She Wrote About NG

Tribute To

Lilian Overell

She Wrote About NG Before the Mandate

LILIAN Sarah Overell died Hobart in her 87th year, < May 20, 1956, at her resident “Beauregard,” Davey Street.

To me, personally, her death a broken link with my Hobs childhood, and with the daughtj of early Tasmanian pioneerii stock, a woman of courage ai fortitude, of culture, who was wide travelled and always keenly i: terested in women’s movements ai social services.

However, most will remember hi for her book on New Guinea, writh in 1920’5, and published by TI Bodley Head Publishing Hous London, in 1923, under the title A Woman’s Impressions of Germc New Guinea.

This is now of historical ir portance as it describes a pha about which little is known —tl transition period between Germs and Australian Administration.

In 1920, I was at Samarai, livii at “House Platt,” a roomy con fortable bungalow on a corner nei “The Monument,” when in tl beauty of one Samarai mornin came two interesting visitors froi the newly berthed Morinda.

Mrs. Baldy, sister of Mrs. Floi Stewart, of Lae, then the vei handsome wife of a Port Moresß Magistrate, came in to tea and garden chat and brought a “touris to call and see my caladiums.

Imagine my surprise when tl tourist turned out to be a link wit my early C of E school in Hobai and I was hailed “as an old gir with mutual chatter and queries.

From Samarai, Miss Overell wei on to Rabaul, after having had battle royal with the powers-thai be when she had approached tb Defence Department (Civil Admin istration had not then begun), f* permission to go to The Territory The Defence Department replie; as a Government department woull that “There was no accommodatic for women in Rabaul.” They kne little about the spirit and determ ination of Miss Overell! She wen and furthermore, she had a pasii port fully endorsed to do so.

It was as a guest of the renowne and most hospitable hostess of thof years, Mrs. Parkinson, of Kokopc sister of Queen Emma Forsaytl; that Miss Overell got her in sight into real plantation li:: and local conditions, and tbJ problems of the Germans, whO£( property was being expropriated. A well, she had a zest for knowledge a fine cultural training, a sense o history and a knowledge of the Gei man language. In her book ther are fine pen pictures of the Parkin

;n household, of the late R. J. H. !argett’s heroic and kindly per ■nality and of many others of out ianding ability and influence in ii’ly Rabaul.

In a very recent letter received Lst before she died, she was jeply concerned about West New uinea, and Indonesia’s claim to lat area. Although approaching 90, le expressed a wish that she might ) as a “delegate to the League of ations,” where she thought her aowledge of German, French and ,alian would be of service. She was ill a battler!

Her own life had been an ad mturous one. Born in Launceston, le went with her sisters to Europe » be educated; later she joined the Dusehold of General Von Jacobe in feisbaden, where she was head of ur governesses to the young family, ho frequently joined the Kaiser’s lildren in play. She returned rentually to open Camelot College, ; Wahroonga, Sydney. From there ent to Hobart to The Hobart rammar School, ultimately joining sr sisters to establish a college at er family home. —ALICE ALLEN

Vnes.

The Suva Bowling Club Open ournament opened on June 23 ith 28 visiting bowlers from Aus alia and NZ competing, as well as ) local players.