Obituaries Australia

Mr Hubert Desmond Fairfax, for six decades a pastoralist at Merriwa near Scone, died on Sunday at the age of 83.

Born on December 29, 1906, he was a cousin of the late Sir Warwick Fairfax and of Sir Vincent Fairfax, both directors of John Fairfax Ltd, publishers of the Herald, until the company was taken over by Sir Warwick's son, Mr Warwick Fairfax, in 1987.

Mr H. D. Fairfax, known as Mick, was educated at Tudor House, Moss Vale, and Geelong Grammar. He then studied wool classing and, in 1928, bought a property, Tarnuk, near Merriwa, which he was to run until his retirement to Scone in 1988.

He was cremated at a private ceremony yesterday and is survived by his widow, Suzanne, and three married daughters, Dymphna, Diana and Prudence.