Obituaries Australia

Ald. Francis Henry Jones, of Northcote-street, Aberdare, collapsed and died in the bath house at Abermain No. 2 colliery at the conclusion of the back Saturday shift last week.

Ald. Jones' death will mean a big loss to the district.

He took a keen interest in all district affairs and was prominently connected with a number of local organisations.

Ald. Jones was a native of Yorkshire, and arrived in Australia in 1913, where he worked at Stockton Borehole colliery until World War I broke out.

During the war he was a member of the Mercantile Marine, and when it finished came to work at Abermain No. 2 colliery.

He was an official of the Abermain Lodge for 20 years. For 12 years he was Secretary, a position he held until his death, and was Treasurer for a number of years. He was also Secretary of J. and A. Brown Abermain-Seaham Collieries Merger Committee.

Ald. Jones served two terms on the Cessnock Municipal Council and last year was appointed Deputy Mayor. 

Years ago Ald. Jones was an outstanding footballer when soccer was the district's most prominent sport and had kept goal for several clubs.

He was President of the South Maitland Soccer Football Association and was, for many years Secretary of' the Cessnock branch of the Australian Labour Party.

He is survived by a widow, three sons, Arthur (Sydney), Ray (Cessnock), Donald (Coonabarabran) and one daughter, Mrs. L. Gibson (Sydney).

Mineworkers at the colliery attended a pit top meeting yesterday morning and decided to take the customary day off to attend the funeral, which took place yesterday afternoon.