Islands People

Deaths of Islands People

Rev. Father Y. Helliat The Rev. Father Yvo Helliat, SM, who died at the Catholic Mission, Naililili, Rewa, Fiji, on January 7, was 83 years old, and had spent more than 50 years in the Colony.

Like many of his fellow Marists in Fiji he was born in France. He was ordained in the United States in 1901 and went to Fiji a few years later, where he helped to establish many of the mission stations.

For some years he was chaplain at Makogai. For the three years be fore his death he had been living in retirement at Naililili.

Mrs. Lilian Crane Mrs. Lilian Crane, 86, who had lived in Suva for many years, died on December 14 at Auckland, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. A.

Butler, with whom she lived in Fiji and in New Zealand.

Mrs. Crane was born in London and went with her husband, the late Mr. Harold Crane, to Christchurch, New Zealand and then to the Cook Islands and to Western Samoa, Mr. Crane became accountant for Morris Hedstrom Ltd. in Western Samoa, and was later transferred to Fiji. He died in 1958 and Mrs. Crane then went to live with Mr. and Mrs.

Butler. Mr. Butler at that time was manager of the Union Steam Ship Company in Fiji. She left Fiji with them in 1959, when Mr. Butler re tired.

Mrs. M. M. Fenn Mrs. Melanie Marie Fenn, of Suva, who died at Auckland on De cember 4, was the wife of a Fiji international sportsman and was her self a noted sportswoman.

She returned to Fiji only a few months ago from leave in the United Kingdom, but was unable to return to her milk-bar business in Victoria Arcade because of illness. She was flown to New Zealand for hospital treatment and died there.

In 1931 Mrs. Fenn toured New Zealand with a Fiji women’s hockey team, and made a return visit in 1955 as manager of another women’s team. She was president of the Suva Women’s Hockey Association, and of the Catholic Basketball Association, and was an associate member of the Albion Rugby Football Club. (Over)

Mr. George ('Kassa') Townsend

Mr. George (“Kassa”) Townsend died on February 9 at his home, near Montville, Queensland, after 12 days’ illness. He was only 65, and had enjoyed good health since he retired from the United Nations Secretariat years ago.

“Kassa” Townsend had an out standing career. He went into World War I, at Gallipoli, as a gunner; served on the Western front; and won his commission in the field. He joined the New Guinea administra tive service in 1921 and when World War II brought the Japanese invasion and evacuation he was one of the best-known District Officers.

He was closely associated with the organisation of ANGAU; served in FELO with the rank of Lieut- Commander; and was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the OBE (Military). After the war, in 1946, Australia sent him to New York where he was a member of the Sec retariat (Advisor on South Pacific Affairs) until his retirement in 1956.

Mr. Townsend is survived by his widow (Mrs. Lynette Townsend), his daughter Judith (who lives in Te wantin, Queensland) and his son, Mr. George Barry Townsend, of Melbourne.