From Wikipedia, Pioneer is the term if one who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle or a person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others.

The Pioneers here is the term to associating PT Inco’s first generation employee and their families who lived in Malili and Soroako during the early days of exploration (late 60’s to early 70’s). At the beginning, in 1970 there were less than 15 families living in Malili.

From left to right (Gentlemen):

Handoko (Alm), Vishnu Pada (late), Rumengan Musu, Sudjadi (Alm), Agus Suparman (Alm), Jalil Nasution, Bill Haseltine (RIP), Waheed Achmad, Beni Wahju (Alm).

From left to right (Ladies):

Lena Handoko, Lata, Rannu Musu, Yus Sudjadi, Ida Suparman (Alm), Djuju Nasution, Edith Haseltine, Amtul Achmad, Soffie Wahju, Hadi Masdar.

Presentation related to this pioneer story is available here: soroako_old_days

The friendship of the Pioneers that begun in the early 70’s is continued until this day. They are friends for life.