Obituaries Australia

Henry Kater, n.d.

from Pastoral Review, 16 October 1924

On the 24th September there passed away at Sydney, at the age of 83, Mr. Henry Edward Kater, a well known and highly esteemed pastoralist of New South Wales. A man imbued with a high conception of patriotism and citizenship, he has left behind him the impress of a life well lived, and public and private responsibilities conscientiously discharged.

Mr. Kater was the son of the late Mr. H. H. Kater, and was born at Bungarabie, near Penrith, New South Wales, in 1841. His father chartered the ship Euphrates and came out to Australia in the early days, bringing with him some very valuable stud Shorthorn stock and blood horses.

As senior partner of the firm of H. E. Kater and Son, of Egelabra and Eenaweena, the subject of these notes was well known throughout Australia as a breeder of very high class Merino rams. The flock was founded at Mumblebone, Warren, in 1879 by Mr. H. E. Kater and his brother, the late Mr. E. H. Kater, from direct descendants of the sheep bred by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, whose sheepbreeding activities formed such a highly important feature in the early history of Australia.

After leaving school Mr. Kater gained commercial experience in one of the banks at Mudgee, from which he retired after a few years to enter pastoral pursuits. His activities were not, however, confined to pastoral matters, and whatever he became identified with he entered into with thoroughness and enthusiasm. As a member of the board of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, as honorary treasurer, and later as chairman, he was a valuable factor in the management of that fine institution. He endowed the H. E. Kater ward of the hospital to the extent of £1000, and was the donor of the first X-ray apparatus the institution possessed. He was a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, and was a director of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited, and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, and was a member of the board of advice of the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Company.

"A man of fine personality and great kindliness of heart, ever ready to help anyone less fortunately placed in the world than himself" was Sir Thomas Hughes' tribute to the memory of Mr. Kater when speaking in the Legislative Council on the occasion of the announcement of his death.

Mr. Kater is survived by his wife and his son, Dr. Norman W. Kater, M.L.C., president of the Graziers' Association of New South Wales.