Obituaries Australia

Ellen Waterhouse, 1932 photographer unknown

Daily Examiner (Grafton), 21 May 1935, p 4

The death occurred yesterday morning, at her residence, 'Carinya,' Oliver street, Grafton, of Mrs. Ellen Waterliouse, wife of Mr. H. B. Waterhouse, a well-known North Coast journalist until his retirement some years ago and District Secretary of me M.U.I.O.O.F.

The late Mrs. Waterhouse, who was 75 year's of age, was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Spring, pioneer residents of Grafton, who resided in a cottage on the southern side of the High School site. Mrs. Waterhouse was born there on February 6, 1860. She went to the Public School in the late Mr. Matthews' time, when it was situated where the Bank of New South Wales now stands, and she was one of the first pupils when the transfer took place to the present School. She studied there for some time under the late Mr. S. S. Smith, and then went to Mrs. Currey's seminary in Pound street, where she completed her education.

She and her husband were school children together, and they were married on November 15, 1882, so that they enjoyed a long partnership in life, for they celebrated their golden wedding just over two and a half years ago, when they received the congratulations of friends from far and near.

With the exception of 18 months at Kempsey and some 10 years at Casino, when her husband was managing editor of the Richmond River Express, Mrs. Waterhouse spent practically the whole of her life in Grafton, where she and her husband had most of their interests. She was of a retiring disposition, but her gentle, kindly nature endeared her to all those who came into contact, with her, and made her a wonderful help to her husband and family, for she was a perfect wife and mother.

Whilst she and her husband were living in Casino, she took a very active part in church matters, always having been a staunch member of the Church of England, and she was also very industrious in the war work which was going on at that time. She used to work alternative weeks for the Red Cross and the War Chest, and during that period she knitted nearly 100 pairs of socks for soldiers at the front.

When the disastrous pneumonic influenza outbreak occurred in 1919, she volunteered for service in the temporary hospitals at Casino, there being a shortage of nurses, and she served under Mrs. C. D. Ferguson (nee Matron Coghlan), formerly Matron of the Grafton. District Hospital, during the whole period of the epidemic, rendering very valuable service in the temporary hospital at the School of Arts buildings.

As is well known, Mr. Waterhouse has been associated with the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows for well over 50 years, and was prominent in pioneering its progress on the North Coast. During all those years, Mrs. Waterhouse took the keenest interest in his work, and assisted him in many directions in her characteristically quiet, unobtrusive way. This fact was recognised when Oddfellows of the North Coast met at Grafton to honor Bro. and Mrs. Waterhouse on the former attaining his jubilee in Oddfellowship. She herself became a member of the Order in Casino, and to-day she is being given an Odd fellows ' funeral, as a mark of respect to her memory.

The late Mrs. Waterhouse had a wonder ful memory, and could relate many events in the early history of Grafton, especially of incidents that occurred in her school girl days. She recollected when the land at the end of Duke street was scrub, and she used to attend picnics there. She also vividly, remembered being one of the worshippers, with her .parents, at the old Christ Church Church, on the night when Bishop Sawyer was drowned. She also attended the Sunday School in the days of the late Rev. F. R. Newton.

Mrs. Waterliouse had been ill for nearly five weeks, and when her illness became serious she was visited by the whole of her family. On Tuesday last, when the majority of them arrived, she remarked that, she had spent a very happy day with her children. She had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Another was killed by accident, being kicked by a horse, and a fourth, Mabel Irene, died at the age of 13. Three sons and a daughter survive, viz., Percy E. (schoolmaster, Stuart Town), John Harrison (Woolgoolga), Reg. Abner (North Sydney), and Mrs. P. S. Farlow, of James Creek, near Maclean. She also leaves 19 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Deceased, was one of a family often, of whom five predeceased her. Surviving brothers and sisters are Messrs. A. T. Spring (Bacon street, Grafton), and A. E. Spring (Black Rock, Melbourne), Mrs. .lames Smart (Duncan street, Amcliffe), and Mrs. W. G. Crowcroft (Canterbury, Sydney). Mesdames J. Kelly (Grafton), W. H. Yoole (Macksville), E. Duggan (Yamba), and Miss Edna Spring (Grafton), are nieces of deceased. '

Many expressions of sympathy are being received by the bereaved husband and family.

The funeral will leave Christ' Church Cathedral at 2 p.m. to-day, for the Grafton cemetery; where the remains will be interred beside those of her late children.

At the meeting of the Grafton City Council last night a motion was carried at the instance of the Mayor (Ald. B. C Eggins) that a letter of sympathy should be forwarded to ex-Alderman Waterhouse in his bereavement.