Obituaries Australia

The 'Mirror' staff this week mourn the passing of one of their colleagues, 'Fred' Gates, at the age of 71 .

With the courage that had sustained him during a very severe operation, Fred insisted upon remaining at work when we all realised he was a very sick man.

His last assignment was Perth Police-court on Saturday, and as he said goodbye that afternoon at the office, we little realised we should never see him again. He had worked for 'The Mirror' largely because of war-time staff shortage, took his full share of jobs.

Fred Gates was a journalist of real merit with 40 years' experience to back him. He had held many responsible, well-paid posts. He was for many years editor of 'Truth' in W.A., was associate-editor with John Curtin of 'The Worker' when the Prime Minister was a journalist, afterwards succeeded him in the editorial chair.

He had been an indefatigable worker for social causes. He was at one time president of the W.A. Journalists' Association, was one of its original members before the present-day A.J.A. constitution came into being.

Few people knew that Fred was the first Labor candidate for Perth. He did not talk about himself and what he had done: It was one of his most lovable traits. No job was too small, none too big for him to tackle when he returned to active journalism, with the war years taking toll of staff.

He worked — at his own desire— for days under the severe handicap of increasing ill-health, because he would not let his colleagues down.

He will be genuinely missed, gave an example of devotion to the job which all of us on 'The Mirror' will ever remember.

Fred leaves a widow and a married daughter, three grandchildren. At his funeral on Wednesday afternoon, apart from the family mourners, 'The Mirror' and Western Press Ltd. were represented, as well as the staff of 'The Worker,' the A.J.A.. and former colleagues. — P.B.