Allan Thomas McDONALD 3 September 2014, aged 79

Allan was born on 24 July 1935 in Heathcote, Victoria, to Hilda and Allan (Busty) McDonald. He received his early education at Heathcote Primary School and later at Bendigo School of Mines. He qualified as an A Grade electrician and served his apprenticeship at the Ordnance Factory in Bendigo. In 1957 he moved to PNG, having accepted a position as an electrician with APC, an oil company. In 1960 he joined the Public Health Department (PHD) as an X-Ray technician. While working with PHD Allan travelled to various locations in PNG, Madang and Rabaul being two of his favourite places. During this time he met his future wife Noreen, a nursing sister, at Taurama General Hospital in Port Moresby. They were married on 12 June 1965 at the Lutheran Church, Pt Moresby. The couple settled in Pt Moresby and in 1966 Allan joined the Commonwealth Department of Works (CDW) as an electrical works supervisor. He remained with CDW in Pt Moresby until receiving a transfer to Wagga Wagga in 1973. He retired from CDW in 1989 and joined the Department of Health in Wagga where he worked in maintenance for several more years. Allan passed away a year after being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. He thoroughly enjoyed his years in PNG and loved to recount numerous stories of his time spent there. He always wished to return to PNG but ill health prevented this. He is survived by his wife Noreen, daughters Julie-Anne and Lisa, their partners and grandchildren Oliver and Lucy.

Julie-Anne McDonald