The Tumut and Adelong Times 31 Jan 1939
OBITUARY MR. MICHAEL JOSEPH DOWNING Mr. Michael Joseph Downing, the victim of the fatal assault on Saturday night, and the youngest son of Mr. Michael J. Downing and the late Mrs. Downing, of Simpson-st., Tumut, was 38 years of age. He was born in Tumut and educated at St. Brigid's Convent School, and finishing his education joined the local Post Office, where he was employed for a number of years, being efficient in postal routine and postman's work. He was transferred to Crookwell as postman, but on account of recurring ill-health which necessitated him coming home on sick leave, he ultimately resigned from his post. Some time afterwards he secured a position in the Taxation Department in Sydney. On medical advice he was again , compelled through sickness to resign about 16 years ago, and has been home with his people ever since, although he acted as relieving postman at Tumut on many occasions since. He was a good penman and did a deal of correspondence for his friends, and was of great assistance to anyone desiring to get into touch with people elsewhere by telephone. He was a quiet, unassuming, man, and was well known to town and country. Of an inoffensive nature, a mere frailty in stature, it cannot conceivably be understood why an attack should be made upon him by any man of balanced mind. The remains were taken to the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday afternoon, where a service was conducted by Rev. Fr. B. McPhillips (Tumut) assisted by Fr. Lehane. (Gundagai) and at which a large congregation of relatives, friends and sympathisers was present. The funeral moved from the church at 4 p.m. for the Roman Catholic portion of the Old Cemetery, where the remains were interred, in the Downing Family plot. The cortege was a very lengthy one and besides those attending a number of car loads of sympathisers went to the New Cemetery to witness the obsequies, thinking that the burial would take place there. Frs. McPhillips and Lehane officiated and Mr. H. W. Baker carried out the funeral arrangements. The pall-bearers were Messrs. Allan, Matthew and Patrick Downing, Jack, Victor and Lance Holm (all cousins) and Paddy Emery (nephew) . Those left to mourn are his aged father, three brothers (Frederick, Robert William and Matthew of Tumut) and sisters (Margaret, Mrs. J. Emery of Tumut Elizabeth, Mrs. Welsh of Dubbo, and Miss Mary 0f Tumut) . His mother predeceased him by 16 years and one sister (Mrs. McGuigan) Mrs. Welsh, deceased's sister Lil., whose youngest daughter had been spending her school holidays with her grandfather, auntie and uncles in Tumut, and only arrived here on Saturday for the purpose of taking her daughter home to Dubbo to resume her studies. A list of the foral tributes covering the coffin came from Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Sharp, Mr. and Mrs. Archer, Mrs. F. Hill, Mrs. B. Speed, K. Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. N. Beegling, all at, "Edna," J. E. McNamara, Mr. and Mrs. Eustace, Mr. and Mrs. O. McGowan, F. Hill and Andy, Reg and Ken., Mr. and Tom Davy, Crowe, Mrs. S. Elphick and "Buck". |