Obituaries Australia

Word has been received of the death in Sydney of Joseph Edward Sparks, manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Kensington, at the age of 49. The late Mr. Sparks spent his boyhood in Gordonvale and attended the local State School. Later the family, moved to Cairns. At the outbreak of the World War Mr. Sparks enlisted and became a lieutenant and was seriously wounded at Gallipoli, losing an arm. Many old residents of Cairns and Gordonvale will remember that he was the first of the local A..I.F. lads to return, and may remember the excitement and hero worship as the boat steamed slowly in that early Sunday, morning, and the rousing cheers from an estimated crowd of 3000 people, all anxious to get a glimpse of the returning hero and to welcome home our first returned soldier. The late Mr. Sparks was highly esteemed in banking circles and by all with whom he came in- contact. He leaves a widow, an only daughter, his mother, three sisters and brother now with the A.I.F. in New Guinea, to mourn their loss.