Deaths

of Islands People

Priscilla Amelia Moors Muench At the LBJ Tropical Medical Center, American Samoa, on June 25, aged 86.

The youngest daughter of the American Harry Jay Moors and

his Samoan wife Fa’animonimo, Priscilla Muench, also known as Filoi, was the aunt of Western Samoa’s Prime Minister Tupuola Efi, and the sister of Afoafouvale Misimoa, a former secretary-general of the South Pacific Commission.

Much as her father did, Priscilla led a touring dance company, the Royal Samoans, across the United States in the 19205. She did stage plays in the US, and was friends with • Lloyd Osbourne, Robert Louis Stevenson’s stepson. She was given the title Tuitogama’atoi.

After her marriage to Muench she gave birth to one son, who died.

She worked in a dress shop in the Far East, making and in heriting enough to buy a yacht which was chased by pirates in the China Sea. She eluded them by directing the captain to sail into a typhoon. She later lived for many years in the Philip pines, where her house was bombed during World War 11, causing the loss of many of her possessions.

She lived the last years of her life at Tafuna, Tutuila, American Samoa, building a

new house and writing her memoirs.

She was an avid bridge player, and loved the theatre and parties tastes she in dulged right up to the last month of her life.

She is survived by Larry Moran, with whom she spent 41 years, and 16 nieces and nephews.

She was buried next to her parents at Ululoloa, Western Samoa. ‘Ahome’e At Nukualofa on August 19.

Aged 46.

A Tongan noble of the realm, and brother of Queen Haleavalu Mata’aho, ‘Ahome’e was appointed superintendent of police only three months before his death. His father, the former ‘Ahome’e, died in office as minister of police in 1961. ‘Ahome’e did police training courses at various times in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.

His body was honoured with the traditional all-night vigil at his family’s residence, Vakauho, at Kolomotua. He

was buried at Nukumaanu Cemetery, Haavakatolo.

Al Haj Hasan Mohammed At Drakinakelo, Nausori, Fiji, in July, aged 65.

A prominent Moslem priest, Haji Shaheb was a foundation member of the Fiji Moslem League Rewa branch, and served on the Nausori Advisory Council and the committees of several charitable and sporting organisations in Rewa.

A keen sportsman, he took an active part in soccer and wres tling contests in the Rewa area.

He made his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1963.

Matamua Matamua At Greenlane Hospital, Cook Islands, in August, aged 59.

Matamua Matamua, a post office employee based in Rarotonga, also served at vari ous times as Chief Adminis tration Officer on the islands of Mitiaro and Manihiki.

Vincent T. Sanders At Cairns, Australia, in July, during a visit from Papua New Guinea.

Vince Sanders was a prominent businessman and colourful figure in Port Moresby where he had lived for 30 years. He had a lifelong interest in aviation and was one of the founders of the South Pacific Aero Clubs based in Port Moresby. In the wider community he was best known by name, if not in person, for his humorous letters to the editor published over many years and on many subjects in the South Pacific Post. Port Moresby, and

in its present successor the PNG Post-Courier.

He went to Port Moresby as an employee of the then Austra lian Department of Civil Avi ation, but soon afterwards es tablished himself as an auction eer and transport operator. He also operated a metal salvage business and until recently flew his own light aircraft to remote parts of eastern PNG bringing back brass and copper which still remained from the war in the Pacific 35 years earlier.

He created wide interest in 1977 when he and another PNG businessman, Ray Thurecht, ferried a 36-year-old Tiger Moth biplane from Brisbane to Port Moresby for delivery to its new owner. The flight of 1835 nautical miles included 16 take off's and landings over six days.

In an account of the flight which received wide publicity he wrote: ‘The aircraft never gave us a moment of trouble it was only the crew that was erratic at times.’

Ron Bullingham

At Norwich, England, on July 11.

Mr Bullingham was a longtime resident and a prominent businessman in the Cook Islands’ capital of Rarotonga.

He was instrumental in set ting up the Rusco, and then the Spinco, wholesaling outlets. He ran the Blue Shop in Rarotonga for many years.

He was a farmer as well as a businessman. He set up a small cottage industry raising cows for milk, as well as pigs, chickens and goats, on his property at Titikaveka.

He left Rarotonga in 1979 with his wife Elizabeth to spend the last years of his life in retirement in his homeland.

Harriett Esther Julia Buffett At Norfolk Island Hospital on July 14, aged 76.

Julia, as she was called, married Bob Buffett in All Saints Church, Kingston, in 1934 and was thereafter known as Julia Bob as has been the custom on Norfolk Island.

Her only lime away from Norfolk Island was a month in New Zealand to visit members of her family, and two months in Australia for an eye oper ation.