There passed away at his home, Booligar, Toowoomba, on 1st March, in his 80th year, Mr. Alexander Brooks Crothers, late of Booligar, Dirranbandi, Q. The late gentleman, the last of a great pioneer family, was the youngest brother of Bob, Tom, Harry, and Bill Crothers. The three older brothers went north and in their time owned Clutha, Somerville, Sylvania, Guee, and Bibil. Bill and Brooks stayed in the Dirranbandi district, the latter retaining the old family property, Booligar, which has been in the Crothers name for 98 years. It is to be carried on by his sons.
The whole family were lovers of a good horse and owned some good ones. They were also great cricket enthusiasts, while Brooks was a very good Rugby half-back, and, further, he once held the school-boy record in New South Wales for running the 100, 220, 440, and 880 in good times in the one day. The whole family of men, and their father before them, were the soul of honour and their word was their bond.
Brooks married Olive Counsell, and both, he and his wife were great workers for their district and always willing to give financial support for its betterment. Brooks was rejected for service in World War I, and he always had a soft spot for the Diggers and supported anything that would assist them. At the time of his death he was patron of the Dirranbandi Diggers Race Club, and was once president of the Dirranbandi branch of the Maranoa Graziers' Association. An exception to the common rule, he never drank, smoked, or swore.
He is survived by his wife, three sons—Charles, Murray, and Tom—and three grandchildren. Our sympathy goes out to them in their sad loss.
'Crothers, Alexander Brooks (1874–1954)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/crothers-alexander-brooks-267/text268, accessed 7 November 2024.