Islands People

Deaths of Islands People

Sir Donald Cleland Sir Donald Cleland, Australis longest serving Administrator Papua New Guinea, died in Pc Moresby on August 27, and w buried there in a State funeral. J Donald, who is survived by Lai Cleland and two sons, had been A ministrator for 14 years until 196 following a brief period as Assista Administrator, and he and Lai Cleland had continued to live in Pc Moresby after his retirement. He w 74.

Sir Donald was a West Austral! who had a distinguished career as lawyer and military leader.

His first association with PNG w more than 30 years ago when served with the Australian N« Guinea Administrative Unit duri World War 11.

This was the military unit whi helped maintain the country’s dorm tic affairs and internal security duri the war, and from which emerged t

t combined civil administration of pua and New Guinea.

He became vice-president of the stralian Liberal Party, and then for years directed the party’s federal retariat.

Fhis led to his appointment by the stralian Government as PNG ad listrator, a decision which was ticised in some areas including G itself for its political overtones, iowever, Sir Donald established iself in his own right as a force and efficient administrator, ie played a part in the first big ve towards political change and mate nationhood in PNG when country’s first elected parliament » established in 1964. deviously, Sir Donald had sat as irman of a colonial-type legislative ncil of appointed members.

Tie office of administrator ceased exist in 1973, when PNG became -governing.

Dr R. W. D. Maxwell, QBE )r Richard William David Max 1, who held high appointments in medical and health services in and Western Samoa and NSW, i recently in Sydney, aged 71. He born at Labasa and graduated medicine at Otago University, er five years in private practice 'JZ he joined the Colonial Service was posted to Fiji. He was )uty Director of Medical Services e, when he retired in 1956. He been Acting Director several 2S. his retirement, Dr Maxwell it to Western Samoa as Director Health. He retired in 1959 and it to live in Sydney, where he ame Senior Medical Officer and istant Medical Officer of Health in New South Wales Health Depart it.

Mr W. E. Donnelly, MBE lr William Ewart Donnelly, a v Zealand schoolmaster who it several years in Fiji, died re dy in Auckland, aged 74. Mr melly was headmaster of the Suva bodist Bovs’ School from 1934 1941, and pioneer principal of Memorial School, Davuilevu, n 1942 to 1945. He then returned Vew Zealand. i 1960 he was invited to return "iii to establish the Ratu Sukuna norial School, at Nabua, near a. He was principal there till L and after that served brief is as relieving principal at other )ols. Mr Donnelly took an active in amateur athletics as an dal, and in Rugby. He was a life iber of the Fiji Rueby Union.

Donnelly is survived by his wife, >n and daughter.