Max Quanchi

Max was born in Victoria in 1945, the third and youngest son of Harry and Grace Quanchi. He grew up in a series of small country towns before completing High School at Wonthaggi, in South Gippsland.

After Primary Teacher Training and a year in a remote, one-teacher rural school, he was conscripted as a National Serviceman in 1966, spending most of his two years in the army in PNG at 2PIR Moem Barracks, Wewak, with five “Nasho Chalkies” who have remained close friends. (and now co-authors.)

Moem Barracks was then newly built and home to a recently recruited battalion as PNG’s army expanded in preparation for self-government and independence. After Nasho he did an Honours and MA degree in History at Monash University and became an academic, later getting a Phd on the history of photography in PNG, and lecturing at universities in Melbourne, Brisbane, Suva in Fiji, and at UPNG.

He has visited PNG often, conducting History Teacher workshops and most recently as a Guest Speaker on P&O Cruises. He has published on early photography in PNG and on PNG’s early postcards along with books and articles on Fiji and on Pacific History more generally.

He is now retired and lives in Brisbane and is a Brisbane Lions AFL fan.