Deaths

of Islands People

Ron Berking

At Taufusi, Western Samoa, on September 27, aged 48. Mr Berking, an Opposition MP, was reported to have been ‘beaten to death’ in his office by two young men, who were later questioned by police, and taken into custody on a ‘holding charge’ of ‘grievous assault causing death’. According to

reports, Mr Berking, who was manager of Samoa Tropical Products, visited his office with his daughter on the Saturday afternoon of his death. Two men were ‘loitering’ in front of the office. When Mr Berking told them to leave they became angry, and entered the factory.

There was a tussle in which cans of coconut cream were thrown at Berking. Berking’s daughter called the police, but he was dead on arrival at the hospital, according to the re ports. Mr Berking was gener ally regarded as a strong advo cate of freedom of expression, and a determined questioner of government policies. His fu neral was attended by the Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili 11, Prime Minister Tupuola Efi, Leader of the Opposition Vaai Kolone, members of Cabinet, MPs, and others.

Toleafoa Talitimu

At Faga, Savaii, Western Samoa in October, aged 62. He was an Opposition MP and a former Speaker of Western Samoa’s parliament. But he was perhaps most famous as the youngest of the three liga brothers of concert-makers and songwriters. Gatoloai Peseta Siaosi, the last of the liga brothers, was also ‘Speaker’ of the old Fono of Saipule, the forerunner of the present legis lative assembly, from 1951 to 1953. Songs written by the liga brothers have been recorded on a long-playing disc by the choir of Avele Boys.

Fangupo Latavao

On Tongatapu, Tonga, on October 23, aged 27. He was the only fatality when a sudden whirlwind hit Nukualofa and other parts of Tongatapu on

that date. He was electrocuted when he tried to pick up a live broken power line lying on the flooded Vahaakolo Road at Vaololoa.

Michael Self

On October 31, in a road accident near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Michael Self, 19-year-old son of Ron and Della Self who lived for many years in Papua New Guinea and now live in Canberra.

Michael, who was born in PNG and had lived with his parents in Madang, Daru, Samarai and Port Moresby, had joined the Royal Australian Air Force and was returning to the air force base at Wagga Wagga from leave when the accident oc curred.

Robert Cheung

In July, aged 45. A pioneer trader in the Papua New Guinea Highlands town of Mt Hagen, ‘China Robert’ became a household word in the area because of his cheerful dispo sition and innovative business techniques. Despite many set backs, including a 1971 fire which gutted his store, Robert Cheung always fought back. He is said to have rebuilt his business three times after troubles of various kinds. His friend, Bishop Bernarding, de scribed him as ‘one of the most humane men ever to be met’.

Norman Deck

In Sydney, Australia, in August, aged 98. A pioneer missionary of the South Seas Evangelical Church, Norman Deck first arrived in Solomon

Islands in 1913. Early studend of Onepusu school, Malaita] remember his hard work to build the place, which manjj years later became the Onepusu Bible Training Centre. A dentist, Mr DecM practised this profession in Solomon Islands during World War 11, returning to Australia after the war. He was a skilled photographer, musician and author, writing a number of books and translating the New Testament into the Kwara’ae language. He also captained his church’s first mission vessel.

Philip Tui Andrews

At Savusavu, Fiji, aged 86.

Philip Tui Andrews was a veteran of World War I in which he served with the 1 stj New Zealand Expeditionary; Force in France, Turkey, Egypt and Palestine. He worked for Burns Philp in Western Samoa for about 30 years, returning to Fiji in 1949. He later became the owner of the Lovonisikeci copra estate in Kasavu, Savusavu.

Roy Palmer Clark

On Pitcairn Island, in May! aged 86. American-born Roy P.

Clark came to Pitcairn in 1909 with his father, Lincoln Clark.

In 1913 he was married to Hyacinth May Coffin. He later became head schoolteacher, was Church Elder for some time, and finally became the Island’s Postmaster, a position he held for 18 years. A tribute in Pitcairn Miscellany com ments upon his passion for reading, the writing of poetry, ' and his love of animals.