Obituaries Australia

Mr Richard E. Elford, private secretary to Mr Fairbairn, was 30 years old.

He had been a personal friend of the Fairbairn family for many years. Mr Elford was the son of Mr A. S. Elford, deputy chairman of the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association. He was born in England but came to Australia as a child. He was educated at Geelong Grammar School and subsequently joined the literary staff of the Melbourne Argus as a cadet. His entire career in journalism was spent with that paper. In August 1938 he accompanied Mr Fairbairn on a survey flight to New Guinea. Subsequently he left the Argus to become Mr Fairbairn's private secretary and since then had accompanied the Minister on almost all his flights. Recently he went with Mr Fairbairn to Canada where he acted as secretary for the conferences called to discuss plans for the Empire Air Scheme.

Mr Elford is survived by Mrs Elford and twin sons.