Obituaries Australia

Death at the weekend of Mr. Walter Alexander Bowman, at the age of 75 years, removed a personality who sprang from the stock of a pioneering family which landed in Australia in 1798.

The sesqui-centenary of that arrival has just been celebrated.

Born at Strowan, Jerry's Plains, where he spent the whole of his life, the late Mr. Bowman, who was the third son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Bowman, was one of the district's best-known and most highly-respected identities.

A true son of the land, he took a particular interest in the rural affairs of this district, and, for that matter, of the State, and he was noted as a particularly keen cattle judge and a methodical pastoralist.

For a great many years, deceased conducted an outstanding Shorthorn beef stud, and he was a prolific show winner with his stock.

Deceased also conducted a Clydesdale stud, and recognised good stock were bred on the Jerry's Plains property.

Each year, for many years Tooth and Company purchased whatever stock the late Mr. Bowman could dispose of.

Sheep also occupied his interests, and with these, too, he won many show awards.

In cattle, horses and sheep, the late Mr. Bowman was one of Singleton's best show exhibitors.

One of his keenest hobbies was horse-racing, and although he never made the city turf, he won a lot of races at amateur and registered meetings throughout the Upper Hunter.

For 35 years he was treasurer of Jerry's Plains Jockey Club, and he was one of the oldest members of the Upper Hunter Amateur Race Club.

The Strowan property, one of the best-known in the district, has been in the Bowman family for well over a century, first of the Bowmans to own it being Mr. George Bowman, Mr. Walter Bowman's grandfather.

The late Mr. Bowman will be missed in the district for his hospitality and kindness, and he can be described as a person the Jerry's Plains community and the district generally could ill-afford to lose.

Up till three weeks ago, he had enjoyed good health and had supervised the operations of his property.

He is survived by his widow, who was the former Miss Hazel Herford, a daughter of the late Rev. Walter and Mrs. Herford. The Rev. Walter Herford was for a time Rector at Jerry's Plains.

Also surviving are four brothers and two sisters, the brothers being Messrs J. Cecil Bowman, Sydney), Ronald Bowman ("Merotherie," Gulgong), Leslie Bowman (Leadville) and R. Stanley Bowman ("Carrawa," Jerry's Plains), and the sisters are Mrs. Les. Rouse ("Birkalla," Gulgong) and Mrs. D. M. Bell ("Pickering," Denman).

The funeral, which followed a service at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Monday afternoon, was one of the largest seen in this district in recent times. The remains were laid to rest in the Presbyterian cemetery at Glenridding. Messrs. H. Roberts and Sons had charge of the funeral arrangements.