| Noteringar |
- Obituary
MR.HERMAN OLSSON. A widely and highly respected gentleman of Kingaroy and district, a shire councillor for some years, and a familiar figure on racecourses throughout the area some years ago, stamped Herman Olsson, 76, who passed away in the Kingaroy District Hospital last Thursday night, as a pioneer who will long be remembered.
Among the original pioneers of Taabinga Village ? he was a mentioned in district history in the publication "Wilderness to Wealth"?Mrt Olsson spent most of his life at Taabinga Village and on the grazing holding he acquired 40 years ago "Wooden Hut" at Reedy Creek.
Herman Olsson was not only imbued with the spirit which urged him to help his fellow man as much as possible, but was noted also for his indefatigable public spirit. His integrity came to be known through his drive as a councillor, a hospital committee member, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a stalwart for the first Taabinga Village school, while his vigorous interest in the "Sport of Kings" uncovered sterling qualities.
Deceased gentleman was born in Kaastianstadt, Sweden. At the age of 14 he came to Australia with his mother to join his father, Mr Ola Akesson, who had emigrated from his home land two years previously, and began working at Laidley. Later, the family sought pastures anew, and in 1892, arrived at Taabinga Village, close on the heels of the late Mr George Warren, who had, in 1889, become the first pioneer of that district.
Herman's father was a keen showman, and in the very early year of 1908, faced the manifold difficulties of the long trip to the Sydney Show, there to win many prizes with his ponies.
In that year, too, a water shortage assailed the pioneers, and the building of the Taabinga Village dam was begun.
Young Olsson pulled his weight with the hardy pioneers of his day, and became a man of self-reliance and ingenuity. Early in the 1900?s he was instrumental in erecting the old Greystonlea cattle yards.
A jogging of his memory in recent years would have brought to light a memory of the early days at Taabinga.
Kingaroy was non-existent then, and the work of building the village in full swing. Herman's father built the Grand Hotel, and was licencee of the establishment for 10 years. This building was later burned down when in the possession of M.r and Mrs. H King.It would recall the purchase by Mr. Akesson of the Taabinga Hotel built by Mr. George Warren in 1904, its subsequent burning, and a shifting of the licence to a new hotel, the Broadway, at the Nanango turn-off on the Village road. This later was shifted to its present Kingaroy site.
In 1910, Herman Olsson came into possession of his "Wooden Hut" property.
In the racing fraternities of the district on the Taabinga Village, Kumbia and Nanango courses, he and his horses became by words in connection with racing.
Remembered are some of his string, "Lord Glenrock", "Prince Manlin", "Wee Bill", "Sansmond", which made names for themselves in the years following the Great War.
In Taabinga Village school history the name of Herman Olsson is a by word. A past secretary, he was the last member of the first school committee, which included the late Messrs. C. Madsen, T. C. Nielsen, and H. Poulsen. The teacher at the time was Miss Albion, who is the present Mrs. Seeley of Yarraman.
At the grand Jubilee celebrations of that mellow old school, Herman Olsson was cornered and asked to talk about some of the old-timers of his day. He described hoe thethe Gertiz, built the old bridge over the Meandu Creek on the Kingaroy-Nanango road; how a huge bark house built by Jim Cooley?s father opposite the school; and then mentioned, the Reens, Sven Johnson and the Lyons family.
The old school was the community centre for social, political, church, and other gatherings. It became the hub of the solidarity of the district, and as the population grew, the school roll soared, until the Department elected to erect the new building.
Mr. Olsson was a member of the committee of the old Kingaroy General Hospital on Hospital Hill, and conducted very ably the affairs with which he was entrusted.
He will occasion long memory as a member of the Kingaroy Shire Council. A No 1 division councillor, he held the position from May 1939 until April 1946, employing for the good of the people of his division the steadfast and dauntless manner which marked him as an Australian pioneer.
On July 1, 1932, fate struck a cruel blow in the untimely death of his wife. Mrs Olsson, who was Elfriede Ethel Boge, was a member of a family whose name also is steeped in pioneer-lore. Their residence at the Village dates from 1902, when they came from Maryborough.
Elfriede married Herman in 1903, and they lived at the Village until 1911, when they are the family moved to "Wooden Hut".
A believer in a life of vim and vigour, Mr. Olsson was active up until almost the very last, running his grazing property with all the activity such a task demanded. The flame of his public spirit still shining with as burnished a glow as ever, he carried the patronship of the Kingaroy Diggers Race Club, which was alive until about four years ago.
As so, until the news of the severance with life of another of the fast dwindling number of remaining pioneers, last Thursday morning, October 16th, 1952
The huge assemblage at St Michael and All Angels' Church, Kingaroy, on Saturday, paid parting respects to a pioneer and a friend; and after the service it was fitting that the cortege should move towards the direction of Taabinga Village, through Pioneer Avenue, and the remains be laid to rest in the Taabinga Cemetery.
Surviving to mourn their great loss are sons Percy ("Wooden Hut"), Arnold (Brisbane), Leonard (Bunya Mts) and Eaton (Brisbane); and daughters Rita (Mrs Lloyd Murray, Kingaroy), Jean (Mrs A.E. Fletcher, "The Springs", Gayndah). There are eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Another son, Harold Vivien Egbert, died while a member of the armed forces in 1940. Mrs. J. Robinson, Sydney (formerly Hannah Akesson) is a sister.
The Funeral service was conducted by Rev. R. A. Foote, and also the burial rites.
The Kingaroy Herald, Queensland, Thursday October 23, 1952
(This notice was kindly given to me by the late Mr. John Leonard Akesson Olsson, Kingaroy).
|
1875 - 1954 (79 år)
[1] 
