Wolfgram Of Mokogai

Tribute To Mr. Ernest

rE triumph of a man’s spirit over a particularly malign fate was brought to notice recently in Fiji through a letter from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Colonel Oliver Stanley.

The letter was to a patient of Makogai Leper Hospital, Mr. Ernest Wolfgram, in recognition of outstanding services ren dered the institution and its inmates dur ing the past 20 years.

Mr. Wolfgram, now a man in his mid thirties, was born in Tonga and his lep rosy was first diagnosed when he was at school in New Zealand.

He is affectionately known to everybody connected with Makogai as Ernest. He was originally appointed as a school teacher and even now, although a younger patient is in charge of the school, he is responsible for the activities and welfare of the boys in the hospital outside school hours.

He is a keen student and during his time at Makogai has made himself an expert in carpentering, engineering, and boat-building, and has trained hundreds of fellow-patients in these crafts.

Ernest Wolfgram has supervised much of the Public Works activity in the hos pital area in recent years—the work being done by young men he has trained. And a fine 26-foot cruising launch which is being built at Makogai at present under his direction is only one of a series of fine launches for which he has been responsible.

He is extremely fond of music, and over the years he has trained a succession of choirs and orchestras on Makogai.

One of the main items in a concert given by the school-boys on Makogai last year was a Fijian translation of a portion of the “Merchant of Venice.” He was responsible for both translation and pro duction of the play.

The Medical Superintendent at Mako gai, Dr. Austin, has written of him: “His loyalty, enthusiasm and skill render him our most valued assistant and the way in which he has risen above his own sufferings proves an example to all.”