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PIONEER DIES IN 97th YEAR

Mrs. Elizabeth Dalziel Knew This District When It Was Very Young SAW THE PASSING OF BLACKS, BULLOCKS AND BUGGIES

IN Mrs. Elizabeth Dalziel, who died last week, at the age of 96, Cobden has lost a strong link with the early history of the Western District, for she lived in these parts for 56 years and spent the greater part of her youth in the Port Fairy and Ballarat districts. Mrs. Dalziel was a remarkable woman in many ways, and right to the last, she retained vivid memories of the early days of settlement. She was recognised, in the late fifties, as one of the finest bullock drivers of the day—a reputation unique for a woman, even among pioneers.

Her death took place at the home of her son. Mr. P. Dalziel, Bostock"s Creek. She would have been 97 on April 27. BORN IN ENGLAND Born at Poplar. England, in 1845, she came to Australia with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Cole, when six years of age. Mr. Cole was one of the pioneers of the Port Fairy district and afterwards joined the Victorian Education department as a teacher. Deceased married Alexander Dal ziel at Lethbridge in 1862. He died 14 years ago, aged 94. WHEN LETHBRIDGE WAS A CANVAS TOWN After their marriage, they lived at the "big camp" near Lethbridge, or Muddy Waterholes, as it was then called. It was, at that time, but a canvas town housing the several thousand men, who work ed on the Ballarat-Geelong rail way. Their presence was good for business and Mr. Dalziel often took £100 in one day, over the counter of his boot store. They came to this district 56 years ago, and lived at Carpendeit until Mr. Dalziel's death. Mrs. Dal ziel then came to Cobden to live with her daughter, the late Mrs. R. O. Scouller. and for the last three years, had lived with her son at Bostock's Creek. SAW FIRST BULLOCK TEAM Airs. Dalziel remembered the arrival of the first bullock team in Port Fairy., brought there by Mr. Walter Manifold, and the sensa tion in the town, when one of the other squatters imported an open landau. Port Fairy consisted then, mainly of slab huts and log built houses, and the cost of liv ing was very high. 'ROOS BETTER THAN MUTTON When her father took up land at Yambuk, his property was "one moving mass of kangaroos." They remained plentiful throughout the Western District, until the blacks discovered the virtue of kangaroo meat as a table delicacy—"Better than any mutton." REMEMBERED THE BLACKS Mrs. Dalziel saw the last two members of the Barabool tribe go ing to join the Boolarooks, several of whom had come down to the Cobden district to escort them to their camps in Ballarat. She often recalled, with a smile, her son Robert, asking her to wash "the black" off one of the picaninnies' faces. She remembered "King Billy" Murray and his consort, "Old Alice," who at one time, were known all over the Western Dis- trict. EUREKA STOCKADE Mrs. Dalziel also recalled the eve of the famous Eureka Stockade and the atmosphere of tension, which prevailed in the town, when the order for "lights out by 8 p.m.," was given. Her father took a pro- minent part in Australia's only pitched battle. He was later instrumental in   turning out one of the richest lodes on the diggings. WHEN "LATEST" WAR REPORTS WERE FIVE MONTHS OLD In the latter years of her life, Mrs. Dalziel spent a great deal of time "listening-in" and never ceas- ed to wonder at the marvels of wireless, especially when her mind went back to the Franco-Prussian war. when "latest" reports from the front were five months old. LEAVES 120 DESCENDANTS Mrs. Dalziel leaves 120 descend- ants—six sons, three daughters, 45 grandchildren, 65 great grand- children and one great great grandchild. One daughter, Mrs. R. O. Scoul- ler and one son, William, prede- ceased her. Her eldest son, Alexander, a re- tired school teacher living in Tas- mania, is 78 years old, while Jim is also connected with the Education Department there. Arthur, aged 60, was a school teacher there until last year, when he came to Vic- toria. Robert, of Carpendeit, is 76,

while Ernest, also in his sixties, has been a missionary in Kenya Colony for a number of years. Daughters are Mrs. G. F. Evans (North Shore, Geelong), Mrs. A. Evans Melbourne) and Mrs. S. James (Wagga). KEEN WORKER FOR METHODIST CHURCH   Prior to the burial at Cobden   cemetery, Rev. A. McLean con- ducted services at the house and   graveside, in the absence of the Methodist minister, who was in Melbourne at Conference. LARGELY ATTENDED FUNERAL The funeral was largely attended and many beautiful floral tributes were placed on the grave, for Mrs.   Dalziel was held in the highest esteem throughout the district.   Pall bearers were: Messrs. A. F.   Daiziel (son), W. Lewis, W. Hey-   wood, A. Morrison, D. Scouller, Thos. Hose, G. Anson, Cr. H. T. Jones. The coffin was borne by Messrs. P. O. Dalziel (son), R. Davis, A. Dalziel (grandson), W. Mellross, C. Rippon, C. Body. Mr. Thomas Webb had charge of   the funeral arrangements.  

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State Library of Victoria
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