facebook   twitter   mail  

The Gisborne Photo News

 

23

"Tena Koe" For Sir Winston

On the occasion of the 80th birthday of Sir Winston Churchill on November 30, the voice of an 83-year-old Maori woman, Mrs Laura Houlahan, of 243 Palmerston Road, Gisborne, was beamed over 12,000 miles and two oceans in a "Happy Birthday" greeting to Downing Street.

Arrangements for the call, which involved a considerable number of contacts in Wellington and London, were made by advance by Messrs John Berry and David Wisely, two Gisborne journalists, seen at right with Mrs Houlahan..

Her message, in both Maori and English, was recorded on tape a day or two earlier, as Mrs Houlahan's great age ruled out the long delays which technicians warned could be expected. The message was then transmitted by radio-telephone direct from Gisborne to Downing Street about 9 p.m. on November 30.

×

A reproduction of the overseas telegram received by Mrs Houlahan from Sir Winston through the office of the High Commissioner.