Obituaries Australia

On Friday, November 11, Mr George Robert Henson died at a private hospital in Gosford. Born at Redfern, Sydney in September, 1847, he was educated at Christ Church, St. Laurence School, at which church he was a chorister. Joining the Railway service in 1867, he rose to the position of stationmaster at Homebush, Petersham and Sydney stations. Thereafter he was Superintendent at Penrith, being in charge of the Western division, and later he was appointed District Superintendent of the Lismore Tweed district, with headquarters at Lismore. When he joined the service the lines extended only to Moss Vale, south, Weatherboard (now Wentworth Falls) on west. On the opening of the first portion of the Northern Line (from Strathfield to Ryde) Mr. Henson was placed in charge of the section. His ten years service on the Lismore-Tweed line, where he held the position of District Superintendent, covered the pioneering years of this service, and in that period he saw great development on the far North Coast districts.

Retiring from the Railways in 1907 after 40 years service he returned to Sydney where he continued to reside until a few months before his death. With an intimate knowledge of the railways from very early days, his mind retained a vast fund of information and anecdotes on railway history, and it is matter for regret that much of that history has now been lost. An enthusiastic Mason from very early years, the late Mr. G. R. Henson was a foundation member of the Prince Alfred Lodge, of which he was the first Junior Warden, and later on Master. On the Jubilee of that Lodge in 1930, only three of the foundation members were still living, and they were appointed Life Members; Mr. Henson being one of the three, and the last of the original members. He founded Lodge Burwood, of which he was first Master, and up to the time of his death he took an active interest in the affairs of the craft. The Masonic service at the graveside was conducted by the Master and officers of Prince Alfred Lodge, at which V. W. Bro. R. C. Mudge made appreciative reference to the departed member.

Mr. Henson's wife predeceased him in 1916. He is survived by two brothers, Messrs. S. and A E. Henson and a sister, Mrs. Annie Winchcombe, and also six children, Mr. Arthur Henson (Lisarow), Mrs. Jeanneret (Dee Why), Mrs. Jeanneret (Narara), Mrs. C. K. Adrian (Gosford), Mrs. E. S. Jeanneret (Hunter's Hill), and Mrs. Youl (Hunter's Hill). The service at the graveside was conducted by Rev. M. G. Hinsby, assisted by Rev. David Creighton (nephew), and was attended by many relatives and friends.