Sydney Polynesian Club and Free French

Free French

FRENCH Oceania has been well repre sented at the Sydney Polynesian Club recently, members of the Free French Naval Forces having been enter tained while staying a short time in Sydney, en route to serve under General de Gaulle.

At a farewell gathering, many were entertained by the Tahitian sailors with “ute” songs, “Ori Tahiti” and “patau tau”, the traditional dance measures of Tahiti. In these items they were led by Jean Charles Grand and Donald Fare miro, of Papeete. J. C. Grand is a younger brother of Mr. Marc Grand, well-known with BP & Co., at Vila and Norfolk. Another soirited dance was that given by a small girl from Noumea, Mademoiselle Arnould, who was accom panied by her mother and sister.

The Gallic atmosphere was enhanced by the presence of well-known residents of Noumea, MM. Mouledoux, Goyette, Ventrillon, and Guinard. Two interest ing visitors were Mesdemoiselles Ray monde Jore and Raymonde Roily, who attracted immediate attention, not only for their good looks, but because they are the first two lady volunteers to leave New Caledonia, on their way to serve under the Free French leader.

Other visitors were Dr. K. Vigors Earle, lately of Nauru, where he was stationed during the bombardment by the Ger man raiders, and Dr. Thompson, from Solomon Islands.

As more volunteers come from French Oceania, the Polynesian Club will arrange more meetings and social gath erings for the betterment of Anglo-Free French relations. In this, the club is assisted by the New Caledonian French residents of Sydney.