J.A.H. Fraser: Obituary
Man of Sterling Character
Land Court and Court House Tributes to Late Mr. J.A.H. Fraser
Maryborough Chronicle 7 Dec 1939.
Tribute was paid to the sterling character of the late Mr. John Alexander Hutcheson Fraser, Land Commissioner at Maryborough, and to his value as a public servant, by Mr. W. L. Payne (President of the Land Court), at the sittings of the court yesterday morning. When the court opened at 11 o'clock, officials representing the various departments at the Court House were present to join in the general expression of regret at Mr. Fraser's sudden demise. As a mark of respect and as a tribute to the late Commissioner's memory, the President adjourned the court until two o'clock in the afternoon.
Mr Payne said: "Before proceeding with the business of the court, I wish to say with what profound sorrow I heard last night of the passing of the Land Commissioner for the district, Mr. J. A. H. Fraser. The late Mr. Fraser was one of the senior Land Commissioners and with Mr. C. Martin was to have represented the Crown in these court proceedings today.
Mr Fraser embodied in his character the qualities of an admirable public officer. Courteous and considerate to all with whom he had any dealings, always helpful to settlers on the land, straightforward, trustworthy and highly efficient in his official duties, he will be much missed by his department, by his official workmates and colleagues, and by a large circle of personal friends.
The heartfelt sympathy of the members of the Land Court and of the Court's staff goes out to Mrs. Fraser and her daughter in their bereavement."
"A splendid officer"
In endorsing the President's remarks Mr. C. Martin (Land Court Advocate) said: "At a time like this it is most difficult to reduce to words one's feelings at the great loss suffered by the sudden death of such a splendid officer as Mr. Fraser. I had the privilege of knowing and working with him in the Land Courts throughout the State, for upwards of 30 years. He was an industrious, intelligent and loyal officer and one of the outstanding country officers of the department.
He was possessed of a large degree of tact and good manners, was beloved by his officers and, above all, was the soul of honour. It is notable that Mr. Fraser was the third officer in the Burnett district which the department has lost during the past year.
I have been specially instructed by Mr. Melville (Chairman of the Land Administration Board) publicly to express on behalf of the Minister for Lands, the Land Administration Board and all public servants their great sorrow at his passing, and to convey to Mrs. Fraser and daughter deepest sympathy in their sorrow in which I also personally join."
Court House sympathy
"I take this opportunity of expressing, on behalf of the staff of the Petty Sessions Office, their sincere regret and my personal sorrow at the sudden demise of the late Mr. Fraser", said Mr. J. A. Murray, Police Magistrate. "From the time he commenced duty here as Land Commissioner, he quickly won the respect and esteem of all officials connected with the Court House. He was a genial, kindly, Christian gentleman. He was an ideal public official - efficient, courteous and always imbued with a desire to give the public every assistance. The Lands Department has lost a valuable officer and we his fellow public servants have lost a highly respected colleague."
Mr. J. A. H. Fraser Dead
Land Commissioner at Maryborough
Mr John Alexander Hutcheson Fraser, aged 63, Land Commissioner of the Maryborough, Bundaberg and Gayndah districts, died suddenly at his home shortly after 8 o'clock last night. Mr. Fraser yesterday attended a Land Court sittings at Gayndah. Leaving Gayndah about 3.30 o'clock by car yesterday afternoon, in company with Messrs. W. L. Payne (President of the Land Court), W. Smith (deputy-registrar), C. Martin (Land Court advocate) and W. P. Grenier (Land Ranger, of Gayndah), who was driving, Mr. Fraser reached home about 8 p.m. After Messrs. Payne and Smith had been driven to the Royal Hotel, Mr. Fraser was taken to his home in Ann street, and invited Messrs. Martin and Grenier to supper. Mr. Fraser sat at the head of the table, but took ill suddenly and collapsed. Death was due to heart failure.
The late Mr. Fraser was a very old and valued servant of the Lands Department. He entered the service as a land ranger at Winton nearly 30 years ago, and subsequently was stationed at Barcaldine. After his promotion to Land Commissioner, he served at Goondiwindi and Dalby before his transfer to Maryborough about two years ago. He was a man of sterling character and proved a very valuable and trusted officer of the department. His death will be greatly mourned by officers of the department as well as by a wide circle of friends.
Mr. Fraser was a member of the committee of management of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, in which he took a very keen interest. His father and grandfather (sic) were both ministers of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. G. J. Black (Toowoomba). The remains will be cremated at the Mount Thompson Crematorium Brisbane, at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
It is with regret that we report the sudden death of Mr. J. A. H. Fraser, Land Commissioner for Maryborough, Bundaberg, and Gayndah districts. Mr. Fraser entered the service of the Lands Department as a land ranger nearly 30 years ago, and after being stationed at Winton, Barcaldine, Goondiwindi, and Dalby was transferred to Maryborough about two years ago. As a tribute to the late Land Commissioner the Land Court sittings were adjourned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the 6th December by the President (Mr. W. L. Payne), who stated that the late Mr. Fraser had been courteous, straightforward, trustworthy, and highly efficient.
To his widow and daughter, Mrs. J. J. Black (sic), of Toowoomba, we extend our sincere sympathy in their sudden bereavement.