Time marches forward, forever, and ever… relentless, heartless, ruthless…
It’s Saturday here. Woke early and took the “girls”, Grace, Gigi, Nova to breakfast. They said they wanted pancakes. They got waffles.
Went to the grocery store after and back home. Took all morning.
I heard the other day that my old friend. Aloysiuos Ora, had passed away. Known to all simply as “Ora”, he was a real man, a real dude, an honest bas ass. And probably the best Policeman the Solomons ever saw. And a very dear friend.
I have so many “Ora Stories”. I first met him In Tulagi in 1981. For the next 30+ years Ora and I often were spending time in the same community. He was long serving Commanding office of Gizo, and later the Western Province. After he retired, and I created South Pacific Oil, I hired him as Corporate Security Manager.
I wish I had a picture of him.
One story goes back to Gizo, early 1980s. Rob Hughes was Public Solicitor, Nick Makin was the Hanging Magistrate.
A Friday night, a bit of fun, a dance, too much grog… The old Gizo Sports and Social Club was across the road from the Police Station. It was easy duty for the coppers to drag unruly drunks from the club to the lock-up.
Saturday morning found 3young guys from Ora’s home village in the Shortland Islands, waking up in jail. They were charged and had to go to court, so they are locked up until Monday morning. They were not happy.
The jail window was barred but not mosquito netted. The window looks out onto the main “street” (road). Those who got locked up woke covered in mozzie bites. I am told by those who know (my son, Don) that a night in Gizo lockup is not fun.
So Saturday morn, in the early 80s… I and a few others are in town, we stand and listen to these poor hung over guys yelling profanities from their cell. Ora shows up and yells back, in his home language, for them to be quiet. They call back (in language) and Ora gets mad. They are swearing at him in their own language and tho none of us know what is being said, Ora is not impressed.
Monday morning rolls around and the Hanging Magistrate, Nick, and the public Solicitor, Rob, appear in court with the said 3young guys. Rob is public defender, Ora is public prosecutor.
The 3young guys are bandaged and obviously suffering minor injuries. All three had been taken to the hospital, after Ora went to their cell to “have a chat with them”.
So the story goes… After listening to the verbal abuse get worse and more personal, Ora went into the cell to “teach the lads some manners”, to have “a man-to-man talk”. 3young guys, tired and angry and unhappy, and one Ora.
All 3 were in need of medical attention after the “chat”, and, when in court, would not say anything negative about “their care in custody”, or Ora.
Rob tells the story better…they were his clients. They had been “beaten up” while in custody, noting it was an unfair fight in their favour, and they still lost.
All got sent to hospital. Rob was very displeased with the state of care while in custody, but the guys would not say a word. The Hanging Magistrate, Nick, had nothing he could do but sentence them for their original charges.
After the fact I recall Ora stating that he felt he had to ‘teach the boys a lesson”. And enjoyed doing so.
Here’s an old tale where Ora looms large.
What a Man. What a friend.
Time is on my side…
more later
The Native Iowan 
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