Islands People

Deaths of Islands People

Mr Rarua Oala Mr Rarua Oala, brother of Mr Oala Oala Rarua, until recently Lord Mayor of Port Moresby, has died at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Mr Oala retired six weeks pre viously from the Public Health De partment after 45 years service, most of it in Papua, particularly in the Central and Milne Bay districts.

From 1958 until 1965 he was one of the instructors at the Papuan Medical College. He leaves a widow and one child.

Mr L. J. Stokie, MC As this issue of PIM went to press news was received of the death in a motor accident in November, at Taree, NSW, of Leslie John Stokie, 72, former New Britain planter and wartime coastwatcher. He had re tired to Upper Orara, NSW, some years earlier. A full tribute will appear in the January PIM.

Dr C. Haszler Dr Charles Haszler who died re cently in Sydney, aged 66, spent 17 years in Papua New Guinea from 1950 in a number of official posi tions with the Health Department. At various times he was stationed at Mt Hagen, Port Moresby and Rabaul.

When he retired in 1967 he was Assistant Director (Medical Services) at the department’s headquarter s Konedobu.

Mr T. Young Mr Theodore Young, a fifth gener ation direct descendant of Edward Young, midshipman on the Bounty, died at Pitcairn Island on October 12, aged 85. He was one of the leading singers on the island, and his sing ing was a feature at Seventh-day Adventist services.

Mrs Ninette Christian Mrs Ninette Christian, wife of a descendant of leader of the Bounty mutineers Fletcher Christian, died at Pitcairn Island on October 16, aged 76. Her husband, Melville Christian, died in June, 1973.

Chief Aufau Chief Aufau, of Pepjei District, Rotuma, died early in November, aged 66. He was the oldest member of Rotuma Council and served as a district chief and member of the council for 30 years.