Death Severs Link
p. 154 · Read in the full issue
With Queen Emma
After a long period of ill-health, Mrs. Alan Ross (better known to old New Guinea residents as Tilly Rondahl ) died in Brisbane on February 17.
TILLY’S mother was Grace Forsavth Coe. a half-sister of Emma Kolbe (“Queen” Emma).
Grace Coe arrived in New Guinea in 1888. when she was 19. and married Capt. Rondahl. They lived at Kabakaul in the Kokopo area. Four children were born: Eric (deceased), Oscar (now living in South Aus- Australia), Rieka (Mrs. Campbell- Smith. of Chatswood) and Matilda (Tilly).
Tilly married Alan Ross, then an officer in the Administration Field Service, and they settled down on a plantation in the Kokopo district.
At the outbreak of World War 11, Alan enlisted for service overseas. He spent some years as a ROW in Germany. After the war the couple lived in the Brisbane area, where they always held open house for any old New Guinea visitors who passed that way.
Tilly will long be remembered for her pleasing personality, her in exhaustible hospitality and her friendliness to all.
So passes another link with the “Queen” (there are not many left now), and a dear friend to many.— GT.