Tongan royal historian Dr Elizabeth Wood-Ellem dies

One of the foremost experts on Tongan history, Dr Elizabeth Wood-Ellem, has died in Melbourne, two days before her 82nd birthday.

She was the child of missionaries, and grew up knowing members of the Tongan royal family.

Bessie, as she was known, wrote the definitive biography of Queen Salote, and maintained her close links with Tonga all her life.

Bruce Hill asked one of her colleagues, Dr Helen Lee from La Trobe University, how serious a blow Dr Wood-Ellem's death is for Tonga....