The Tumut and Adelong Times 6 may 1941
OBITUARY MR. F. GODFREY Mr Frank H. Godfrey, headmaster at the Bourke-st. Public School, Goulburn, for the past ten months, died at the District Hospital last Thursday night at the age of 45 years. Although he had been in indifferent health for a consid erable period, Mr. Godfrey had only been a patient in hospital for the past fortnight and his death came as a shock to all who knew him. The eldest son of Councillor and Mrs. H. Godfrey, the late Mr. Godfrey was a native of Tumut, where his father is Shire President. He resided there for some time, but was educated at Cootamundra High School and Sydney Boys' High School. At both these schools he displayed the outstanding scholastic ability evidenced in the three years at the Teachers' Training College, where he not only secured his diploma in economics and education, but also took a course in accountancy to qualify as a chartered accountant. Allied with his efficiency as a teacher was a boundless energy, which enabled him to give remarkably fine servicc to the Education Department, which he entered in 1918, when he was appointed to the staff at Canterbury Public School. Here he was stationed for 11 years, his work also including the evening continuation school, of which he had charge. Subsequently he was appointed head master at Boorowa Public School and later at Muswellbrook at the time that centre's district rural school was opened. This school was really his life's work and the fact that its grading was increased in the four and a half years he was there speaks volumes for his work. A true garden lover, Mr. Godfrey, who was re sponsible for the creation of a beautiful garden at the Boorowa Hospital, found the 10 to 12 acres surrounding the Muswellbrook School gave full scope for improvement and, with the aid of a landscape gardener, he had the grounds laid out and a tennis court and a remarkably fine garden of roses, shrubs and trees installed. It was his intention to implement a similar plan at Bourke-street during the present winter. An in creased enrolment and the placing of the secondary school section on a sound footing were other features of Mr. Godfrey's work at Muswellbrook. From there he was transferred to Goulburn in June last. Here also his interests, although mainly educational, extended to civic af fairs and he was a prominent member of the Patriotic Fund Committee, a senior A.R.P. warden, in the N.E.C., and a member of the Goulburn Bowling Club. Owing to ill-health he had not joined Goulburn Masonry, but he retained his membership with the Muswellbrook Lodge. In addition to a widow, he is survived by one son, Kenneth, and a daughter, Lois, both of Goulburn. He is also survived by his parents; two brothers, Ray (Earlwood) and Gus (Woolstoncraft), and one sister, Mrs. S. Weston (Richmond). The funeral took place on Friday afternoon, leaving St. Andrew's Church for the Presbyterian portion of the General Cemetery. The funeral was preceded by a short service at St. Andrew's at 3 p.m. This was conducted by Rev. Russell Scott, who made a special trip to Goulburn for that purpose. Throughout the afternoon the Bourke-street School remained closed as a mark of respect. Shire President Harry Godfrey and his wife were mourners at the funeral. |