Former Bougainville Copper Limited diesel fitter, Buckley Bosky passed away at his workplace on Lihir Island on the 9th April 2010.

Buckley worked in B16, the pit workshop at the Panguna mine on Bougainville Island in the 1970s.  In 1976 he was named BCL’s Apprentice of the Year and went to Port Moresby as a finalist in the PNG Apprentice of the Year Award, where he placed second.

After graduating as a diesel fitter, Buckley married and raised a family in Arawa town. The family fled the island during the Bougainville Revolutionary Army’s bloody attempts to gain independence from Papua New Guinea, which eventually forced the closure of the Panguna mine in 1989.

An outstanding all-round sportsman at school, Buckley excelled in basketball, baseball and Aussie rules.  His natural ability, fitness and composure on the field also made him a good rugby league player.  Buckley was short on stature but pound for pound he was regarded as one of the best players of his time.

At 16, and living in Rabaul, Buckley joined the Muruks Mal Tech team.  He played B grade rugby league in 1971 and won the Best Player award for the competition.  The Muruks won five premierships in a row. Buckley graduated to A grade in 1972.  In 1973, he and many of the Mal Tech students left Rabaul to take up apprenticeships at BCL.

Buckley was a leader among the Duke of York people of Bougainville and many youths of his era followed in his footy boot-clad footsteps.

Towards the end of his football career, Buckley survived a horrific road accident near Arawa.  He recovered and continued as a diesel fitter until well into his fifties.

Buckley worked for JDA on a number of occasions and our sincere condolences are extended to his family.

Released 21st April 2010