These Men Will Run Nauru
pp. 24-25 · Read in the full issue
From a Nauru correspondent Here are the five men elected by the Assembly to com prise Nauru’s Council of State—the body which will govern Nauru until the President and Cabinet are elected under the new constitution. The President of the republic is expected also to be Chief Minister, and be in charge of the Cabinet. How ever, details of the executive have yet to be agreed on.
Hammer Deroburt. One Of
the “pre-war men” (as four of this five are), the present Head Chief went to school in Geelong in the 1930’5. Not long back in Nauru, he was among the islanders whom the Japanese removed to Truk during the war.
He became a teacher in the Nauru Education Department, and coun cillor for Boe District. Later he left teaching to become manager of the Nauru Co-operative Society, an institution for which he still has an enduring affection.
He is still the chairman of its board, and gives any precious moment he can spare from politics to its help and encouragement. He is also chairman of the Nauru Lands Committee and, despite his heavy political responsibilities, he keeps an interest in many facets of Nauru life.
The title Head Chief comes down from the former Council of Chiefs,
which preceded the Local Govern ment Council.
Married, with one daughter, i schoolgirl in Australia, the Hea< Chief is a man of great courage strength and ability, with an engaginj smile and confidence in himself am his people. He was awarded tht 0.8. E. in 1966, and undoubtedly hi will be President and Chief Ministe of the republic.
AUSTIN BERNICKE. The oldes member of the group, he is at presen the superintendent of the Naun General Hospital. He was previousl: its pathologist, having done som years of medical study in Mel bourne before World War 11. H represents Buada District in th Local Government Council, of whici he is secretary, and in the Legislativi Assembly. Like the Head Chief, he i; a keen churchman, and is senio deacon of the Protestant chapel a Nibok.
Mr. and Mrs. Bernicke have i
ypically large Nauruan family, some of whom are grown up and perform ing responsible jobs in Nauru, while others are students in Australia or ?n the island.
ATEGEN BOP. A student in Aus tralia just before World War 11, \tegen Bop was still there when war wertook Nauru, so that he remained n Australia until the reunion of the People in 1946. Now in his mid 'orties, Mr. Bop is also the father )f a large family, seemingly with )ne child at each stage of the Nauru education ladder. He has represented he district of Meneng as councillor hr many years, has been assistant nanager of the Nauru Co-operative Society, and a senior officer in the •4auru Post Office.
JOSEPH DETSIMEA. At present le is employed as radiographer at he Nauru General Hospital, a pos tion to which he rose from school ng at the Sacred Heart Mission, 4auru, and through technical courses n Australia. Mr. Detsimea is the ong standing representative of Yaren District, through which runs the 4auru airstrip.
A survivor of the evacuation to 'ruk during the war, Mr. Detsimea ; a happy family man, but with few hildren of his own. He is always he children’s man, and any move or their welfare is near to his heart.
Buraro Detudamo. The
oungster of the team, Buraro was ducated after the war at Knox "ollege, Sydney. He is a son of the ormer Head Chief Detudamo of reat renown. A career in the Nauru 'ublic Service was interrupted for wo years while he served as urchasing officer for the Nauruan 'o-operative Society in Melbourne.
Returning to the island and the üblic Service, Mr. Detudamo rose d the position of Nauruan Affairs Officer, and meanwhile councillor >r the mixed electorate of Übenide. >n the formation of the Legislative 'ouncil in 1966, he had to step own to lower status in the Public ervice in order to stand for elec on, because under the special tuation of Nauru’s tiny population, nly heads of departments and not üblic servants, generally, are ex luded from the legislature. The lauruan Affairs Officer was graded s head of a department.
Buraro Detudamo was a youngster i the contingent deported to Truk, low widely travelled and ex erienced. he is a frequent spokes lan, for instance as chairman of ic steering committee of the Nauru onstitutional Convention. He is larried to Eliza, a former teacher, id now a busy mother.