Deaths

of Islands People

Stan Breusch In Sydney on May 6 of a heart attack, aged 74.

Born in Maryborough, Queensland, Stan Breusch in 1932 was on his way to New Zealand in the Burns Philp vessel Morinda when it called at the island of Aoba, in the then New Hebrides.

Aoba was to be his home for the next 48 years. With his wife Olive, a sister of the well-known New Hebrides figure Oscar Newman, he became a legend in the eyes of the Aoba people.

As a trader, he was known for his scrupulous fairness. Work ing with a bush knife, he personally, together with local people, created the first roads on Aoba. He also introduced the first motor vehicle to the island, as well as to Tanna.

He was among the first people invited to join the New Hebrides Advisory Council when it was set up in 1957.

He retired to Sydney in 1980.

When news of his death reached Aoba, a 10-day mourn ing feast was organised. A further feast is planned for 100 days after his death.

Pita Fanene Maivia In Hawaii on June 13 of cancer, aged 46.

Born in Lalomanu, Aleipata, Western Samoa, Pita Maivia was a well-known professional wrestler, his career spanning 22 years. He held a number of wrestling titles and, at the time of his death, he was involved in a company formed by him to bring live wrestling to the islands. Pita Maivia spent most of his life in the USA.

Henry Pipe Nicholas

In Rarotonga, in June, aged 62.

Henry Nicholas spent over 40 years in the Cooks as a teacher, and was engaged in training teachers before the Teachers Training College was estab lished. His last teaching pos ition was at the college, from

which he retired in 1979. He was active in the affairs of Takuvaine village, being sec retary of the Co-operative So ciety in the 19505. Henry Nicholas was also a keen tennis player, being one of the top players for Takuvaine in the 1940 s and ’sos.

Classic Arumaki Strickland In Rarotonga on May 27 from a heart attack, aged 57.

Born in Rarotonga in 1925, Classic Strickland was edu cated in the Cook Islands and New Zealand. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942, serving in the Pacific and Japan. He returned to the Cook Islands and worked as an accountant, taking a degree in accountancy and eventually opening his own business. He joined the Department of Internal Affairs in 1970, becom ing Financial Chief Adminis tration Officer, and was active in the Cook Islands Party, serving as its president from 1977 to 1980. Earlier this year he was chosen to represent the Tupapa branch of the CIP in the next general elections. He

was an enthusiastic rugby player, playing with the Tupapa senior rugby team as centre three-quarters. He suffered his fatal cardiac arrest while at a training session.

Susana Akesi Faapoi In Apia on June 9, from injuries received in a traffic accident.

Susana Faapoi was Western Samoa’s leading female tennis player. She represented West ern Samoa at the last South Pacific Games in Fiji, and at the Mini-Games in the Solomons. It is believed she fell off the back of a pick-up truck.

Audrey Grace Stanfield In Sydney on April 13 from a stroke.

Audrey Stanfield (nee Rolston) was born in India in 1898, marrying and coming to Australia with her husband in 1922. In 1927, they bought Boligila Plantation, in New Ireland, and moved to New Guinea.

During World War 11, Mrs Stanfield took over the manage ment of the plantation when her husband returned to military service, until she was evacuated

to Australia at the end of 1941.

She returned to New Guinea in 1946, continuing to live on the plantation after her husband’s death in 1960. Finally, due to increasing ill-health, Mrs Stanfield came to Australia in March 1982, dying in the Lady Davidson Hospital in Sydney.

Charles Raymond

Christoffersen At Waihi, New Zealand, aged 74.

New Zealand-born Ray Christoffersen worked in Fiji’s Customs Service from the early 1930 s to 1953 when he was transferred to Cyprus as Collec tor of Customs and Excise.

Roger Matthews

In Brisbane in April.

Mr Matthews was taken ill shortly after he and his family left Norfolk Island to live in Queensland. A carpenter and a long-standing member of the Norfolk Island Lions Club, he was much respected in the Norfolk Island community.

Kevin Olsson On Norfold Island in May aged 27.

Mr Olsson suffered a cardiac arrest while undergoing surgery to his nose. An excellent sports man, he represented Norfolk Island in the Mini Games in 1981 and South Pacific Games in 1979. He was working in the Norfolk Island administration at the time of his death.

Gladys Ashburner

On Norfolk Island in April aged 84.

Originally from England, Mrs Ashburner came to Norfolk Island in the 1960 s after an interesting and varied life: She had spent many years

in East Africa on a cattle ranch with her husband, who pre deceased her. They also spent time in Ethiopia, and pros pected for gold along the Ama zon in South America.