Obituaries Australia

It is with the deepest regret that the 'Track' has to record the death of Mrs. Alice Sorenson, who passed away at Sydney on April 14th. Deceased was the wife of that widely read bush writer, Edward S. Sorenson, and the writer has lost a friend of other days, in whose home he passed many pleasant moments. Although Ted Sorenson, who still drives a prolific pen, did most of his writing in those days when a crowd of us – Henry Lawson, Rod. Quinn, 'Steele Rudd,' Zora Cross, Mabel Forrest, and many others were earning a crust freelancing for Sydney papers— and 'Ted' was popular with all of them – it was rare that any of these inky wayfarers were to be met in the home of the Sorenson’s, but there were a few of us – and I considered it a privilege to be one of them – who always received a hearty greeting from a fine bush-loving couple. 'Ted' Sorenson and his wife both came from the wide open spaces, and an hour or so in their cosy home, to bush exiles like myself, brought back – despite the roar of city streets – a whiff of the wide grassy plains and the scent of flowering gums. And the late Mrs. Sorenson was a daughter of the bush who had worked on big pastoral runs before she met the man from the droving tracks who became her husband, and later one of the most prolific writers in the history of Australian literature. I always did think, despite her many years residence in a Sydney suburb, that Mrs. Sorenson would have preferred to be back again in the country where her early days were spent. I think that is why she always found time – despite being a busy mother and housewife, to exchange a few words with a writer from North Queensland, and make him feel at home. A kindly bush soul has gone, and I know the sympathy of those readers who are acquainted with his writings, will go out to ‘Ted' Sorenson in his great sorrow. And we must not forget the son and daughter – Harold and Tarella – who are left to mourn the loss of a loving mother.