The Tumut advocate 21 Aug 1923
Obituary
An old pioneer and "knight of the road," in the person of Mr. Mark Janes, passed peacefully away at his home in West-street, Gundagai, on Tuesday morning last, aged 79 years. He had been in failing health for some time, and about a fortnight ago took to his bed, and practically died in his sleep. He was a native of Bristol (England), where he was born in 1844. In his early "teens" he decided on a life of adventure and at the age of 14 found himself heading for Australia attached to a trading vessel from the Old Country. He made a trip or two back to England, but at 17 years of age he permanently settled down in Australia. When he first came south he worked as a young man for the Fairfield family, at Gundaroo, and it was there that he met and married his late wife, who was a sister of Messrs William and Robert Paine. The lure of the gold rush to Lambing Flat (now Young) attracted the young couple, but their stay there was brief and they eventually made their home in Gundagai—a happening which dates back nearly 60 years. The late Mr. Janes was a hard-working man all his life, and one whose word was always his bond, while his quiet, inoffensive manner won for him a host of friends among the old hands in the district. In the days when goods were carted by road to Tumut, Adelong and Gundagai, deceased was one of the happy band of horse teamsters who plied their calling from Goulburn, Gunning and other centres which were ultimately connected with our Great Southern Railway system, and his experiences on the road were many and varied. Of more recent years deceased followed his occupation as a carrier and station hand in the Condobolin district, but for the past thirteen years lived a retired life with his son at the old home at Gundagai. One of the first things he did on coming to Australia was to join the Oddfellows' Lodge, It was on 20th Sept., 1871, that he and eight others met and formed the Gundagai branch of the Manchester Unity, in which he retained membership until death. Deceased is survived by three children. |