Obituaries Australia

Mr. Donald Fletcher Cameron, who was prominently associated with the development of several properties in the Roma, Q., district over a period of 65 years, died at his home at Eagle Heights, Q., on 13th June.

He was born at Casterton, Victoria, in 1872, of Scottish parents who had come from Aberdeen and taken up land at Casterton in 1840. In 1892 he went to the Roma district as a jackeroo for his uncle, the late Donald Fletcher, who at that time lived at Dalmally Station and in conjunction ran Cooinda and Crochdantigh Stations, in the same area. Three years later he was managing these stations, and continued in charge until 1911.

In 1910 Mr. Cameron took up Ardno Station, which was fenced off from Mt. Abundance because of the plague of marsupials which overran the district in those days. At that time the property was covered with dense brigalow and belar and had no water facilities, but today it would be one of the best improved and most productive stations of its size in the Roma district.

The late Mr. Cameron remained closely associated with Ardno, continuing its development when Quibet was purchased in 1922. This was a pastoral lease of 48,000 acres stocked with cattle, but it eventually became one of the best wool growing properties in the district. A Merino stud was formed at Quibet in 1926 to provide rams for the Cameron properties, and in 1927 Clearwater was acquired as a drought relief area. However, the latter property was sold a few years later. The late Mr. Cameron was a councillor of the Bungil Shire for some years while residing at Ardno, and was still patron of the Roma Amateur Race Club at the time of his death.

His wife, formerly Miss Fanny Willmott, of Healesville, Vic., predeceased him some years ago, but he is survived by one brother, Dr. Robert Cameron, of Melbourne, one daughter, Mrs. N. Douglas, of Clissold Downs, Roma, and four sons—Don, of Maxdale, Roma; Robert, of Corven, Kingaroy; Keith, of Ardno, Roma; and Murray, of Quibet, Roma. Another son, Alan, predeceased his father.