George Joseph PRESTON [31443]

  General Notes:

TRIBUTES TO THE LATE MR GEORGE PRESTON.
Temora Independent - 4th June 1965.
The death of Mr. George Preston on April 7 removed one of the best known and best loved residents of this district.
George Preston was everyone's friend and his death at 82, was mourned by all who knew and admired his fine character.
He had a long association with the Temora district extending over 70 years and had made his mark on the farming and community life of the town and district.
He passed away in the Temora District Hospital after along illness which included 12 months in hospital. When he broke his leg in a fall at his home in November, 1963 it marked a serious set - back from which he never recovered
The youngest son of Mr and Mrs. William Preston, George Joseph Preston was born at Moama near Echuca on March 25th 1883 and celebrated his 82nd .birthday some few weeks before his death
His early boyhood days were spent in Western Port Bay, Victoria, where his parents went as a young couple to take over a farm. However, a long run of wet weather discouraged them and they made the big decision to move across to New South Wales and settle on the then newly opening country around Temora. They took up land at Quandary North Station totalling about 20,000 acres most of which was scrub.
This was in 1892 when much of the farming land round Temora was being thrown open to settlement and where many Victorian and South Australian settlers were later to make their homes
One of a family of four boys and two girls, George Peston was early introduced to the sound farming methods that were to characterise his success in later life.
It was typical of this success that crops grown on his property Mirroola should have won the Temora Show Society's Crop Competition in 1934 and been runner-up in 1939.
He had his early schooling at the old Beaconsfield School in the Quandary area and then later on went to college in Melbourne. On his return he lived with his parents on the farm. At this time the Quandary North homestead was also licensed as a hotel and was known as "Little George's" Hotel. It had quite a romantic history in its early days and is referred to in the book "The First Fifty Years of Temora'' by R. H. Webster.
One of the stories concerning the old hotel was that a gang of bushrangers once stayed there overnight and tied one of their prisoners to a big yellow box tree in front of the hotel. This old hotel was burnt down some six years after Mr. Preston's father took g yellow box tree in front of the hotel.
This old hotel was burnt down some six years after Mr. Preston's father took over the property and for a time the family had to live in the harness room.
Later on they built another home adjoining the site of the old one.
In 1911 George Preston married Ethel Trigg who had come across from Port Elliott near Adelaide to teach the children of William Preston Jnr. at Quandary South.
After their marriage Mr and Mrs Preston took over sharefarming duties on the family property and his father retired to live in Sydney. Part of this property is still in the hands of the Preston family, Mr. Norman Preston residing on portion of it.
As a young man George Preston became well acquainted with this district and gained valuable knowledge when he worked for his father as a boundary rider. He spent a lot of time riding round the 20,000 acres and was an expert horseman
Shearing and sleepercutting were other occupations at which he showed skill. In those days too, native game abounded- throughout the district and George Preston gained a reputation as a hunter and rifle shot. He was a remarkable athlete excelling in practically all sporting activities. Running, jumping, cycling, football, cricket, tennis, swimming and boxing all occupied his spare time. Some of his exploits as a high jumper; footballer and boxer have become almost local legends:
Many stories have been told about his sporting prowess. At a sports meeting at Methul at the turn of the century he amazed everyone by clearing 6ft. in the high jump. Only a couple of weeks before the world's newspapers had acclaimed a jump of 6ft. at an overseas sports meeting as a world record.
There was no one in this district who could approach his skill in this department of athletics. He also enjoyed great prowess as a boxer and once at the Temora Show boxed against the former world's heavyweight champion, the negro Peter Felix.
Old hands also recall how George Preston and other boundary riders in those days would carry boxing gloves with them on their horses so that they could spar with any one who came along. Fettlers and railway construction workers were always anxious to oblige. Boxing was quite a popular past-time in those days and nearly every sportsman indulged in it.
Another anecdote recalling George Preston's sporting prowess concerns swimming. At a carnival at the old Grecian Bend dam on the Experiment Farm about 1914, he and another well known Temora identity Oscar Hauenstein took part in a swimming race which George won. Oscar in those days was regarded as an outstanding swimmer.
In cricket too George Preston had a reputation for demoralising batsmen with his fast bowling. It was particularly effective on the dirt wickets of those days. Always interested in sport throughout his life it was only natural that in his less active years he should find pleasure in bowls - and also a fair measure of success. With the late Ken Soutter he was runner-up in the pairs championship , at the Temora Easter Bowling Carnival in 1952. He also served for a time as a member of the committee.
George Preston was always one who was prepared to shoulder his share of community responsibility. He had a special interest in the Show Society being elected president in 1947 and serving several terms. His advice and counsel were always eagerly sought on the Show Society where his quiet personality and tact meant much to the successful handling of the problems associated with the Showmen's Guild in those difficult years. His work for the Show Society was recognised by his election as a trustee, a life member and subsequently a patron.
The Ambulance Service also benefitted from his interest and work. He was for a time a member of the district committee.
Mr. Preston farmed the property now known as Miroola up until 1945 when he retired to live in Temora, handing over the working of the farm to his son Norman.
He was always interested in the company of young people and his advice and encouragement were never denied. His keen sense of humour made him great company and he was welcomed everywhere. He served the Pucawan district well working hard for the Pucawan Hall committee and also the Patriotic Committee in the immediate postwar years.
At the funeral which took place from St. Paul's Church of England, Rev. Armstrong referred to the place which George Preston had earned for himself in the hearts of his fellow men and paid tribute to a fine life, well lived.
In addition to his widow Mr. Preston is survived by two sons and two daughters. The sons are Norman (Temora) and Rex (Griffith) and the daughters are Jean (Mrs. Doug Donaldson, of Temora) and Lorna (Mrs. Arthur Sanderson, of Temora). One sister, Mrs. Botham, of Sydney, also survives.
Pall bearers at the funeral which was conducted by William Murray were Doug Donaldson, Arthur Sanderson, Max McKenzie, Archie Preston, Harold Harmon and Cecil Harper
The flower tray was carried by Lin. Walker and G: Sanderson and grandson's John and George Preston.

  Other Records

1. George Joseph Preston: Temora NSW.
Temora life

George married Ethel Millicent TRIGG [31444] [MRIN: 11147], daughter of Samuel TRIGG [31495] and Mary Anne ROBERTSON [31496], in 1911 in Burwood Sydney Nsw. (Ethel Millicent TRIGG [31444] was born on 21 Apr 1880 in Port Elliot Sth Australia, died on 29 Sep 1968 in Temora NSW and was buried in Temora Cemetery.)