I was especially fitting for New Zealand to fund the refurbishment of Nusatupe airfield. It was originally built in 1969 by Tom Crawford, a New Zealander employed as an engineer with the PWD.

Tom not only supervised the construction, but also maintained and operated the heavy machinery. One Saturday I paddled ashore on Nusatupe because my boat's outboard motor had died. Tom was there on his own, driving a bulldozer. He towed our boat back to Gizo.

Tom also re-constructed Balalae airfield in the Shortlands and built many of the roads in the Western Solomons and Malaita.

He died a few years ago but is survived by his Solomon islands widow who lives in New Zealand.