Farewell To An Era
pp. 35-38 · Read in the full issue
At Nauru's airport the day after Independence Day, Head Chief Hammer DeBoburt and his wife wave an official goodbye to the last of the island's Administra tors, Brigadier L. D. King. Else where on the island, banners like the one below proclaimed Nauru's confidence in a future on its own.
President of the UN Trusteeship Council, Miss Angie Brooks, with two other official guests, Mr. and Mrs. Zure Zurecnuoc, of New Guinea. At right, Nauru's new flag—royal blue and gold with a white 12-pointed star — flies for the first time on Independence Day after being raised by Hammer DeRoburt. The previous evening at sunset, the flags of the three former Trusteeship powers — Australia, New Zealand and Britain —came down for the last time.
At his airport farewell, Brigadier King is presented with a lei by one of the pretty hostesses who welcomed and farewelled official visitors to the independence cere monies.
There were two days of festivities on the island to mark the independence celebrations.
Visitors and Nauruans followed with special interest a series of Nauruan wrestling matches (top right), where the wrestlers had to throw their opponent to the ground In this picture a contestant is on the point of getting the old heave ho. There was an open air stage for the big Nauruan concert (left) on Independence Eve, the concert being followed by a fireworks display. The Chinese population also took part in the celebrations—and the Chinese dragon was to be seen abroad.
These four men, together with Head Chief Hammer DeRoburt, comprise the Naurua[?] Council of State, which is the Government of Nauru until alterations to the constitu tion give the republic a President and Chief Minister. Top left, Austin Bernicke inspect; Nauru's new official passport, in the Nauruan colours of royal blue and gold. Centre Buraro Detudamo; and at right Joseph Detsimea holds Nauru's mace, which was pre sented to the Nauruan Assembly by ihe Australian Government. At left is James Bop
PHOTOS: PIM. AND BILL BRINDLE OF THE AUSTRALIAN NEWS AND INFORMATION BUREAU.
Below left, the Speaker of the Nauru Assembly, the Rev. Alfred Amram, with one of the official guests, Ratu George Cakobau of Fiji; and below another distinguished guest, Masiofo Fetau Mata'afa, wife of Western Samoa's Prime Minister, Fiam[?] Mata'afa.