Raymond Gadabu (25 September 1921 – 17 October 1964)[1][2][3] was a Nauruan politician who served as Head Chief between 1953 and 1955.

Raymond Gadabu (left) with Hammer DeRoburt (center)

Biography

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Gadabu was a member of the Iruwa tribe.[3] Gadabu attended Nauru Primary School before moving to Australia to study at Geelong Junior Technical College, the Gordon Institute and Everett's Business College in Melbourne.[4] In 1941 he began work as a ledger clerk at Geelong and Crossy Trading, later becoming a shipping clerk and salesman for the company.[1] He returned to Nauru in 1945 to join the civil service, becoming a welfare officer. The following year he became an accounts clerk, and in 1951 was appointed a clerk in the Nauruan Affairs department.[1]

When democracy was introduced to Nauru in 1951, Gadabu was elected to the first Local Government Council from the Aiwo constituency.[5] Following the death of Head Chief Timothy Detudamo in April 1953, Gadabu was elected as his replacement.[6] In 1954 he was appointed a Nauruan Affairs officer and made a magistrate in the Nauru District Court.[1] Although he was re-elected to the Council in 1955, he was replaced as Head Chief by Hammer DeRoburt.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d South Pacific Conference Fourth Session South Pacific Commission
  2. ^ Death of Ray Gadabu Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1964, p. 13.
  3. ^ a b Fisher, J. B. (27 October 1964). "Registration of Deaths" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (44): 2.
  4. ^ Australian Representation Current Notes on International Affairs, May 1961.
  5. ^ Nancy Viviani (1970) Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress Australian National University Press, p. 105.
  6. ^ Viviani, p. 106.