Obituaries Australia

Michael Ferry, n.d.

Mr. Michael A. Ferry, who died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, on Monday, April 5, was one of the best known personalities of the sporting world, particularly the turf. He was the first man to broadcast a description of a race meeting. This was in 1924. The first big race described by him was when Murray King won the Sydney Cup. For many years Mr. Ferry was associated with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, where his turf work helped definitely to put race news and broadcasts on the high plane that it has attained. He had an invaluable library. Mr. Ferry, who was the son of the late Brian Ferry, of Wagga (a well-known business man, and one who also engaged in farming and pastoral pursuits), was educated at St. Michael's School, Wagga, and, in early life acquired a thorough knowledge of blood stock. Throughout his life he maintained a great interest in horses, and became well known as a judge of stock. He was a widely-travelled expert, and was known all over the Commonwealth. On two or three occasions he visited the United Kingdom, where he closely became acquainted with the horse trade. It is possible that there was no man in Australia who had a more intimate knowledge of blood stock, and his library was famous among breeders and sportsmen.

At Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Randwick, on April 6, Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of the soul of Mr. Ferry, by the Rev. Father R. Dando, M.S.C., an old friend. Among those present were the Very. Rev. Father J. Power, M.S.C., the Rev. Father S. Burchell, and many other priests, parochial and religious. Mr. Ferry leaves a widow, a brother (Mr. Bernard Ferry), and a sister (Mrs. McMahon (Wagga). The funeral, which left the church in the afternoon, was attended by a large and representative gathering of citizens. The remains were interred in the Botany Cemetery.