From: Biological Stn. Pearl Beach
Via Woy Woy
NSW

To: Miss M. C. Sadler
"White Lodge"
101 Northcourt Rd.
Abingdon, Berkshire
England

March 24, 1954

My dear Margaret,

You have been much in my thoughts and I am anxious about your health in the 'arctic' weather you seem to have had. Are you well? Have you all that you need for your personal warmth and comfort? At this end of the world we have had a trying summer of great humidity and heat, but at present the nights are cooler. I have been not at all well and also had sciatica or some painful trouble on the right side which made me walk with difficulty. However I am delighted to say that I am now feeling better.

Like Caesar I must apparently "Beware the Ides of March"! Something unpleasant would happen then and this year I have had such a lot of work and worry trying to prevent the re-opening of an old road in 'my' beautiful Reserve - a road which would spoil it and cut it off from the sea. The Shire Council is dealing with the matter today. These things entail such a lot of work.

Professor Murray has written that our chief guardian of fauna has found out that the Bedford bequest for fauna of the Empire was for 400k pounds and one-fiftieth of the value of the estate, but this has been so much impoverished by death duties there may be nothing left. Imagine the present duties Zeelings(?) faced. With that dreadful possibility I do feel for him with all my heart. The Professor says we may not even be able to save the unique 'Lord of Pere Loti' deer which had been preserved there. This is, of course, a great blow. I wonder if anything could be done to help by making a suggestion for the intervention of the Agent-General, or the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth, Australia House - the 'powers that be' upon behalf of the Empire grant. In that way perhaps the amount allotted to the bequest could be subtracted from the Estate and not charged the death duty. If that could be done, it would reduce the overall amount of death duty and still secure the benefit. In our own Income Tax laws a number of items which benefit the country at large are tax free, and it may be that something like that could be done.

Do you think an approach to the Duke's own solicitors would be best? They took it upon themselves to open my letter to the Duke although it was marked 'Personal', and was sealed and registered as well. I do not feel I can give up all hope until some such suggestion has been tried - but of course that kind of appeal would not be made to the Duke himself. I do feel so sad on his behalf - to lose his father and his inheritance - both by one sad accident is such a terrible disaster. We can only hope he has been well-grounded in the hope of our forefathers and will be carried through this time of sorrows.

Of course we are all following the movements of our Queen each day by radio. She is now in South Australia. I was amused to hear that they have had a special illumination scheme with red, white and blue kangaroos hopping around! I hope they have a good picture of that for the Prince and Princess Anne. I am sending you a paper with the design of the jewelry they have given here. I hear that the NSW diamonds are lovely, and she seems to wear it a lot. The large opal would look better lying on her neck than in any picture because then it would seem to be almost a part of her body. Those opals are very beautiful and quite fascinating. I saw one - a perfect shell. I was never so fascinated, and for the first time understood what that word meant when applied to a jewel. Much love, dear Margaret, from Minard.