Francis Aqorau Talasasa (1928 – 26 December 1976) was a Solomon Islands civil servant and politician. He briefly served as a member of the Legislative Assembly in 1976.
Francis Aqorau | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1976 | |
| Succeeded by | John Talasasa |
| Constituency | Vona Vona/Rendova/Tetepari |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1928 Kokeqolo, Solomon Islands |
| Died | 26 December 1976 Honiara, Solomon Islands |
Biography
editAqorau was born in the New Georgia village of Kokeqolo in 1928. His father Milton Talasasa was a politician, serving as president of Roviana Council and on the Solomon Islands Advisory Council.[1] He attended All Hallows' School in Pawa, Queen Victoria School in Fiji and St Andrew's College in Christchurch in New Zealand, finishing his schooling in 1953.[1]
Aqorau then studied at the University of Canterbury and in 1956 became the first Solomon Islander to graduate with a bachelor's degree.[2] He remained at the university until the following year to earn a master's degree.[1][3][4] He married Merle Aqorau in 1958, later adopting her surname.[5] The two relocated to England, where he spent a year at the University of Cambridge studying colonial administration,[5] also visiting local councils, while his wife studied domestic science in London.[4] After returning to the Solomon Islands, he became a Cadet Administrative Officer in Malaita in 1959. He was soon promoted to Deputy Commissioner, the first Solomon Islander to reach such a position. In June 1962 he was also the first Solomon Islander to be appointed as a magistrate.[1]
After serving as Clerk to the Legislative Council in 1964 and 1965, he transferred to the administration of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, where was appointed a District Officer in 1966.[6] He returned to the Solomon Islands as District Commissioner for Eastern District, before retiring in 1974.[1]
Aqorau then entered politics, becoming president of Western Council. In June 1976 he contested the elections to the Legislative Assembly, and was elected from the Vona Vona/Rendova/Tetepari constituency. However, he died in December the same year, suffering a heart attack while playing tennis on Boxing Day.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Talasasa, Francis Aqorau (1928 – 1976) Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893–1978
- ^ Sam Alasia (1989) Ples Blong Iumi: Solomon Islands, the Past Four Thousand Years p104
- ^ Islander Graduates from NZ University Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1957, p35
- ^ a b Mr. Francis Talasasa Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1959, p9
- ^ a b At 77, Aqorau gets her MBE Archived 2020-08-07 at the Wayback Machine Solomon Star, 13 June 2016
- ^ People Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1966, p137