Recognition Of Bravery Of
p. 32 · Read in the full issue
Fiji Girl
A TESTIMONIAL is to be presented to Miss Eileen Austin, at Hamilton, NZ. by the Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall) on November 23. Miss Austin is a nurse at the Waikato Hospital, and is a daughter of Dr. Austin, the medical officer in charge of Mokogai leper settle ment, Fiji. The testimonial is in recog nition of Miss Austin’s action in saving four children from drowning in Tonga in December, 1943. ..
It will be remembered that at that time a party of children were returning to Fiji from school in New Zealand and, while the ship was in Nukualofa, Tonga, a picnic was arranged for them. The children went swimming and, because of the strong current, got into difficulties.
Several of them were drowned, and the rest rescued—four of them by Miss Austin, herself returning to Fiji on leave.
A similar award has been made to Miss J M. L. Bogle, stepdaughter of Colonel J E Workman. Colonel Workman and his family left Fiji in August, and are at present on their way to England on leave.