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Mark Fairles Morton (1865–1938)

The whole district, indeed the whole State, heard with a deep sense of shock on Wednesday morning of the sudden death of Mr. Mark Morton, who passed away in his sleep at his home at Nowra.

For 34 years he had been a member of the Legislative Assembly and was the Father of the House, loved and respected by all parties alike for his sterling worth, genial manner, and great integrity and honesty of outlook. At one time he had represented this end of the district and Shoalhaven, but with the redistribution of electorates, he was at the time of his death, the member for Wollondilly, having been returned unopposed at the last election.

The late Mr. Morton married a sister of Sir George and Col. O. D. Fuller, a well-loved lady who predeceased him a few years ago.

Among his many friendships here were those made on the bowling green, for he was a keen follower of the game, a good player and also administrator, having for long been the president of the South Coast and Tablelands Association. His tact, prestige and patience were never better displayed than a few years ago at Kiama on the occasion of a highly controversial meeting of that body, when throughout a long and trying morning's debate, Mr. Morton presided with dignity and firmness, giving a splendid display of what a chairman should be. When luncheon adjournment came, he had ironed out all the difficulties and achieved what seemed quite impossible; he had satisfied two sections who had at first been irreconcilable. His happy manner and wonderful grasp of detail were only two of the attributes which made him so popular.

After tributes, from all parties on Wednesday, the Legislative Assembly adjourned as a token of respect to one of the finest and most conscientious of its members.

Among the very large number present at the funeral at Nowra on Thursday were Col. M. F. Bruxner (representing the Premier, Mr. B. S. B. Stevens), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. J. T. Lang), the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (Mr. Weaver) and many Parliamentarians, State and Federal.

Original publication

Citation details

'Morton, Mark Fairles (1865–1938)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/morton-mark-fairles-16881/text28773, accessed 19 March 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

28 September, 1865
Nowra, New South Wales, Australia

Death

28 September, 1938 (aged 73)
Nowra, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

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