Another Chapter In The

Life Of Tom Neale

The focus of the life of hermit author Tom Neale has been Suwar row Island. A speck of an atoll lo cated in a lonely region of the Central South Pacific, the island is near enough to Samoa and Rarotonga to see an occasional yacht, yet far enough removed to have remained uninhabited for much of its modern history.

During the past two centuries many romantic tales of treasure, piracy and South Seas adventure have included the name of Suwar row Island.

The most recent is the saga of Tom Neale, a tale of self-imposed isolation.

On March 11, 1977, illness forced Tom to bid farewell to all that Suwarrow has meant and return to Rarotonga for an indefinite period in hospital. At 73 years of age it is questionable whether he will again see his island paradise.

Tom’s interest in Suwarrow dates back to his friendship with the col ourful trading schooner captain, Andy Thomson. During the early 40s their conversations often in cluded accounts of Suwarrow and of others who had found the island equally compelling. Among these was the author Robert Dean Frisbie who had lived on the island with his children. Tom met Frisbie in 1943 and found his tales of Suwarrow in teresting. Frisbie’s writings were in-

The author of this article,

Ralph Jon Naranjo, Ar

rived at Suwarrow Island in the cruise yacht Wind Shadow a few days after Tom Neale's departure for Rarotonga in March. He tells the story of the circumstances leading up to this latest turn in the life of Suwarrow's famous lone in habitant.

spirational to Tom and possibly helped prompt his own literary efforts which resulted in An Island to Oneself.

After years of preparation, Tom’s chance to go to Suwarrow came.

Dick Brown, the skipper of the in ter-island trading schooner, delivered Tom to the tiny island of his dreams in October, 1952. He re mained until June, 1954 when a passing yacht, fortunately, stopped at the island. Tom was seriously ill and had suffered periods of un consciousness lasting up to several days. He was taken to hospital in

Rarotonga and finally recovered.

Again ready to return to his home on Suwarrow he was confronted with a new obstacle. The local government officials refused to allow Tom to return. His efforts to find passage were continually th warted by bureaucratic interven tion.

Finally, in April 1960, Tom was aided by a yachtsman friend in his efforts to return to Suwarrow. This stay lasted until December 1963, when numerous visits from diving parties, composed of northern Cook Islanders, seeking the pearl shell of the deep lagoon, prompted Tom to return to Rarotonga. Initially, he felt he would not return to Suwar row but the island had a firm grasp on his life. He realised he was aging and a lonely death was something to consider. However, his decision was to return and until March, 1977, he enjoyed his seclusion occasionally interspersed by a visiting yacht.

Fortunately, Conrad and Sandy Ramahlo chose to visit Suwarrow.

They had sailed their small yacht from California through French Polynesia and had been spending the hurricane season in Rarotonga.

It was early March when their 8.2 m sloop, Fiesty Lady, came to rest near Tom’s home. Tom had been ill for several weeks and his condition showed no signs of improvement.

Abdominal problems had resulted in extreme nutritional difficulties and it was obvious to the Ramahlos that Tom needed prompt medical attention.

Fortunately Conrad is an amateur radio operator who has installed a transceiver aboard his yacht. Hav ing spent the hurricane season in

Rarotonga, Conrad knew who to contact there and after several days of relaying information, and of difficult decision-making on Tom’s part, arrangements were made for the trading schooner, Manuvai, to stop and return Tom to Rarotonga for medical treatment.

Whether or not Tom returns to Suwarrow, he has accomplished what many fantasise and few realise.

Certainly he will remain in the minds of all as one of the South Pacific’s most remarkable indi viduals.

This is Tom Neale's home on Anchorage Island, as he left it. House at left, cook house on the right. Previous page is a note which Tom left on the Island for visitors.

Photos; R.J. Naranjo.