Obituaries Australia

The death occurred on Saturday, after a short illness, of Mr. William Henry Selway, formerly Controller of Accounts in the Treasury Department, at the age of 77. Mr. Selway, when he retired in 1927, had spent more than 50 years of his life in the State public service.

The late Mr. Selway was born in Adelaide, and was educated at Thompson's Commercial Academy, and later at St Peter's College. Joining the public service, Mr. Selway was allotted a cadetship in the General Post Office. After a short time, however, he was transferred to the Treasury in 1879, when the late Mr. Lavington Glyde was Treasurer and the late Mr. W. T. Sheppard Under-Treasurer.

At various times Mr. Selway held the positions of banking clerk, correspondence clerk, accountant, paymaster of Imperial pensions, and paymaster to the Treasury. In 1929 he was appointed Controller of Accounts in succession to Mr. H. F. Peacock, and in June, 1924, Mr. Selway received the additional appointment of Deputy Registrar of Stock. When Mr. R. R. Stuckey was absent through illness in 1925, Mr. Selway acted as Under-Treasurer for three months. Mr. Selway retired from the service in December, 1927.

Mr. Selway was secretary for several years of the North Adelaide Young Men's Society (literary), and the formation of the South Australian Literary Societies' Union was generally attributed to a resolution moved by Mr. Selway at the North Adelaide society in June, 1883. Perhaps his greatest hobby was the Field Naturalists' Section of the Royal Society, of which he was honorary secretary for about 20 years. It was largely due to the joint efforts of Mr. Selway and the late Messrs. Samuel Dixon and A. F. Robin that the National Park at Belair was secured as a heritage for the people of the State. Subsequently Mr. Selway filled the position of chairman of the section for two years. He also was a fellow of the Royal Society of South Australia for many years. For a long time he was associated with the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science, and was a member of the Navy League.

For many years Mr. Selway was well known in the ranks of Freemasonry. He was also an active church worker, and was a warden of St. Andrew's Church, Walkerville, for about 24 years. He was a member of the Anglican Synod and a member of the Synod standing committee. Mr. Selway in his younger days was a keen cricketer, footballer, and rower. Walking and tennis also occupied his attention. He had been a member of the Walkerville Bowling Club since its inception, and had played in pennant games. Mr. Selway, who was a bachelor, is survived by a sister, Miss A. M. Selway, of Frederick street, Gilberton.