cigar in sight)
pp. 57-58 · Read in the full issue
Vila Corona Society meets (and not a cigar in sight)
On the second Tuesday of each month members of the Women’s Corona Society meet at the British Ex-Servicemen’s Association known locally as the Besa Club in Fort-Vila to share coffee and companion ship in much the same manner as their compatriots are prob ably doing in the more than 50 branches scattered throughout the world. The society was founded early this century for British men who set off on tours of duty in the far flung comers of the Empire. Women and
children rarely accompanied them, therefore Corona pro vided the necessary support structure.
Times change. Modern air travel, better health facilities, availability of education have all meant that families need no longer be separated while hus bands work in a developing country; men now take their own special support systems with them. The Corona Society has adapted to these changes and since the early ’sos has provided practical assistance to the increasing numbers of women who travel to wherever British aid is found. So com plete has been the transition that it is now called specifically the Women’s Corona Society, and while men are welcome to join, the Fort-Vila Chapter, at least, has none among its membership.
Most of the 80 members in Fort-Vila are from Britain, Aus tralia and New Zealand, and are involved with both aid projects and private enterprise. “They would be welcome,” said the secretary, “but they don’t seem interested, probably because they both have support systems of their own already operating. ”
At a recent coffee morning there were several Ni-Vanuatu women browsing through the “Nearly New” stall which the society runs as a regular fea ture, selling a variety of articles from suede suits to cassette radios. Mary Lini, wife of Prime Minister Father Walter Lini, also called in. She said that while she was not a member, she usually tried to attend these gatherings to keep in touch with many of the women she meets in more formal cicumstances.
On the last Tuesday of the month there is an evening meeting with a guest speaker.
Recently these have included M. Bertrand Campillo of the French scientific organisation ORSTOM, speaking on seismology, a guest from the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, and practical demonstrations on how to handle local produce,
identifying and filleting island fish, etc.
The activities of the Women’s Corona Society begin at the headquarters in London in Stag Place very revealing of ori gin! One-day courses entitled “Living Overseas” are offered to women (or couples) prepar ing for a sojourn abroad. Book lets are available on specific destinations. These have been compiled by women who have already served in a particular area and who can therefore provide first-hand information on all matters from housing availability to buying children’s shoes. Once “on site,” families can hire “transit kits” from the local branch which provide household requisites, etc., until the newcomers’ personal prop erty arrives.
The Port-Vila group has undertaken several community projects.
It collects containers which could be used to distribute pills and medicines from the Central Hospital pharmacy and outer island clinics. The women are also raising funds to buy a supply of a pediatric care hand book to give to outlying hospi tals.
The Women’s Corona So ciety is an integral part of life for many expatriates in Port-Vila.
There is evidence to support the claim of the handbook that the society . . . “may well make the difference between a happy settling-in and a disillusioned return to the homeland.” In the afterglow of Empire, a few stars still twinkle. Ngaire Douglas.