Adelaide Lyceum Club Oral History

Lorna Hosking married Hubbard Champion Hosking in Adelaide in 1927 and moved to Kokope near Rabaul as Dr Hosking was the Government medial officer. After two years they moved to Rabaul. In May 1937 there was a temporary evacuation of the town because the volcano erupted and sent steam, pumice and debris 25,000 feet into the air. Women and children were sent home when Japanese were about to invade, Dr Hosking was put on board the 'Montevideo Maru' by the Japanese and it was bombed by the allies off Lugan as it had no Red Cross marks. There were no survivors. Mrs Hosking remained in Adelaide with her two daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth. She worked with the War Widows Guild which had been set up by General George Vasey and his wife. Shops were set up in each state and the Guild worked to improve pensions for the widows. Dr Hosking graduated from Adelaide University School of Medicine and worked in New Guinea for 16 years. They both enjoyed the life and liked the New Guinea people. She and her daughter returned to Rabaul in 1986 to see the town and place where they used to holiday on the coast. The journey was worthwhile. Talks about the New Guinea people, the Leahy brothers who set up an airstrip at Lae, New Guinea independence in 1972 and the effect of the earthquake on Rabaul.