Malcolm Kela Smith

He joined the Australian Army Aviation corps, and served as a pilot with the 161st Independent Reconnaissance Flight in the Vietnam War for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

[2] In 1969, Smith was posted to Papua New Guinea where he remained permanently, founding the aviation company Pacific Helicopters PNG and owning a shopping centre and hotel in Goroka.

[3] Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1993 Birthday Honours for services to the community and civil aviation,[4] and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2006 Birthday Honours for services to primary industry and the environment.

Smith also served as a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea for the United Resources Party from 2003–2012.

[6] He died at age 77 from complications of COVID-19 while under treatment in the intensive care unit at Redcliffe Hospital in Queensland, Australia.