Obituaries Australia

Mr. John Kirkaldy died at Lorraine Station on the Leichhardt River, N.Q., on 1st February.

His death caused widespread regret throughout Queensland and New South Wales, in which States he was known to every pastoralist and station man of note who had passed along the Leichhardt during the past 34 years. He spent some years with his uncles, the Broads, well known pioneers of earlier days in the Roma district, and went to Lorraine as manager in 1893. He remained there continuously for 34 years. About 15 years ago he visited Sydney; his previous visit was 25 years earlier, and with these exceptions and an occasional brief visit to Townsville he confined his wholehearted attention to his work and to assisting any useful enterprise in the Cloncurry, Normanton and Burketown districts.

The late Mr. Kirkaldy was the personification of integrity, and years ago earned the title of "Honest John Kirkaldy," which he carried to the end.

He was never more contented than when getting a traveller out of a difficulty, for he was an accomplished mechanic. Many stories are told of his unselfish personal labour in repairing breakdowns.

Beloved by his friends and respected by all he withstood the test of every critic, and anyone who can successfully do that in any and the same district for 34 years must be a veritable genius. He had the unbounded confidence of his employers, and in short his death leaves a blank in the district which will be impossible to fill.

The late Mr. Kirkaldy never married, but his courtesy and respect for the gentler sex were proverbial.

He was approaching 70 years of age, and like many others of his stamp, never flagged in exerting his personal energy in his work and for his friends without thought of consequences to himself. He recently visited Cloncurry under trying conditions; on that occasion he manifested signs of hemorrhage, and a week later was found dead at Lorraine—his adopted home—where he was subsequently buried.

Volumes could be written of his life in the Gulf Country, his unfailing energy, and his charitable actions. Numerous stories are told of his anxiety and firmness in the cause of truth and honesty, and those of us who knew him intimately will realise that the foregoing is no exaggerated statement, if indeed it is adequate.

We leave him in his peaceful abode at Lorraine. Time will not efface the memory of his fine life.