Deaths Of Islands People

Pastor K. Kalangis Pastor K. Kalangis, pastor and worker for the Presbyterian Church in the New Hebrides for nearly 40 years, died recently at Erakor. He was 60.

Educated at the Presbyterian Mission School at Erakor and the Paton Memorial Hospital, he went to the Tangoa Training Institute for four years in 1925. He married in 1931 and in 1935 became a preacher, graduating as a pastor in 1947.

After service at Malekula and Erro manga he was appointed moderator of the church in the condominium and then he put in several years’ work at Eton and Erakor parishes until his retirement in December last year.

Mr. James William Barker Mr. Jim Barker, gold prospector, horse trainer, jockey and one-time dairy owner in New Guinea before World War 11, died in Sydney in April, aged 67.

Attracted by gold discoveries in the Wau-Bulolo area, he moved to NG from Australia in the early

1930’s to become one of the colourful characters on the Edie Creek fields.

His gold finds, together with his later successful exploits as a jockey and horse trainer, made the dimin utive Aussie and his wife Linda (better known to friends as Alma) a byword on the fields.

The Barkers settled at Wau, where Jim quickly became popular as the winner of many races at Wau Race course and equally successful as a trainer of horses. His training wins made him known to most turf identities “down south” in Sydney, where in later years he became a well-known trainer.

He is survived by Linda and six children, including one stepdaughter.

Sister Marie Raymond Sister Marie Raymond, one of the Islands longest serving missionaries with over 62 years of uninterrupted work in the New Hebrides, died re cently on Efate, New Hebrides. She was 83.

Born in Vailhac, France, in 1886, she joined the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary. In July, 1907,

she arrived in the New Hebrides for initial service on Pentecost.

Over the next 50-odd years, before she contracted poor eyesight from volcanic ash and was forced into “semi - retirement”, Sister Raymond worked on Ambrym, Malekula and Efate.

She survived severe bouts of malaria in her early days.

Sister Mary Valentine, of the Sydney office of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary, said Sister Raymond never requested to return to France.

She said up to recent years Sisters in the society took on their work without any leave provisions—it was “part of the sacrifice”, she said. At present, after 40 or 50 years’ service Sisters were given leave.

Sister Raymond’s funeral was held at Montmartre, Efate, in April.

Mrs. Mary Barry

The death occurred at Nonga Hospital, Rabaul, New Guinea, on February 27, of Mrs. Mary Lavenia Barry, aged 82.

Mrs. Barry, who was an accom plished pianist, lived with her son-in law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs.

Richard K. Gault, at Waranvula Plantation, Kokopo.

She is survived also by another daughter, Mrs. V. Kelly, of Rabaul.