Jack’ Sedgers Wedding

In Rabaul

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, Feb. 20.

THERE was a strong flavour of the . pre-1942’s (usually called the “Befores”) about the wedding Rabaul on February 14 of iss Jacqueline (“Jack”) Sedgers, »unger daughter of Mr. J. B. dgers (manager of the New Guinea ). Ltd.) to Dr. Constantin Sale ann. “JBS” has been 25 years in jw Guinea (except for the Jap in rruption), and he always has been

popular; so that on this occasion his pre-war friends rallied around to such a degree that they actually provided the majority of the guests.

It was a very happy event. Those “Behinds” who talk so much about the Old Hands’ oppression of the poor natives should have been there to observe Kiali and Munder —the two most important people in the gathering after the bride and bride groom. Those two New Guinea boys became Jack Sedgers’ house servants in 1927 and—except for the war—they have never left him. They had to remain behind at the evacuation; and Mr. Sedgers began to seek for them as soon as he re turned in 1945. Old Hands still de scribe with fervour the scene when he eventually found them in Lae.

Kiali and Munder were pro minent figures as they superin tended the wedding festivities. As

one guest described it, “they almost burst with pride.”

The ceremony took place in the Rabaul Methodist Church, the Rev.

Ben Chenoweth officiating. Mrs.

Jill Back, sister of the bride, was Matron-of-Honour, and Dr. Soczyn ski was best man.

Later, at the reception held at the Sedgers’ home, “Befores” monopolised the time-honoured toasts, most of them (like Mr.

Chenoweth) having personally

Dr. and Mrs. Salemann (nee Sedgers) [?]ting the cake at the wedding re tion. The bride’s sister (Mrs. Back) [?]d father at the left.

Mr. Jack Sedgers, with his two pretty lighters Jack and Jill—the bride, Mrs. [?]cqui Salemann (bridegroom behind [?] on the right, and matron-of nour, Mrs. Jill Back, on the left. Son [?]ny in front.

known “JB” for the full quarter century.

Guests included the District Com missioner and Mrs. J. K. McCarthy; Mr. J. A. Corrigan (Wewak), Mr.

Tom Prince (Lindenhafen), god father of the bride; Mesdames Maxwell, Haunt, Blake and Graham; Matron Hanlon and Sister Jones; Mr. and Mrs. Back (Madang), Mr. and Mrs. J. Walsh, Mr. and Mrs.

Prince, Mr. and Mrs. Kent, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. Lyons; Dr. and Mrs. Soczynski, Dr. and Mrs. Wilson, Dr. Saave; Mr. and Mrs. Heather; Misses Legge, Egan and Wheeler; Messrs. Bailey, Clarke, Gall, Thurston and McLean, and the Revs. Chenoweth and Whimpey.