, Christopher, and Sean.