Grave Site Church of England Section 1 Row 7 Plots 4 and 5

Mr and Mrs Sidney Fielder

Dr Sidney Fielder, Medical Practioner, Died 3^rd May, 1924, aged 62 years.

Mrs Edith Fielder, Local Red Cross founder, Died 15^th February, 1925, aged 65 years.

Unless otherwise stated all newspaper referrals are from the Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate (1906 – 1954)

The following are some of the many articles in the local paper regarding incidents Dr Fielder played some part in.

30^th August 1907

Serious Accident,

A serious accident occurred on Saturday evening at the Tascott railway platform, Point Clare, to Mr. Forster, a well known, especially in sporting circles, as the caterer for the A. J.C. at Randwick and also at other metropolitan race courses.  

Mr Forster, with Mr. R. F. Pickering, Mr Archibald and number of other gentlemen had enjoyed a pleasant and successful days ocean fishing on Mr Fred Couche’s launch ‘ Glenrock,’ and returned to Woy  Woy in time to catch the evening northern train.

At Tascott, where Mr Forster resides, the carriage in which he was seated over ran the platform by several yards and being unaware of the fact, in the darkness he stepped out into space and experienced a nasty fall. Mr Forster’s friends at once rendered him prompt aid and were dismayed to find that he was unconscious and that his head had been injured.

With all care he was lifted into the train and brought on to Mr Laws’ Imperial Hotel, Gosford, where he was attended to by Dr Fielder, but prior to that his companions were gratified to find that he was returning to consciousness. The injured gentle man had so far recovered on Sunday that he was able to return to Tascott, but his many friends will regret to know that he had evidently sustained a very severe shaking.

28^th July, 1911

Driving Accident.

While driving out near Springfield yesterday Nurse Harley met with a a painful accident. The sulky collided with a stump, arid she was thrown out, the wheel passing over her.

Nurse Harley was taken to Dr. Fielder’s surgery suffering from shock and bruises. Fortunately no bones were broken, and everyone will be glad to hear of her speedy recovery, for Nurse Harley is extremely popular in the district of Brisbane Water.

 

6^th October 1911

WAMBERAL.

A young man named Ernest Watkins while engaged chipping among beans was bitten on the finger by a brown snake. After scarifying the wound he was brought in to Dr. Fielder’s surgery, and on reaching Gosford was almost in a state of collapse.

However, on being treated by the doctor he recovered and is now quite out of danger. This is the third time that he has been bitten by snakes during the past twelve months.

 

1^st December, 1911

NARARA ACCIDENT.

Mr. A. Edwards, , of the Penang Sawmills, had the misfortune to meet with a serious accident on Wednesday last. He was removing a piece of bark when by some means his finger was caught and drew his hand in. He had the presence of mind to stop the saw (which was fortunately a large one) but not before his hand was badly lacerated and the muscle torn off the arm from the elbow to near the wrist. Mr. Dahlgren drove him into the surgery where Dr. Fielder attended to the injury, inserting 8 stitches.

 

3^rd January 1918

Land Sale at Terrigal

The auction sale of land at Terrigal (Dr. Fielder’s Subdivision), advertised to take place on New Year’s Day, was conducted by Messrs. Richardson & Wrench, in conjunction with Mr. F. Wheeler, in the presence of a fair crowd which was composed mainly of spectators rather than speculators, as only three blocks of what is honestly ‘ described as a choice subdivision were disposed of — two by auction, and one by private treaty afterwards. Satisfactory prices were obtained in each case.

8^th May 1924

Death of Mrs. S. Fielder.

SAD LOSS TO THE DISTRICT.

By the death of Mrs. Sidney Fielder, Gosford district has lost perhaps its mosts benevolent and well-beloved resident.

There was no movement of a charitable or patriotic nature which could not count upon Mrs. Fielder’s assistance and active co-operation; and her disposition was so sweet and kindly ‘that she had a host of friends who regarded her with ~a very genuine affection. The universal expressions of regret, the great number of floral tokens forwarded, and the exceptionally large attendance at the last rites, were only the outward tokens of the sincere grief of the residents of the district, who realise that they have lost a helper and friend of rare worth.

The deceased lady had suffered a long and very painful illness, which she bore with an uncomplaining spirit, which proved that her Christian faith was a very real thing in her life — indeed, her whole life was an object lesson in Christ-like fortitude which could not only sustain a sweet and gentle disposition under suffering and sorrow, but could also still give kindly comfort to others in trouble.

Last Anzac Day marked a crisis in Mrs. Fielder’s illness. During the memorial and unveiling ceremony  at the new Memorial, she followed the service from her residence, ‘Beverley,’ opposite the Park, and joined in the singing of the hymns.

Within a few hours of this she became unconscious; and this was the beginning . of the sad end, which came on Saturday morning last, after a period of unconsciousness lasting over six days.

It is difficult to indicate the range of Mrs. Fielder ‘s activities in assisting worthy movements; she was the prime mover and helper in so many of them, and besides was a bringer of help and comfort to a host of individuals in need. Some of her work is known to the many, but after all, it represents only a part of her influence for good.

There are hundreds bf cases in which her sympathy, care and counsel helped those in sore need—instances which are not known to the public, and never will be known save in the grateful hearts of those she helped. Perhaps her most outstanding public work was done in connection with the Red Cross Society, of which she was the revered President for many years. She led the good ladies of this Society in a’ long series of efforts to assist patriotic and charitable objects, and a very large share of the credit for the great amount of good work accomplished is due to her self sacrificing and untiring work. During the period of the War, particularly, when there was so much to be done, Mrs. Fielder’s energies never flagged, and the amount of work done with her inspiration and help in the district was enormous.

Mrs. Fielder was a deeply religious woman in the highest sense of the term, and was always ready and willing to help in Church work. She was President of the Christ Church Women ‘s Guild, and in many other |ways strove by works, example – and influence, to lighten and deepen the lives of those about her.

Her death, as well as being a sad blow to her host of personal friends, means a well-nigh loss to the religious and benevolent life of the district.

Edith Beatrice Henrietta Buckley was born in Ayr, Scotland, and was married to Dr. Sidney Fielder at Glasgow. After leaving the Homeland, she went to New Zealand, later going to South Australia, where she spent three years: She had lived in New South Wales for 36 years — in Molong, Wellington, and Wollongong, and for the last 30 years in Gosford.

She was 62 years of age at the time of her death.

Mrs. Fielder leaves a widower and one child — Esther Edith, who is the wife of Dr. J. H. Paul, of Gosford.

There are three grandchildren. Her Sister, Mrs. W. Cumming, ‘ of Perth, Western Australia came across to be with the deceased lady in what proved to be her last illness; and a nephew and niece, to mourn their loss.

The interment took place, on Sunday afternoon and the funeral service was commenced Christ Church, Gosford, and the cortege afterwards moved to Point Clare Cemetery, where the Rector, Rev. Arthur Renwick, conducted the last rites.

Pall-bearers were chosen from among the returned soldiers, who — many of them in uniform —

attended in force. A number of Red Cross members, some of them in their nursing uniform, were also present; and the attendance of the general publice was probably the largest seen at a district funeral, and gave eloquent testimony to the sincere regard in which the deceased lady was held.

Hers was a beautiful life of love for others; and she, lying at rest on the gentle slope, looking to the East over the beautiful Broadwater to the greater glory of Heaven, where she will receive her reward, will not be forgotten by the many who have reason to call her blessed.

The number of wreaths forwarded was unprecedented; the funeral vehicles were covered with them. It is emblematic of the popular sorrow that many of them bore no name of the sender. Among those which had cards attached were the following: —

Gosford Sub-branch Returned Sailors and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia, President and Councillors of the Shire of Erina, Members of the Gosford Branch Red Cross Society, Women’s Guild, Members of Gosford Presbyterian Church, Springfield Women’s Guild, Narara Red Cross, Members of Narara Church of England Women’s League, Narara Church, of England Girls’ Guild, Husband, Son, and Daughter, and Grandchildren, Mrs W. Cumming (sister), Grace, Bertha, and Hugh Cumming nieces and nephew), Mr . and Mrs Tubman and family, Mrs W. Wheeler and daughter, Mr and Mrs W. E. Kirkness and family., Mr and Mrs G. H. Adcock, Mr and Mrs W. Eley, Mr and Mrs J. F. Davison and family, Mr and Mrs Elliott (Narara), Mr and Mrs Arden Fell, Mr and Mrs C. J. Fenton, Mrs Gell and family, Mrs. Borritt, Mr and Mrs B. Moore, Mr and Mrs J. May and family, Mr and Mrs Ferguson (Railway Refreshment Rooms), Mr and Mrs Harris and family, Mrs E. E. Shaw, Mr and Mrs Clias. Hills, Lady Ewing, Mrs D’Arcy Johnston, Mrs Carne, Captain and Madame G. I. Adcock, Mr and Mrs J. O’Brien, Mr and Mrs H. Pateman and Jean, Mr and Mrs R. R. Mortimer and family, Mr and Mrs W. Bradbury and family, Mr and Mrs Tom Campbell, Mr and Mrs C. E. Ingram and family, Mr and Mrs W. Horsnell and family, Mr and Mrs J. Verden and family, Mr and Mrs W. E. Gell, Mr and Mrs F. Klumpp and family, Mr and Mrs G. Margin and family, Mr and Mrs Will J Sterland, Mrs E. Clifford, Mr and Mrs J. N. Swinson, Mr and Mrs F. R. Archbold, Mr and Mrs Eden and family, Mr and Mrs A. J. Rigelsford, Mr and Mrs. Guy Parr, Mr and Mrs C. T. Pile, Mr and Mrs Robert Burns and family, Mrs and Miss Worley, Mr and Mrs Ranyard and family, Mr and Mrs A. A. Golian and family, Mr and Mrs Fred Wheeler and family, Mr and Mrs L. E. Pring, Mr and Mrs R. J. Baker and family, Mr and Mrs J. T. Pryce, Mr and Mrs J. W. Lees, Mr and Mrs James Frost, Mr and Mrs Deasey and family, Mr and Mrs A. Gibson, Mr and Mrs Arthur Delandre, Mr and Mrs A. W. Helsham, Mr and Mrs J. R. Chapman (Lisarow), Mr and Mrs W. Parry, Mr and Mrs G. A. Walpole, Mr and Mrs J. Sergeant, Mr and Mrs W. S. Moase, Mr and Mrs A. James and family, Mrs and Misses MacCabe (Lindfield), . Ruth, Arthur and Cyril (The Rectory), Miss Delandre, Sister Greene, and many others without cards.

The funeral arrangements were reverently carried out by Mr. R. H. Creighton.Bottom of Form

24 July, 1924

Mr. R. Dumbrell, monumental mason, in Gosford, is at present engaged on a memorial designed for the grave of the late Mrs. E. Fielder, which will be handsome in its simple dignity.

The stone being used for the two course kerbine, comes from the Gosford quarry, managed by Mr. Hayward, and is another proof of the excellence, of the local article.

Mr. Dumbrell, who introduced this stone to Newcastle, and erected many hundreds of pounds worth of it in the cemeteries there, says it is the best, in fineness and evenness of grain., that he has handled, and it is doubtful whether , it could be equalled anywhere. With’ such superiority or texture, and practically unlimited life (with Gosford Court House as a standing testimony in proof), there is, as Mr. Dumbrell says, a wonderful future ahead of this Gosford stone.

 

19^th February, 1925.

SIDNEY FIELDER.

On Sunday morning last the news swiftly passed through the town that Dr. Sidney Fielder bad gone — another of the link’s with the Gosford of the past had been severed. For some time Dr. Fielder had been in indifferent health, and after a short acute illness he passed away peacefully shortly after midnight on Saturday.

He was the fifth son of John Roberts and Elizabeth Ann Fielder, and was born at Tichfield, Hants, England, 64 years ago.

After graduating at Glasgow, he practised his profession at Rochdale in Lancashire. On arrival from the old country he commenced the practise of his.  profession at Wollongong, transferring his practice there to Dr. John Kerr.
In 1895 he came to Gosford, and, in those days of pioneering, was the only medico between the outskirts of Newcastle and Hornsby. This fact necessitated many hardships and long horseback excursions.

Dr. Fielder became endeared to his patients by his wonderful personality and undoubted professional skill. Sanitation was defective in those days, and typhoid was common in Gosford.

As an Alderman, and a quiet but keen worker for the good of his town, Dr. Fielder suggested and advised what was necessary, and that disease was wiped out except for an occasional imported case.

He was a member of the Masonic Order, a Trustee of the School of Arts, and in the past a very ardent worker for all the local movements.

The loss of his wife nine months ago deprived him of the mainspring of his life. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. James H. Paul, and three grandchildren.

On Monday afternoon a most impressive and touching funeral service was held at Christ Church. The Rector, Rev. A. Renwick, spoke of his friend — Dr. Fielder — very feelingly, and mentioned instances of his love for children and their ready response to that love. A large number of friends followed to the graveside at Point Frederick (this is clearly a typo on behalf of the newspaper as he is buried in Point Clare Cemetery. Point Frederick was the cemetery in use before Point Clare Cemetery), where Dr. Fielder was interred beside his wife, who so recently pre-deceased him. The pall-bearers were Messrs Charlie Hills, W. M. Beckett, R. Ingram, and E. Rowlands.

The mortuary arrangements were carried out by Mr. R. H. Creighton.

Many beautiful wreaths covered the cedar casket, including: —

Narara Red Cross Members, the Committee

Gosford School of Arts,

Women’s Guild (Church of England),

Women’s Guild (Presbyterian Church),

Dr. Gerald Archbold, Mr and Mrs J. O’Brien, Mrs Shaw, Mrs Battley, Miss Donaldson, Mr and Mrs Deasey, Mr and Mrs A. A. Gollan and family, Mr and Mrs Jim Frost, Mr and Mrs Swinson, Mrs A. Harris, Mr and Airs McGlashan and family, Mr and Mrs R. H. Clifford, Mr and Mrs W. J. Coulter, Mr and Mrs W. Eley, Mr Arthur and Misses Coulter, Mr and Mrs W. Beattie and family, Mr and Mrs J. F. Davison and family, Mrs Gell and family, Mr and Mrs A. I. Chapman, Mr and Mrs J. Verden and family, Mr and Mrs C. J. Fenton and family, Mr and Mrs F. Wheeler and family, Mr and Mrs W.

Horsnell. Mrs Hastings, Mr and Mrs W. E. Gell,’ Mr and Mrs F. R. Archbold and family, Mr and Mrs Bradbury, Dr and Mrs Rowland, Mr and Mrs Margin and family, the Rector and Mrs Renwick, the Children at the Rectory, Mr onil Mrs IT. Patep.in.ii, Mr and Mrs Harold Delandve, Mr and Mrs S. Uren

(Springwood), Mr and Mrs H. G. White and family, Mrs Stephen and Mavis, Mr and Mrs Lindgram and family, Mr and Mrs Guy Parr, Mr and Mrs W. H. Parry and family, Mr and Mrs C. Hills. Mr and Mrs Tummut and daughter, his loving Son and Daughter, brother Tom, and the grandchildren Adrian, Alister, and June.

2^nd April, 1925

IN MEMORY OF DR. AND MRS. FIELDER.

The ceremony of unveiling Memorial Windows, placed in Christ Church, Gosford, to the memory of the late. Dr. and Mrs. Fielder, will be performed on Tuesday afternoon next, at 2.30 pm.
The Ven. H. A. Wood, Archdeacon of Newcastle, will officiate.

3^rd April 1951

First Motor Car Comes To Gosford

It is recorded that the first motor car owned by a Gosford resident was that of a Miss Fletcher, who brought it here in 1905.

The late George Fletcher (‘Penang’), an ‘old-timer’ himself. Who recorded more early history of the district than anyone before or since his time, in an article in ‘The Gosfond Times’ of July 24, 1935, tells us that the lady was not related to him.

Even in 1915,’ he wrote, ‘there were only about four cars, these being owned by Dr Fielder, Ross Smith (running to Avoca i, A. H. Warner (Wyong) and a private hire car.

‘P. E. Thompson was actually the first local owner, he sold his first car (a Crossley) to Dr Fielder. 

Fred Cox was the next owner, then O. F. Ash, Dr Paul, Mr G. Pagan followed suit, until now they are uncountable.

It was a sight to watch the playing up of the horses when the cars first came, and there was general dread by passengers of horse-drawn vehicles when a car was met on the Punt Road or similar highways. One had to hop out and hold the horse’s head as the infernal machine went by.’