Deaths Of Islands People

Mrs Kathleen Bignell

The death occurred at her home in Springwood, in the NSW Blue Mountains, on December 27, of Mrs.

Kathleen Bignell.

Mrs. Bignell will be remembered by all old residents of Rabaul, New Guinea, where she managed the Rabaul Hotel in the 1930’5. When other women were evacuated from Rabaul after the 1937 volcanic eruptions, she remained behind and under her direction the hotel carried on a policy of business as usual. For her work during this period she was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Again, when Rabaul’s women were evacuated to Australia when the Japanese invasion was imminent, Mrs. Bignell stayed behind with the men. As a result she was taken prisoner by the Japs and in com pany with half a dozen Army nurses was sent to Japan, where she spent the Pacific War years in a POW camp. She never fully recovered from the effects of this ordeal.

Before going to New Guinea she had lived for some years in the Solomon Islands.

She is survived by her two daughters, Margaret and Jean, and by four grandchildren.

Professor Radcliffe

Brown

The distinguished anthropologist, Professor A. R. Radcliffe Brown, died in England early in November. It is

many years since he was in South Pacific; but he was a mem of the staff of University of Sydi in the ’Twenties, and some fut administrative officers in Papua £ New Guinea learned their anth pology from him—Messrs. Ben H Monty Bastard, Sydney Chance i

I late W. R. Humphries were iong them. Radcliffe Brown went m Sydney to Chicago, and thence England.

Mr. R. M. Farlow

'he death occurred at the jatriation Hospital at Heidelberg, [bourne, on December 19, of ;eigh Monash Farlow. He had q ill for two years. [r. Farlow had been on sick r e from the District Services lartment, of Papua-New Guinea, had joined the old New Guinea ninistration in 1927 and was ticularly well known in Bougain ! and New Ireland, where he had is as District Commissioner in post-war years. i World War II he joined the and served in the Middle East i the 2/Ist Pioneers under :her Territorian, Major Norman le. He was commissioned in the . and on his return to Australia commanded the Garrison at :olk Island and later joined rAU, (Australian New Guinea imistration Unit). He led the > Troopers in their action in the k and later was a regional nander of ANGAU. i is survived by his wife and [hters Janette, Patricia, and »ara, and by his son Robert. r are at present living in lourne.

Mrs. C. S. Mcowan

e death took place suddenly on mber 6, at a Convalescent Home [osman, Sydney, of Mrs. C. S. wan, widow of the late Islay ven, CMG, formerly well known le South Pacific as a senior r of the Colonial Service (Fiji) for ten years HBM’s Agent and ul in Tonga. s. McOwan was 86 and will be mbered for her hospitality and willing help to those in trouble, father, George L. Griffiths, led Fiji’s first newspaper, the Times, at Levuka; and also first postal service. 5 is survived by her daughter, J. Judd,- of Neutral Bay, five Ichildren and four great [children.

Rs. Grace Rasmussen

i death has occurred in Apia, jrn Samoa, of Mrs. Grace ussen at the age of 66.

J. Rasmussen was the wife of reorge Arthur Rasmussen, head J of the pioneer island families. is survived by her husband, sons, three daughters and 40 children. funeral on November 11 was led by a large gathering of fes and friends.

Mr. Fred Rennie

>ate Paiau Maretu Frederick apo died peacefully at his home

?atangiia, Rarotonga, during

the night of November 29, aged 72.

Fred Rennie, as he was usually known, was a keen cricketer in his youth and figured prominently in Church activities for many years.

He was a natural leader, a member of the Rarotonga nobility, and acted as official spokesman for Pa and Kainuku Ariki.

He was a modest, quiet mannered man who held the respect and con fidence of the Ngatangiia people.

His passing will be mourned bv many. y

Mrs. Mary Sorby

Mrs. Mary Sorby, 83, died on De cember 8 in Suva at the home of her daughter, Mrs. P. King.

Mrs. Sorby was the widow of the

late Captain Tom Sorby, for many years Master of Fiji Sugar Com pany’s tugs at Navua.

She is survived by two daughters and three sons: Mrs. P. King, Mrs.

P. Lelo and William, who are still m Fiji; and John and Joe, who are in New Zealand.

There are 38 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren.

One of Mrs. Sorby’s grandchildren is serving with the Battalion in Malaya with the rank of Captain. t A daughter—the third—was born to Laurie and Robin McKay of Aropa Plantation, Bougainville, New Guinea, on January 9, at King George V. Hospital, Sydney.