Ngadlu tampinthi ngadlu Kaurna Miyurna yartangka. Munaintya puru purruna ngadlu-itya. Munaintyanangku yalaka tarrkarriana tuntarri.
We acknowledge we are on Kaurna Miyurna land. The Dreaming is still living. From the past, in the present, into the future, forever.
Thomas Andrew was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1855 and later started business life as a photographer. He began his Pacific wanderings in 1886 when he was 31. His collections of negatives are uniquely important as it was his practice to visit places far off the beaten tracks, thus providing an invaluable record of native life and scenes.
Andrew established his studio in Auckland but transferred to Samoa when he was burned out in 1891. He practiced as a photographer in the islands until his eyesight failed.
He became interested in cocoa and also introduced Para rubber, but subsequently settled down as a general merchant. When the decision to plant bread-fruit in the Solomon Islands plantations was made, it was Mr Andrew who supplied the plants, which had been collected in Samoa. In 1912, he was engaged by an Australian syndicate to report on land available for plantations and the possibilities of the New Hebrides.
Andrew rendered invaluable assistance to the Samoans during the epidemic of 1918, for which he was long remembered. It was reported that he worked strenuously for long hours with no thought for himself, and saved many lives.
Andrew befriended Robert Louis Stevenson during the latter's short residence in Samoa. His picturesque and interesting life came to an end in Apia when he died aged 84, after a long illness on August 7, 1939.
George Smith