Malcolm Kela Smith

Malcolm Roy "'Kela" Smith' was a businessman, aviator and politician in Papua New Guinea.

Biography

Smith was born in London, England in 1943, and emigrated to Australia as a child. 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 (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]. 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.
Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1993 Birthday Honours for services to the community and civil aviation, and a Companion of the [Order of St Michael and St George] in the 2006 Birthday Honours for services to primary industry and the environment.
He served as the governor of Eastern Highlands Province from 2002–2012. Smith also served as a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea for the United Resources Party from 2003–2012. He died at age 77 from complications of COVID-19 while under treatment in the intensive care unit at Redcliffe Hospital in Queensland, Australia.