Respected |

Renwick

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Crash Graphics

Arthur Renwick Church of England Section 1 Row 7 Plot 150

1 December 1927

DEATH OF REV. ARTHUR RENWICK

Widespread, sorrow was felt when the news became known of the death of Rev. Arthur Renwick, M.A, Rector of Christ Church, Gosford. This sad event, which took place on Saturday, cast a gloom not only over Gosford, but over every part of Erina Shire, for all over the area the late Rev. Renwick was well known and highly respected.

He had been a sufferer for years past, from heart trouble, but no matter how much he endured from this cause— and he suffered a great deal— he was always willing to assist anyone who needed his aid. Some weeks ago he was again severely attacked by his old complaint, and to the grief of a host of friends, this attack proved his last. It was thought he had passed the crisis, and general satisfaction was expressed at his apparent recovery; but on Saturday evening another seizure of the heart came upon him and the brave spirit passed from a weakened body between 6 and 7p.m. Rev. Renwick was an inspiration to all.

The Shire Council.

Erina Shire Council meeting on Monday, Cr. Taylor made regretful reference to the death of Rev. Renwick,

who he said was not only a fine Church man’, but took a prominent part in district Associations, at which meetings his advice and remarks were always attentively listened to. Most men in his position did not take such a keen and helpful interest in public affairs, and. the district had buffered a real loss in his sad death.

The speaker moved that a letter of condolence be sent to Mrs. Renwick. Cr. Pinkstone seconded, and Dr. Paul also paid a tribute to the deceased clergyman’s worth. The motion -was carried with Councillors and others present standing with bowed heads.

Fruitgrowers.

I wish to express, on behalf of the Fruitgrowers of our section, my family and myself, our deep sympathy with the family of Arthur Renwick.

The loss to this community is a very great one, for- every movement that had for its purpose the benefit of the community or individual had his active sympathy, His notable speeches and good advice to the children each Empire Day will have an abiding place in the hearts of the people;

His Christianity was larger than his creed, and his charity knew no boundary fences.

He has already built the monument to his memory, and adorned it with the fine gold of honor and the jewels of kindly deeds that have shown men the better way which is practical Christianity. Personally I have lost a dear friend. — W. E. Kirkness.

Before Rev. Renwick’s last illness, Mr. Perc Parry, on behalf of the Confirmation Candidates, presented him with a smoker’s stand.

The little ceremony took place at the Rectory, and Mr. Renwick was greatly pleased at the loving thought shown by his young friends. The junior parishioners will feel very keenly the loss of their loved and respected Rector.

8^th December 1927

The Good They Have Done Lives On

Memories which come poignantly at this time are this year deepened in pathos by, the death of another fine

district man — the Rev. Arthur Renwick, whose mortal remains were laid to rest a few days ago in the quiet of Point Clare Cemetery.

Two firm friends who had labored with him for the welfare of the community in which they lived — Robert James Baker and John Roe. It is fitting that they lie side by side. Each was a worthy man, whose death came as a sad blow to many relatives and friends: and loving remembrance of each softens such sorrowing recollections as come to us on the anniversary of R. .J. Baker’s death on December 5th, 1925.

According to a man’s true worth, so is the memory of him that remains long after the first shock of loss is as as uaged. It is two years since Robert James Baker passed from suffering to rest; and it is proof of his true man hood and the greatness of his heart that, his memory is still green with the leaders of his profession in the State, among those who lead the progress of the district, and with the writers who carry on the business that he built, as well as in the circle that was his glory and pride — his family.

Bob Baker has gone West — but he will long be remembered by those who valued his counsel in weighty affairs, by those who never asked in vain his help for district improvement, by those who looked up to him as an honored Chief of staff, and by his loved ones who never can forget an irreparable bereavement. The best of men must leave this life some are taken long before we would let them go. But a good man ‘s spirit never dies — it lives in the memory of those who knew him, inspiring them to honest effort as he was industrious, to fair dealing as he was just, to broad-mindedness as lie was tolerant.

Robert James Baker passed from this life on December 5th — at a typical season of his life, when his working hours were wont to be brimful of the cares of the business, and his brief hours of leisure were bright with glad plans for the happiness of others. The coming season’s thoughts are fittingly linked it with the memory of this man who gloried in the Christmas spirit of good will to men. Bob Baker, big-hearted, respected Chief, never-failing friend, devoted husband, loving father, has. gone Beyond; but his memory remains, a beacon. Well may he rest!

Reverend Renwick was one of the first to set an Honor roll up in the church and was instrumental in the dedicating and organising of the Gosford War Memorial Park.

Staples

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Crash Graphics

Staples Church of England Section 5 row 1 Plot 28

Charles Jefferis Staples (ashes) shares the grave with Phillip Staples aged 27 died 1942, and wife Florence Millicent Staples (ashes).

C J Staples died in 1973 aged 88, and he lived a very full life. Born in 1885 he spent the first decades of his life as a real estate speculator working with his father sub dividing various parts of what are now well known suburbs of Sydney. His real Estate business was on the corner of Blackwall Rd and Railways street Woy Woy.

The first mentions of him in the local newspaper are in the early 1920’s he was a good mate of Robert James Baker, Proprietor of the local paper, (see previous posts). He was a part of the “Baker Team” on council and clearly learnt about the power of the press from Baker as he has 100’s of articles and snippets written of him and his exploits.

He kept close ties with the press and kept the journalists informed well after the death of Baker in 1925. He held the Editorship of the Gosford and Wyong Times for a short period.

He was a keen marker outer of roads, He had plans about how the Woy Woy Peninsula would be accessed by road, coupled with his team of V.J. Mackenzie and Charles Fenton the Council Engineer (up until 1927 when Fenton died).

He is best remembered these days as the name of a lookout as to drive along Woy Woy Road. This is the only place in the district that he is commemorated.

One has to remember that Gosford and the Brisbane water district started out as a waterside townships and was very reliant on boats for travelling about to Sydney and beyond. With the avent of motorised vehicles there was added pressure to develop link roads from Sydney to Newcastle and for roads to swing by Gosford and other towns on the way. Many of the roads to the Central Coast we take for granted and use today did not exist until the 1920’s.

In the below link to Trove newspapers, Staples is fighting for a road to join to the Newcastle Road via Patonga and Mullet Creek. This road did not eventuate.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166836857?searchTerm=ANOTHER%20MOTION%20BY%20CR.%20STAPLES%20DEFEATED.%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&searchLimits=l-title=689|||sortby=dateAsc|||l-category=Article

The next link to Trove newspapers Staples is finding a route from Gosford to the Newcastle Rd this road did eventuate.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?l-title=689&sortby=dateAsc&l-category=Article&q=Mooney+Route+Inspected

When plans for an appropriate World War 1 Memorial were underway Staple put forth for a Memorial District Hospital, but got voted down for the Gosford Swimming pool and cenotaph. He continued to pursue the development of a hospital and it finally came to pass.

He became the district Coroner after the retirement of William Kirkness (who was 75 years of by that time) and his first case was a murder suicide at Ourimbah, this incident became known as the “Ourimbah Tragedy” and here is the newspaper accounts of that incident. This incident became national headlines but strangely was not reported at all locally.

24^th June 1937

Western Mail (Perth W.A.)

FAMILY WIPED OUT.

BODIES FOUND IN HOUSE

Theory of Murder and Suicide

SYDNEY, June 20.-A ghastly discovery was made in a small home on an orchard property at Ourimbah Creek, 13 miles from Gosford, this afternoon when a family of four was found dead. A woman and her two sons had their heads battered ia with an axe and their throats Were cut. The woman’s husband was lying dead in the kitchen with his throat cut.

The victims were:

HUMPHRIES, Leslie Hugh (43), temporary linesman.

HUMPHRIES, Martha Amelia (37), his wife.

HUMPHRIES, Owen Leslie (7).

HUMPHRIES, Clarence William (S).

When police and ambulance men from Gosford entered the house, they state, it resembled a shambles. The police are of the opinion that Humphries became suddenly demented, probably through financial worries, and smashed in the heads of his wife and two sons, then cutting their throats with a razor and before he killed himself with the razor.

It is believed that the tragedy occurred early this afternoon. When Miss Z. Lang, daughter of the postmaster at Palmdale, was cycling along the road to her home, she saw Humphries gesticulating wildly as he rushed about. When he saw Miss Lang, he shouted to her: “Will you call the sergeant. I have done it.”

Miss Lang hurried to her father and he, with two men, went to the home of Humphries. They were met with a ghastly sight The body of Mrs. Humphries was lying in the kitchen covered with a blanket and near her was the body of her husband. He apparently had been dead only a few minutes. The head of Mrs. Humphries was shockingly injured.

Soon afterwards, Sergeant Blackley and the Gosford ambulance arrived and in the bedroom they discovered the bodies of the two boys lying on a bed with their heads smashed in and then throats gashed so extensively that they appeared to have been almost decapitated.

Not all the cases were as dramatic as the Ourimbah Tragedy, he over saw many vehicle related deaths be they pedestrians, passengers or drivers many of these deaths were on the very roads he had marked out the decade before.

Staples observed that by 1937 vehicles had became faster by the year and that the grade of the hills and the number of curves and corners had remained the same, not changing with the speed of the vehicle speed leading to the increase of fatalities on the Central Coast roads.

He also noted that the Central Coast was approximately equidistant from both Sydney and Newcastle and was in what he called the sleep zone with many drivers dying asleep at the wheel. He dealt with x10 road fatalities in his first year.

He was a strong advocate for warning signage and speed limits and driving to the conditions.

Florence his wife was an active member of the CWA.

Staples only son Phillip, was a radio technician/repairman whilst in Gosford and one can not help but think he would have applied those skill when he join the armed forces during world War 2. The Australian War Memorial has not as yet digitised his war record but he died during that conflict in 1942. The Local newspapers did not report that death either.