deaths

Jonati Mavoa In Auckland on June 16, aged 65.

Mr Mavoa, one of Fiji’s most experienced and respected political leaders, was rushed to Auckland from Suva on June 15 for emergency treatment after he went into a coma from a fall at his home on June 14.

The Fiji Times said in an editorial tribute headed “The Passing of a Titan” in its issue of June 17: The death of Mr Jonati Mavoa marks the passing away of one of the titans of the governing party and a leader who was universally loved and respected.

Mr Mavoa was the only politi cian in Fiji to have been sent to Parliament unopposed three terms running. And--when finally someone did get the nerve to oppose him in the last general election, he was so utterly swamped that he gave Mr Mavoa not even the faintest contest.

Mr Mavoa gave up a Civil Service career to answer a call from the Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, to join the Alliance Party and help in for ming Fiji’s first independent government in 1966. He was one of the most experienced and longest-serving members of Ratu Sir Kamisese’s Cabinet.

No other cabinet minister was given as much responsibil ity as Mr Mavaoa. He served in nearly every ministry, in either a full-time or acting capacity.

He left his mark on every ministry that he served in.

Mr Mavoa had qualities that are rarely found in leaders today. He was decisive yet compassionate, diligent and in dustrious at whatever task was handed to him, and yet able to relax and socialise with friends and people of every stratum of society, and a man wholly devoted to truth and a high sense of fairness.

But the quality that set Mr Mavoa apart from many other leaders was his humility.

Although he held high office, he never lost the common touch. He was always accessi ble to anyone who had a complaint or needed help. He was one of the few ministers whose door was always open.

His telephone line was just as open, especially to the press.

This newspaper was often

pleasantly surprised by Mr Mavoa, who would stroll into the newsroom either to deliver a statement or simply convey information that he felt should be publicly disseminated by us.

Mr Mavoa will be deeply missed by his family members, colleagues in Cabinet and Parliament.

But his loss would be felt most by ordinary people whose cause he always championed.

Andrew Deoki In Gosford, New South Wales, on June 12, aged 68.

A former Fiji politician and attorney-general, Mr Deoki, a barrister, was bom in Toorak, Suva.

In 1956, Mr Deoki was offi cially nominated an Indian member of the Legislative Council.

In 1959, he won the Indian seat for the Southern Division and was appointed a member of the Executive Council. He was re-elected to the Legislative Council in 1963.

He served in the Legislative Council for 10 years.

Mr Deoki lost to Mrs Irene Jai Narayan in the 1966 general election when he stood as an independent candidate.

Mr Deoki served as a vice chairman of the Fiji Sugar Board. He was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions in 1972, a post he held until 1976 when he emigrated to Brisbane, Australia.

In October, 1979, he re turned to take up the post of Attorney-General, it is believed at the request of the Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese

Mara. Mr Deoki was appointed to the Senate.

He quit his post in 1980 and returned to settle in Australia.

Mr Deoki was made an Offic er of the British Empire (OBE) in 1971 in the New Year’s Honors List for his “distinctive” contribution to the political, so cial and sporting life of Fiji.

He was a past president and life member of the Fiji Football Association, president of the Fiji Lawn Tennis Association and president of the Union Club.

Two Suva schools with which Mr Deoki was associated closed for half a day on June 14 as a mark of respect. They were Indian High School and Deen bandhu Memorial Primary School. Mr Deoki was founder of the Indian Association of Fiji, the governing body of these schools.

David Reddy On Easter Island on June 6, aged 61.

A large proportion of Easter Island’s entire population of 2000 islanders and 700 main land Chileans turned out on June 12 to attend the funeral of Father David Reddy, OFM, the island’s resident priest for the last 10 years.

His funeral was delayed to enable his brother, Father Re ginald Reddy, OFM, of Albany, New York, to attend. Father Reginald reached the island from Santiago in the late afternoon of the day of the funeral with a Chilean priest, Father Leopold© Nunez Huer ta, OFM Cap., who conducted the burial service.

The funeral cortege left the church at Hangaroa almost at sunset and made its way to the cemetery followed by a large

crowd of chanting islanders on foot, on horseback, and in vehicles. The interment an unusually impressive sight took place as the last streaks of daylight turned to darkness, with the waves of the Pacific crashing on the rocks a bare 100 metres away.

The late Father Reddy, the eldest of six brothers, was an American, born on Staten Is land, New York, on January 12, 1924. He was ordained in 1951.

After five months in Villaric ca, Chile, in 1969-70, Father Reddy went to Easter Island for 10 months as assistant to Father Melchior, the resident priest of that time. He then served as parish priest in Mafil, Chile, for four years before returning to Easter Island permanently as Father Melchior’s successor.

As an amateur radio enthu siast, Father Reddy was well known to hams around the world who delighted in com municating with such an iso lated person. His call signal was CEOAE. Father Reddy was also an accomplished amateur magician, being a member of the Brotherhood of Magicians of the United States.

Besides being a well-liked and respected church leader, Father Reddy founded and led Easter Island’s troop of boy scouts. He was one of the very few churchmen to have died on the island since the pioneer days of Brother Eugene Eyraud in 1864. Robert Langdon on Easter Island.

Charles Julius (Caesar) Christian On Norfolk Island on May 25, aged 64.

Caesar was born on Norfolk, one of the four children of the family of Bertie Jule Christian.

He went to school on the island, later joining the Austra lian Army and seeing service in New Guinea with the 2nd 17th Battalion. After the war he stayed on in Sydney.

After 40 years away, he returned to Norfolk to retire from his building trade, only 12 months ago.

He was a big jovial man, a great football fan and a bowler, and in the 12 months he had been home, made a host of good friends, quite apart from the joy his relatives found in his company.

Jonati Mavoa

Fr David Reddy