Transition

Died: Sher Mohammed Sherani, 72, late president of the Fiji Muslim League, in Suva on August 20. “His death is a tragic loss to the country and will be mourned by all,” said Minister for Information Mr Charles Walker. “Under the leadership of Mr Sherani and as national president of the Fiji Muslim League, the country bene fited much and learned from his experi ence both as a government senator and community leader.”

Mr Sherani was born at Davuilevu, Rewa in 1916 and after completing train ing as a teacher, took over the family busi ness on the death of his father. He took an active interest in community service, and was awarded an OBE in 1986; he also served in the Fiji Senate from 1981 to 1984 as the Prime Minister’s nominee. □ Died: William “Bill” Wiltshire, 88, in Bournemouth, England, on May 17. One of the outstanding and somewhat ec centric pioneers of flying in prewar Papua New Guinea, Bill Wiltshire was born in Farnham, Surrey, in 1900 and joined the Royal Air Force in the 19205.

With the Depression of the 1930 s looming, he dedded to emigrate to Aus tralia and, hearing that aviator Ray Parer was looking for a pilot for his Bulolo Gold Air Service in Lae (in the then Mandated Territory of New Guinea), took passage on

the famed Montoro 'm May 1928. Wiltshire worked for Ray Parer before joining Guinea Airways, for which he flew single engined and tri-motor Junkers carrying dredge equipment to Bulolo.

Described by his friend Bert Weston as “a complex character, resentful of author ity, a hard drinker but a good pilot whose skill and resourcefulness got him out of a number of sticky situations,” Bill Wil tshire served in the RAAF during World War II before retiring to England.

Retired: Russell Leitch, retiring first pres ident of the Australia-Fiji Business Coun cil, as general manager Related Services and Western Pacific for Westpac Banking Corporation, Fiji.

Mr Leitch (pictured) and his wife Lynne were honoured by a farewell gath ering of Westpac staff and friends in Suva, and he was guest of honour at an Aus tralia-Fiji Business Council function.

Died: Corporal George Te Kokonga Ni cholas, one of the last survivors of the NZ Maori Battalion of World War I, in Taur anga, New Zealand, at the age of 93.

Mr Te Kokonga, related to the Nicho las family in the Cook Islands, worked on Tauranga district farms after leaving school and enlisted in 1916, joining his

younger brother in the Pioneer Battalion soon after his arrival in France.

He used to say that though the rations were never up to much during his two years and 95 days in France, it was always pos sible to kill a pig and dig potatoes. “We knew how to look after ourselves,” he said.

Mr Nicholas, who enjoyed a game of billiards nearly every day until shortly be fore his death, is survived by 11 of his 23 brothers and sisters, and by five daughters and a son. □

Russell Leitch is garlanded by Westpac officer Praveen Ah Sam.