Bem For Brave Fijian

LORIMA Daknnivosa, Meteorological Assistant, stationed at Yasawa-i -rawa, Yasawa Islands, Fiji, ' has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

On the day of the January hurricane, Lorima was on the midnight to 6 arm watch, but when the wind Increased stayed on to allow the senior Assistant, Oveti Sorokacika. to sec to the safety of his family.

Lorima continued to transmit to Nadi while the wind reached hurricane force, whUe Oveti’s house collapsed injuring his infant son, and while he and his family fought their way to the wireless house.

During the second half of the storm the wireless house collapsed killing Ovetl’s eldest son but Lorima managed to save the radio equipment. When the wind

eased he and villagers carried the equip ment down to the village and he erected it in a partly damaged native house. He resumed radio contact with Nadi that afternoon and continued to send and receive until an Assistant Medical Prac titioner arrived from Vlti Levu to take Oveti’s second child to hospital.

Throughout he remained calm and oon tinned to do his duty with devotion and resourcefulness.

Mr. and Mrs, T. Otterspoor, who left Sydney in April, to visit their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Oliver. said they would stay in Papua in definitely and may settle there. Mr.

Otterspoor has just retired from the

Raaf.