Going Home!

Many Islands Wives on April "Montoro"

THE “Montoro” sailed on April 3 for Papua-New Guinea ports, including a call at Rabaul. Her sailing time was up for 5 p.m.; but the usual delays post poned her departure until after 7 p.m.

The weather was depressing, but the many wives aboard going to join their husbands in one or other of the terri torial districts wore contented smiles.

They had obtained the transportation so long awaited and were happy in the prcspect of being once again in the land where they had longed to be in all these years of weary waiting. Warnings of cynics and pessimists held no terrors for them. They were prepared to face the hard times ahead and battle with con ditions which were “no all the same be fore.”

On the lower deck I saw Mrs. Dunbar Reed, her hands full of streamers, on the first step of the journey to join her hus band on Harry Woolcott’s Kabanga estate; over there was Mrs. Vic Penne father waving a fond farewell to Aunty Joan Duncan. There was Mrs. Jack Read off to join the husband who had done such a fine war job in Bougain ville and is now stationed at Kavieng; and Mrs. Wallace Brown, bound for Bougainville, where her husband is located. There, too, were the Rund nagels, going back to their Reiven pro perty near Kokopo—Mr. R. looking the picture of health, despite his years of imprisonment with the Japs and lack of the insulin he needed to counteract his diabetes.

And there, deserving of special admir ation, was the widow of Bert Earl, on her way back, alone, to pick up the threads of her husband’s business, where he had dropped them ere he was made a POW and sailed away to his death on “Montevideo Maru.”

One cannot but admire the fortitude of these Islands women who return, with such hope and eagerness, to carry on the torch under such difficult conditions.

Good luck to them all, and happy land ings!—G.T.

Mr. Gilbert Renton, who met with a jeep accident recently in Rabaul, is making a good recovery and is none the worse for his experience. As an old resi dent, he is playing an important part in the rehabilitation of the Rabaul district.

Dr. and Mrs. Frank May (she was Mrs.

Clare Cooper, of Rabaul) are living at 100 Princess Street, Kew, Melbourne, Mrs.

May’s old home, until their new home at Eltham, Victoria, is finished in about six months’ time.