Obituaries Australia

A well-known figure in North Queensland, Mr John Hoolan, passed away last week. He was born in New South Wales and very early began to follow the gold "rushes." He came to Queensland about 45 years ago, and first attracted public notice by letters to the Millchester paper then edited by the late W. G. Kelly Cusack, over the nom de plume of "Sugarbag". He then contributed to the "Northern Miner" in Mr O'Kane's time, and when Croydon broke out he established "The Mining News" there, which still survives. Later he owned and edited the "Mundic Miner" for many years at Georgetown, where it is still published. Having followed mining for years Mr Hoolan had a splendid knowledge of the industry, but the success of his papers under his management was due more to his humorous verses than to their mining information. About 25 years ago Mr Hoolan was elected for Croydon when Mr E. Hunter retired, defeating Mr W. H. Browne, who was afterwards Minister for Mines in the Kidston ministry. When the Croydon electorate was divided Mr Hoolan chose the Burke, which then had Georgetown for its headquarters and when Mr T. Glassey was defeated at Bundamba he resigned in Mr Glassey's favor. Subsequently Mr Hoolan quarrelled with the Labor Party and opposing Mr T. Givens for Cairns was defeated and later was defeated by Mr. Maxwell for the Burke seat. He then turned his attention to mining speculation, and cattle raising and was fairly successful, never being short of a hundred or two to assist any old pal and at the end he had still a little to go on with. He was an incorrigible humorist and when at Georgetown he punished a neglectful editor, who from alcoholic reasons had absented himself from the "Mundic Miner". He wrote an obituary notice detailing the death of the editor in his room in the Salutation Hotel and ascribed to him the virtues of energy, industry, and sobriety. The editor recovered from his spree on the day of publication and in order to propitiate Mr Hoolan offered to deliver the town papers promptly. His offer was accepted and amid the delighted laughter of all the subscribers he distributed the papers containing his own obituary notice. He did not discover the joke till he returned to the office. Mad with rage he rushed to a solicitor and it was at least a week before he could be induced to return to the editorial chair. Mr Hoolan was over the allotted age and passed away peacefully from senile decay.