Obituaries Australia

Mr. John Jackson Hardie, Technical Services Officer of Grazcos Co-operative Ltd., Sydney, and a widely known and well liked figure in grazing circles throughout a great part of New South Wales, died in Noumea, New Caledonia, on 26th September. Mr. Hardie, who had been in indifferent health for some time, had gone to Noumea for a holiday, but was taken ill soon after his arrival there.

The late Mr. Hardie, who was the son of a sea captain, was born at Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1895, and when he came to Australia in 1912 he went as a jackeroo to Avon Downs, Northern Territory. On the declaration of war in 1914 he immediately tried to enlist with the Light Horse but when he was rejected he paid his own passage to England and joined King Edward's Horse as a trooper. He saw a good deal of action in France and received his commission in 1916, when he was transferred to the 43rd Cavalry Regiment in India. Subsequently he transferred to the 3rd Skinner's Horse, serving on the Northwest Frontier, where he also saw service in the second Afghan war.

Returning to Australia in 1920 Mr. Hardie engaged in farming pursuits for a few years, and later learned woolclassing, in which capacity he first became associated with Grazcos in 1926. He joined the permanent staff of that company in 1938.

John Hardie was the author of several good books, including Cattle Camp—with which he won the Bulletin prize for the best novel of the year, 1929-30—Lantana, Bridle Track, and Pastoral Symphony. He also wrote many articles on technical matters associated with the pastoral industry and the wool trade.

Mr. Hardie's unfailing courtesy and cheerfulness despite ill-health won him a wide circle of friends, while his lengthy association with the land enabled him to acquire a sound grasp of the problems of stockowners and breeders—a knowledge which he made wide use of as an officer of Grazcos Co-operative.