Obituaries Australia

The sad news reached Yass, on Friday morning, of the death, in Sydney, of the Rev. Alured Dodsworth Faunce in his 71st year. The news soon spread through the town, and on every side kindly references were made to the "Good Old Canon.' A number of telegrams (says the Yass Courier) were sent to the sorrowing widow and family sympathising with them in their sad bereavement. The bell at St. Clement's was muffled and tolled all the afternoon. On Sunday, St. Clements Church (where the Canon acted as Rector for over twenty-five years) was draped in black. The choir sang the late Canon's favourite hymns, and the organist played "The Dead March in Saul." The Rev. F. B. Clive, before concluding his sermon spoke very highly of the Canon, referring to the many years he had labored for the welfare of the parish. Mr. Clive said everyone had a kind word to say about the late Canon Faunce which was a proof that he was a christian man. At evensong the hymns and music were repeated, and as the congregation returned homewards many kind and sympathetic references were heard.

The late Canon was born at Queanbeyan, and was the eldest son of Captain A. T. Faunce (4th King's 'Own Regiment) and grandson of General Faunce of the same regiment. On leaving King's School, Parramatta, he entered the Government service, and was employed for some years in the southern districts by the Roads and Bridges Department, in the old bushranging days. Subsequently he entered the Church, and for forty four years he laboured in the Goulburn diocese as incumbent at Araluen diggings, Bega, and Yass respectively.

The deceased gentleman first came to Yass about fifty-three years ago with a team of Queanbeyan cricketers, among whom we remember William Davis (whose death is also referred to in this issue), the late J. T. A. Styles, and Campbell, of Duntroon, whilst the Yass team included Geo. Allman, Thomas Barber, James Wood, John K. Hume and Joseph Quail, all having gone to the silent majority. Mr. Faunce was a very popular and brilliant cricketer. At that time the most brilliant man on the Yass side was Mr. I. Blake; brother to Mrs. Faunce. Some years later Mr. Faunce came to Yass as Road Superintendent when he married Miss Blake, daughter of Judge Blake, who was then Judge of the Southern District Courts. Mr. Faunce then studied for the Church at Moore College and was ordained by the late Bishop Thomas. The Canon's first appointment was to Araluen in the gold digging days, after which he was appointed to Bega, where he resided for some years, when he was appointed to Yass about thirty years ago, and worked in the Yass parish until failing health compelled him to retire. Canon Faunce decided to live in Sydney, near his sons, and he left Yass loved and respected by all classes, receiving a very handsome testimonial on the eve of his departure. He leaves a widow, one daughter (Mrs. E. M. Allman), and four sons Alured, who resides at Cootamundra, leadore, manager of a branch of the Commercial Bank, Harry, manager of the Newtown branch of the Union Bank, Mark, a clerk in one of the banks in Sydney, Richie (Dick) an officer in the New South Wales Police Department. The family may take a little consolation in knowing that the Canon's name will ever remain green in the memory of the residents of Yass, where he labored so long and so earnestly in the vineyard of his Master.