Rabaul Round About

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, Oct. 6.

THE Rabaul Tennis Club held a farewell party in. September to speed on their way two Canadian sisters, Misses Dorothy and Louise Bridges. Dorothy has been the Club’s secretary since its post war reorganisation. The Club’s president, Mr, E. V. Smythe, in making a presenta tion to Dorothy stated it was due mostly to her efforts, assisted by sister Louise, that Rabaul residents are enjoying the privilege of playing on the Rabaul Club courts.

Mrs. J. R. Keenan, on behalf of th lady members, said that the highest idej at which one can aim in the tronics life that was theirs was to endeavour 1 leave each place better than they fouri it. Dorothy and Louise had succeeded i doing this—they had left the Rabai Tennis Club as their achievement.

Miss Dorothy Bridges was a member ( the staff of the Department of Educatic and was also acting secretary to the Ne Britain Ladies’ Club. Louise was Cht Librarian at the Rabaul library and it due to her experience and good tas that the Rabaul library is the pleasai and comfortable spot that we have t< day. * LOUD explosions disturbed residents c September 9. Investigation show* that grass fires had caused the e: plosion of three bombs, at different ii tervals, half way between Rabaul ar Kokopo and close to the main road.

There must be still hundreds of undi covered bombs in this area. It is impo sible to locate them as they are overgrov with secondary jungle growth in mai parts. *

The Rev. W. E. Moran, Anglic*

Minister from Lae, visited Raba between September 12 and 20. Cor munion services were held in Rabai Kokopo and Kerevat.

He visited his parishioners and invest gated the work of the Anglican cor munity, discussing with the Provision Church Council and the Ladies Gui. the problems which arise when, witho guidance of a minister, the people ther selves endeavour to re-build a Chur which is without a building. He pa tribute to the Masonic folk for th< generosity in allowing their hall to used for Sunday services and stated aga that the Quonsett huts which have be ordered from Manus will fill the ter porary need for a Rabaul church. The is no news yet of their anticipat arrival. * A WELL-KNOWN resident of t Rabaul district, Captain Jimr Duncan, was given a send-off by 1 son, Norman, and his daughter-m-la Dorothy, on the eve of his departure i Australia on October 1. He expected join the SS Admiral Chase in Lae. will be recalled that, for many years, Ca tain Duncan was master of the Admi: Chase.

Now that he has retired from the & maybe Rabaul will see more of him. I plantation, Rapopo, is rumoured to be possible site for the new Administrat: centre of New Britain District and present surveyors are at work carryi out the preliminaries for the To 1 Planning people. A SON, Gerald Alexander, was born Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Savage of Kurak kal, Rabaul, on October 3, at t Rabaul hospital.

Mr and Mrs. Savage had the misfj tune to lose their home in a fire f weeks before the baby was born. < learning of the news, Rabaul peq rallied around the young couple who h suffered a serious loss. They would L now to express their gratitude and thar to all those residents who helped the especially Miss Dorothy Stewart, secret of the Church of England Guild: Si . retary and members of the RSL. i

few Britain Ladies’ Club and the Vuna

ope Mission.

IyfAJOR E. B. iyyRIS, who arrived ll at Rabaul in MV Bulolo, in early October, to take over the manage lent of the Kokopo Club, was admitted, nmediately on arrival, to the Rabaul ospital and on the first plane available as flown to Port Moresby for immediate

ospitalisation there.

The Major is a well-known Territorian ut has been South for some years. This iece of bad luck was, no doubt, as disap ointing to him as it was to Kokopo ;sidents. * iMR. J. CROMBIE, solicitor of Port fl Moresby, was taken seriously ill while visiting Rabaul in early Oc )ber. He was admitted to the Rabaul ospital until his wife arrived by plane •om Port Moresby. Mr. and Mrs. Crom ie decided to return to Moresby in the ulolo. ♦ JTATRON HANLON, of Rabaul hospital, rl returned on the October Bulolo after leave in Australia. Matron Stock, ho relieved her, departed shortly after ards by air for leave in Australia.

Also returning by Bulolo were Sister enry, after leave in Tasmania, her home; id Mr. and Mrs. lan Skinner and two )ung sons. Mr. Skinner will take up uties in the Talasea Sub-District as DO there. Mr. Kerry Lean, former atrol Officer at Talasea. arrived in abaul on September 6 to take up duties ; the Rabaul Sub-district Office. He as accompanied by his attractive wife id young son, The Rev. J. Green will shortly take up Drk with the London Missionary So- Bty, Papua.

Wing Commander J. M. Checketts, DSO, DFC, left Fiji on September 12 for duty with the New Zealand Air Depart ment, after which he will probably go to England for a year’s staff course. He will be succeeded as commanding officer of the RNZAF at Laucala Bay by Wing- Commander R. Webb, DSO, DFC, who has been assistant air member for per sonnel at the Air Department, Welling ton, ;&nce 1946. Wing Commander

Checketts will long be remembered in Fiji for the quick sympathy he showed in organising many of the RNZAF “mercy missions” during emergencies in the remote islands of the Group. The most famous of these was the air lift to Lau after the hurricane disaster in December, 1948, when RNZAF co-opera tion with the Government prevented much suffering and probably saved many lives.