Deaths of Islands People

Mr. G. Wall Mr. Gregory (Greg) Wall, gene ral manager of Aropa plantation for the New Guinea Biological Foun dation, died suddenly while working on plantation records in his office at the plantation on July 20. He was 48. He had been unwell for some time but had continued to superintend production and develop ment of big areas of coconuts and cocoa which were showing good pro gress in the rich Aropa soil.

Greg Wall had been in charge of Aropa for seven years. Before that he was assistant manager of Tene kau plantation in Bougainville, and managed the Hotel Kieta along with his wife Merle for two years a total of 15 years in Bougainville.

He was a returned soldier from World War 11, having served with the RAAF at Cocos Islands, Port Moresby, Morotai and Borneo. He was a very keen worker for the RSL and at time of his death was president of the Kieta sub-branch.

He had also worked hard for the

Native Ex-Servicemen’s Association.

Greg Wall was a man well known for freely-given assistance to all neighbours, for hospitality at Aropa and a firm belief in the future of Bougainville Island.

Father Duffy, SM, conducted a very moving service and a requiem mass was celebrated, tribute being paid to Greg Wall’s qualities as a good citizen and soldier one who helped all classes at all times. At the graveside Father Duffy was as sisted by Father O’Sullivan, SM, a veteran Bougainville priest, with a fine war record and for some time an army chaplain, who was there on behalf of the returned soldiers pre sent in strength.

Greg Wall is survived by his wife, daughter Christine, aged 16, who attends St. Margaret’s School in Brisbane, and a step-son, Wayne, who is a qualified radio mechanic living in Brisbane. It is Merle Wall’s inten tion to now reside in Kieta where she has a home and business interests.—

F.P.A.

Mr. Jean Pitard A well-known Noumea business man, Mr. Jean Pitard, died at Noumea in July, aged 56. Called the “man with a smile”, despite a three-year struggle against the ill ness which killed him, Mr. Pitard was for 24 years the “right-hand man” of Mr. Jean Brock, Qantas representative and head of the big gest customs agency in New Cale donia. He left a wife and two teen age daughters. The Noumea Cath edral was filled for the funeral ser vice.

Mr. G. G. des Granges Planter, cattle breeder and defence advocate, Mr. Gabriel Gomichon des Granges died at the French Hospital in Vila on July 23 at the age of 67.

Born in France, Mr. des Granges fought in the Moroccan war in 1925 and arrived in the New Hebrides in 1930 as a defence advocate in the joint court. He also established him self as a cattle breeder, building up a herd of 2,000 at his Bellevue pro perty, and brought large areas of forest into production. A patron of the arts, he owned a fine collection

of paintings, particularly of the New Hebrides, and at the time of his death was president of the Syndicat Agricole, president of the New Hebrides Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Cultural Centre’s management board.

Mr. Freddy Ellacott Mr. Freddy Ellacott, deputy mayor of Papeete and a popular public figure died in Tahiti in mid-July. He was 44.

His body was found floating in the sea off Punaauia, the day after he went out on a fishing trip. It is thought that he may have suffered a heart attack and fallen overboard.

Mr. Ellacott began his career as a schoolteacher and was later a registrar in the Palais de Justice. He took a lively interest in the trade union movement and Roman Catholic education in French Polynesia.

He was elected to the Papeete Municipal Council in 1966 as a representative of the Here Ai’a (Patriots’ Party) and became deputy mayor after the elections in May ■his year (PIM, June, p. 14).

Mr. Ellacott left a widow, Liliane, md two daughters. A large crowd attended his funeral.

Supt. Ron Clammer Mr. Ronald Charles Clammer, aoted as a colourful former Papua view Guinea police officer, and be :ore that in the British Army and he Indian Army, died at Surfers 3 aradise in August.

He was with the New Guinea 3 olice before World War 11, and n the war served with the Royal J apuan Constabulary. He carried on is a policeman with the RPNGC ifter the war, and when he retired n 1961 he was superintendent at labaul.

In World War I, he won the )CM and MM with the British and afterwards joined the ndian Army. He was a fine boxer, nd won the Indian Army heavy weight championship. He held the ank of captain.

After his retirement from PNG e lived in Brisbane till about two ears ago, when he moved to the iold Coast.

Mr. J. B. Hicks Mr. James Basil Hicks, who was a lember of the British Colonial ervice in the Solomons for some 7 years, died at Albury, NSW, on mgust 1, aged 69. Born at Rone osch, Cape of Good Hope, and edu ated in Sydney, Basil Hicks went

to Tulagi, then headquarters for the Solomons Administration, as a Cus toms clerk in 1925, and later became Chief Customs Officer.

During the war he was seconded to the New Hebrides Government for two years. He returned later to Honiara, from where he retired in 1952, with the MBE. With his wife Myrtle, he settled in Albury, and took a position with Mate’s Ltd., a subsidiary of Burns, Philp and was active in community affairs.

He is survived by his wife and

daughter, Pat.

Mrs. E. C. Barter Mrs. Elizabeth Copps Barter who had a number of Fijian friends and who made them welcome in her home at Hurstville, Sydney, died on August 14, aged 70.

Ratu George Cakobau, Vunivalu of Bau and Fiji Minister for Fijian Affairs, flew to Sydney for the funeral and delivered a eulogy at the church service.