The Sheldon Spirit

Still Is Marching On

By Meta Maclean

DURING the recent Mt. Lamington eruption in Papua, Mrs. Fred Kleckham played an heroic part both during the eruption and in the subsequent nursing of the injured. Before her marriage she was Marjorie Sheldon, daughter of the late Geoffrey Sheldon, 3ne of New Guinea’s first pioneering surveyors, and Mrs. S. Sheldon of North Queensland. (It was Mr. Sheldon who surveyed the first projected road to Wau 'rom the New Guinea coast —the story of vhich was told some years ago in PIM jy Mrs. A, A. Innes.) The Fred Kleckhams, with their three small children, have been living at Popendetta, Papua, for the last few years vhere he is Superintendent of the Northern Division Agricultural settlement.

During his war service, Mrs. Kleckham, i trained nurse, assisted the Flying Doctor services in Western Queensland. The eturn of her husband, the birth of three ;hildren and the busy life in Papua, spent without comforts before their new house /as built, did not free this daughter of a )ioneering family from her nursing, for he was good neighbour to every isolated /oman within call of her professional skill.

This explains why, when she, her msband and the children left on furlough ast year to visit Mrs. Sheldon at Seaforth, iear Mackay, Queensland, the local women ntimated that they would not be on peaking terms with the Stork until Mrs.

Heckham’s return.

But shortly after that return to Popen etta came the Mt. Lamington disaster,

killing both the doctor and the expectant mother for whom the former had re quested Mrs. Kleckham’s aid. Her share In the rescue work was told in Australian newspapers.

MRS. SHELDON herself is a gifted songwriter. Two of her songs, written in collaboration with an other songwriter, were awarded first prize by the BBC, London, in 1939 and broad cast over the British National and Empire stations. Sarah Louise Sheldon’s song work covers every variety, from anthems and serious ballads to humour.