Islands People

Deaths of Islands People

Dr B. Duncan Dr Bryan Duncan, a well-known Suva doctor, died on January 25, aged 40. He went to Fiji about 14 years ago from England to work under the South Pacific Medical Service Scheme. He resigned in 1964 and set up his own practice in Suva.

He leaves a widow and four children.

Rev W. A. Walter, SJ The Rev Father William A.

Walter, a Jesuit missionary in the outer islands area of Yap District in Micronesia, died recently in New York, aged 69. His remains were flown to Ulithi Atoll for burial.

During World War 11, Father Walter

was a chaplain with US troops in Australia and the Philippines.

In 1947 he volunteered for mis sionary work when Pope Pius XII asked New York Jesuits to accept the mission in the Carolines and the Marshalls. The Congress of Micro nesia, in 1974, voted unanimously to make him an honorary citizen of Micronesia in recognition of his work in the territory.

Among his accomplishments were an appeal to the US Congress on behalf of outer islands people over fair compensation for death and des truction in World War II; creation of a construction fund to build typhon-proof concrete buildings in the outer islands; creation of an education fund for outer islands students attending schools outside Yap District; involvement in the pro motion of political education among his parishioners; and serving as an appraiser for outer islands chiefs.

Mr Choy Gopal

Mr Choy Gopal, the first Indian to become a mayor in Fiji, died at Lautoka on February 3, aged 57. He was elected Mayor of Lautoka in 1957 after being elected to the Lau toka Town Council in 1956.

On his retirement from the coun cil, Mr Gopal became secretary of the Lautoka Club, then joined Beach comber Cruises, of which he was genera] manager at his death. He was keenly interested in soccer and boxing, and refereed both sports. He also played cricket.

Mrs Zena Borron Mrs Zena Borron, a member of an old European family in Fiji, died on February 6 at Suva. She was born in Fiji just before the turn of the century, the daughter of Mr and Mrs John Rennie. Her grandparents arrived in Fiji in the 1860 s as cotton planters.

She married Mr James Borron, member of another old Fiji family, at San Francisco in 1927. With her husband she lived on Mago Island, Lau, and in Suva. Mago Island is managed by one of their sons, Jim.

Another son, Arthur, lives in north ern NSW.

Mrs Borron was active in com munity work in Suva. She was a member of the Fiji Women’s Club and the YWCA.