King's Medal Presented To Gaiberi's Widow

Gaiberi's Widow

At Tufi Government Station (North-eastern Di vision), Sir Hubert Murray, Lieutenant-Governor of Papua, recently presented the King’s Long Service Medal to Warude, widow of the late Senior Sargeant Gaiberi.

A well-known Kiwai native, Gaiberi was awarded the medal by King George VI. in the New Year’s Honours List last February, in recognition of his 40 years of faithful service in the Papuan Armed Constabulary. Before the decoration ceremony took place, Gaiberi died at Cape Nelson; and the Governor decided to give the medal to the Papu an’s widow.

In making the presentation. Sir Hubert said that Gaiberi had been all over Papua and had been in plenty of fights, but never once had her run away —he had always stood his ground bravely and fought back. He told the gathering of natives that this was the first time the medal had been awarded to anyone in Papua.