Obituaries Australia

Mr William Mark Forster, well known as the founder of the William Forster Try Society, Hawksburn, died at his residence Auburn road, Auburn, early yesterday morning at the age of 76 years. Mr Forster, who for some years carried on business in Bourke street as a saddler, founded the Try Society for boys in 1883. The nucleus of the Society was a small coterie of boys whom Mr Forster used to invite to his home in Toorak in order to keep them from the street. The coterie widened and Mr Forster was forced to find larger premises in which to entertain his young friends. He obtained the use of a Sunday school, and some time later was able, with the proceeds of money which he collected, to establish the present institution in Hawksburn. Such was Mr Forster's ardour for the welfare of the youthful citizens, that, after he had firmly established the Try Society, he formed in succession the City Newsboys Society, the Gordon Institute, and the Hawksburn Girls' Club. About thirteen years ago Mr Forster retired from the active man agement of the Try Society, and it was taken over by Mr J. C Butler the present general secretary. Mr Forster leaves a widow and a large family of grownup sons and daughters.

The funeral will leave the late residence of the deceased gentleman, in Auburn road, Auburn, at 2 o'clock tomorrow, and after a service at the Try Society's Institution, South Yarra, at 3 o'clock, will proceed to the St. Kilda Cemetery.