Deaths Of Islands People

Mr. P. J. McDonald Mr. P. J. McDonald, the “grand old man” of Port Moresby and one of the heroes of the Kokoda Trail, died in hospital at Port Moresby on September 4. He was 75, “P.J.”, as he was known locally, became famous during the World War II when he refused to be evacuated from his rubber plantation, 11010, the last staging point for troops moving up the Kokoda Trail to the front line.

The Japanese advance was halted only a few hundred yards from his front door, about 20 miles from Port Moresby.

Mr. McDonald was commissioned by the Australian Army when it became clear that he would not leave his home.

He often boasted that he was the oldest man ever to receive a com mission in the Australian Army.

In World War I he had served with the Australian Hight Horse at Gal lipoli and in France.

Mr. McDonald went to Papua in the early 1920’s as a carpenter and built the first store in Port Moresby for the Steamships Trading Com pany.

He started 11010 Plantation in the 1930’5. Mr. McDonald was born near Melbourne in 1891—on the day Carbine won the Melbourne Cup.

He used to boast that he had been going like a winner ever since, Mr. H. 0. Wright Mr. Henry Oscar Wright, one of Fiji’s most colourful “characters”, died suddenly at the Mocambo Hotel, Nadi Airport, on September 8, aged 52. He had had an adventurous career both in Fiji and abroad.

In Fiji, one of his first enterprises was a restaurant —“Oscar’s Place”— which specialised in sea food and local dishes.

He served in the Fiji Labour Corps during World War II and was demobilised with the rank of captain.

When the war ended he joined the late Harold Gatty in a marine research enterprise, South Sea Marine Products.

Leaving Fiji in the early 1950’s on travels which were to take him all over the world, Mr, Wright tried his hand (once) at bullfighting in Spain; he was associated with Errol Flynn in a skin-diving enterprise; he spent some years developing a lobster fishing industry in the Persian Gulf; and he worked for a New York

company which ran a shrimping fleet.

His overseas travels ended in late 1963, when he returned to Fiji, to become associated with the tourist industry.

He was master of the cruise yacht Stardust for some time, and then started deep sea game fishing from the launch Kingfisher. From there he moved over to the cruise ship Sayandra as master.

Mr. Wright joined the staff of the Mocambo Hotel early this year.

Mr. Wright had two daughters by his first marriage—Mrs. L. White side, of Suva, and Mrs. Betty Jones, of Hayward, California.

His second wife Constance and their two sons, Henry and Alexander, live in Fiji.

Mr. Rob Wright, Fiji Government Public Relations Office photographer, is a brother.

Mr. L. H. Storck Mr. Ludwig Henry Storck, the last surviving son of Mr. Jacob Paul Storck, the “original Storck” of Fiji, died on September 8, aged 83.

Mr. Storck worked for the CSR Cos. Ltd. for many years, and was chief engineer at Labasa when he retired.

Rev. R. Jones The Rev. Robert Jones, who built the cathedral of St. Peter and St.

Paul, at Dogura, New Guinea, died in Townsville in September, aged 70.

He enjoyed a distinction, believed unique in Christendom. He was ordained a priest in the cathedral which he built.

He was a layman during his build ing days in New Guinea, but later he became one of North Queens land’s Anglican priests.

Mrs. S. E. Waugh Mrs. Sarah (Sally) Waugh, former resident of New Guinea, died at a convalescent home in Sydney on July 31 at the age of 79.

Mrs. Waugh married Mr. Donald Waugh who went to NG with the Australian Expeditionary Forces dur ing World War I and later joined the Administration. Mrs. Waugh joined him some years later. Don (Skipper) Waugh became a District Officer and was stationed at Madang, Kavieng, Kieta and Rabaul. In 1939 he retired and left the Territory for Australia— where he died in 1940. Mrs, Waugh returned to Australia in 1936.

She leaves two daughters and a son.

Mr. A. H. Affleck Mr. Arthur H. Affleck, the firs Flying Doctor pilot in Australia am a pioneer aviator in Papua-Ne\ Guinea, died aboard the passenge liner Orsova off Vancouver on Sep tember 12. Mr. Affleck, who was 63 was on a Pacific cruise recoverin, from an illness.

He joined the Civil Aviatioi Branch of the Defence Departmen in 1936. In 1959 he went to P-NC as Regional Director of Civ; Aviation—retiring in 1963 at th age of 60.

After the entry of Japan int World War 11, Mr. Affleck organise an air evacuation of 732 women an children from the territory to Cairn: Mr. Affleck was the author of th book The Wandering Years.

R. J. Coe Robert Jonas Coe, a link with tw well-known figures of Pacific histor died at Matauta-uta, Western Samoj on August 21 at the age of 80.

Mr. Coe was the son of Jonas to Coe, American consul in Wester Samoa in the latter part of the 19t century, and the last surviving hal: brother of Emma Eliza Coe (“Quee Emma”) of New Guinea fame.

Jonas M. Coe had 18 children b three of his six wives—“Queen Emma being a daughter of his first wife, member of the Malietoa family, an Robert Jonas being a son of the sixt] the daughter of a Tongan Methodi; missionary. There is now only or survivor of the 18 children—Mr Nellie Lydia Davidson, of Wellingtoi New Zealand.

The late Mr. Robert Jonas Cc was employed by the Copra Board ( Western Samoa for many years. E resigned last year because of il health.

Mr. Coe is survived by his wif Nui, three daughters, four sons, A grandchildren and 60 great-gram children.

Dr. T. A. U. Clunie Dr. Thomas Anderson Urquha Clunie, who held a number of seni( appointments in the Fiji Medical Di partment, died in the CWM Hospita Suva, on September 14, aged 71.

He leaves a widow and seve children.

Kondom Agundo

Tribute was paid in P-NG’s Hous of Assembly on the first day of ii Budget meeting to the memory c Kondom Agundo, of Chimbu, wh (Continued next page)

ad been an elected member of the Id Legislative Council. Agundo was tiled in a vehicle accident near the 'alau Pass in the Eastern High inds at the end of August.

Though lacking any formal educa on he had been a council president >r many years and more latterly lairman of the Kundiawa Coffee Dciety—the country’s biggest co perative.

Always keen for the advancement E his people, Agundo was unique in lat his influence spread far outside ic clan limits usual in Highlanders, wo sons are serving with 1st and id Battalions of the Pacific Islands egiment and two are members of ic Royal Papua and New Guinea onstabulary. From Port Moresby, aurama, Wewak and Rabaul the ►ns flew home to Kundiawa to pay leir last respects to their father.