Obituaries Australia

Eric Killen, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Graziers' Record, 16 March 1955

As briefly reported at time of going to press in the February issue of the Pastoral Review, the death occurred at Stranraer, Cowra, N.S.W., of Mr. Eric Lyle Killen, on the morning of his 63rd birthday, 9th February. The late Mr. Killen, who was one of the best-known pastoralists in Australia, was born at Prahran, Vic., in 1892. He was a son of the late Mr. Edward Killen, and a nephew of the late Mr. W. W. Killen, who for a number of years represented the electorate of Riverina as a Country Party member in the Federal Parliament.

Like his predecessors, the late Mr. Killen was closely associated with all matters pertaining to the land and its development. During 1931-32 to 1947-48 inclusive he was a member of the general council of the Graziers' Association of New South Wales, and from 1939-40 to 1941-42 and during 1945-46 was president of that body. From 1939 to 1941 he was president of the Graziers' Federal Council of Australia, and from 1939 to 1948 represented the Graziers' Association of New South Wales on the Australian Woolgrowers' Council.

A very important post to which the Federal Government appointed Mr. Killen from 1939 to 1942 during World War II was that of member of the Central Wool Committee, which controlled all matters pertaining to wool on behalf of the Federal Government. Another important post held by him was that of chairman of the Country Party from 1940 to 1942. In 1942 he was appointed a trustee of the party, which position he held until relinquishing it at his own request in 1954.

The late Mr. Killen was particularly interested in the cattle industry, and did much to improve the standard of beef cattle in Australia. During the period 1942 to 1945 he was president of the United Stud Beef Cattle Breeders' Association of Australia. In 1937, accompanied by his wife (who is also very active in efforts to improve Australian herds), he visited America where he personally selected £10,000 worth of stud stock for importation into Australia for the purpose of further improving his well-known Antrim Poll Shorthorn stud.

His widow, who was formerly Miss Irene Henderson, and one son and six daughters survive him. These are Mr. Neal Killen, of Orange, N.S.W.; Mesdames R. Gordon, Young, N.S.W.; D. Craig, Mosman, N.S.W.; J. Thomas, Lindfield, N.S.W.; J. Walker, Narromine, N.S.W.; D. MacGillivray, Scotland; and Miss Mary Killen, who is at present overseas. He is also survived by one brother, Mr. G. L. Killen, of Moonagee, Nyngan, N.S.W., and three sisters, Mesdames J. R. Marr, of Pymble, N.S.W.; J. W. Milne, Hunters Hill, N.S.W.; and A. B. F. Rofe, Killara, N.S.W.

A very largely attended funeral service at St. Stephen's Church, Macquarie Street, Sydney, was followed by a cremation service at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. The ashes were buried with Mr. Killen's grandparents, the late Edward and Isabella Killen, in a private cemetery in the Cowra, N.S.W., district.