Good Eating

Life Begins

AT 40

FRANCES S E E T O of Kavieng, New Ireland, is one of that numerous and important family which came to New Guinea in German times.

HER father was Seeto Shui, a trader, and she was born at Lemakot, 40 miles down the Bulominski Road from Kavieng. After her birth in 1920 she was given the melodious name of Seeto Fung Ho, but this was changed, by Methodist usage, to Frances Seeto.

Frances went to a Chinese school at Kavieng, before starting work there in her father’s store. At the age of 16 she married Chow Sing, an elderly trader of Kavieng, and she bore him two sons and a daughter, all of whom are now grown up. On the approach of the Japanese, in 1942, while the baby daughter was only a month old, Frances retreated with her parents and her children to New Hanover for safety.

In 1944, her father was killed by machine-gun fire during a raid by Allied aircraft, and the family moved to Ungalik, on the far corner of New Hanover. In April, 1945, American PT boats began picking up Chinese and mixed-blood refugees and settling them on Emirau Island. Frances and her family went in one boat com manded by Lt-Commander Stan Bell, and was later moved to a camp on Mussau Island. Here she began nurs ing as a member of ANGAU, and

continued this work until they m< back to Kavieng in mid-19467, then transferred to the civil hos service and was for many year charge of the Asiatic section Kavieng, The district had been one of worst during the Japanese occupa and the Japs were guilty of n atrocities against the local Chi and against any Allied airmen fell into their hands, Frai husband, Chow Sing, survived occupation but died shortly a wards.

In 1957, Frances realised that nursing profession held no future her, as she was not officially quali so she started up in business for self with a cafe. The cafe did prosper, but the small native tr store and hairdressing business abled her to carry on. She mai an Australian resident of Kavi Don Vaughan, an officer in the partment of Labour.

After a life of trials and hardsl Frances now—with her children her hands, her first grandchild du any moment, and her marriage se< and happy—can feel that life be at 40, Don Vaughan is brin Frances to Australia for a holiday see the grandchild and to show what the country has to offer. Sh a woman of very fine character, spected by all sections of the c

munity.-

Brett Milder.

A Brett Hilder Profile

Odd Fish Makes

Good Eating

This trunk, or box fish, was caught by divers during a fish drive at Viwa, Fiji. The body of the fish is encased in a bony structure and it is able to move only its mouth, eyes, fins and tail—yet it is reputed to be very good eating.

Photo: Rob Wright