About Guy and Jan Breay
Guy was born in England but home was the south of India. His father was a Tea, Coffee and Cardamom planter. Guy started school in India but was later educated at boarding schools in England. Artistic skills became evident early in life. He studied figure drawing and achieved an advanced level in sculpture.
He
was, and still is, inspired by the many examples of fine sculpture in clay,
stone, bronze and ivory that can be found in Hindu temples and elsewhere in
India. The intricate ivory carving of the Hindu
God Krishna, pictured here, is a family heirloom.
Guy left India to find adventure in Papua New Guinea, where he was involved in the development of the Tea and Coffee industries.
While pioneering his family owned Cardamom estate in the remote
Managalasi Plateau of Oro Province in Papua, he met his Australian wife and soul mate,
Jan.
Together, they developed an
affinity for the Managalasi and its village people. They built their
Cedar Cottage on the banks of the Pongani River where enormous birdwing
butterflies and birds of paradise passed by in peace. It was indeed paradise. They gained the respect of the locals by learning the Papuan language, Hiri Motu, and by having an in depth understanding of their nature and traditions
They were married in their plantation village according to local custom and wore the full ceremonial headdress, shell necklaces, and Tapa (bark loincloths) which replaced all western clothing.
They are blessed with 4 children. Geoff, the eldest, then Kimai (named
after a local Papuan chieftain) Monisha (named after a South Indian friend)
and Tania. After 11 years in the Managalasi, they
moved to Kokoda and then later to Sugu in the Southern Highlands of Papua,
finally ending up in the coffee industry at Mt Hagen. The Breay family had a
very fulfilling life in Papua New Guinea. The happiest times were spent
swimming and picnicking at the palm lined beaches and numerous crystal
clear creeks and waterholes in Papua, after which Guy has named
many of his sculptures.
Guy and Jan are pictured here, enjoying happy hour at Lake Roseberry, Tasmania
I first met Guy and Jan at Kokoda in Papua in 1985, at the start of the
Kokoda Trail. Their life style in the bush is unchanged since that first
meeting in Kokoda. Following Kokoda we have walked many tracks together. It
has been and continues to be a privilege to walk with this remarkable man.
It is an adventure to visit The Stiks. At my last visit, I was speechless on receiving a sculpture from Guy. "Kutubu Kekeni" - a wood carving of remarkable beauty. Picture here.
It is and honour to call Guy Breay my friend.