Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953)(about) |
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Thursday 23 April 1925
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Passing of the Pioneers One of the best known and most widely respected residents of the Condah district. Mr John Rundell, passed peacefully away at his residence, Sunnyside, Condah, on Monday, April 13th, at the venerable age of 85 years. The deceased gentleman, who was a native of Cornwall, England, arrived with his parents and other members of the family at Portland by the good ship Birm ingham at the e'd of 1854. but owing to an outbreak of measles the passengers were not allowed to land until January, 1855, so that at the time of his death Mr Rundell was a colonist of over 70 years. As a young man, in company with his father and his older brother, Mr James Rundell, he tried his luck at the Ararat diggings Returning to Portland after a brief period, the father and two sons commenced road contracting, and carried out several im portadt road works. The father t'hen ac quired the property at Greenbilla, now known as Elgin, and the subject of this notice, hsv;ng in the meantime married Miss Matilda Hardy, came to reside on a portion of the property. He subsequently in 1871 selected the land known as Sunny. side, whereon be resided until the time of his death. His first wife died in 1885, and about eight years later he married Miss Agnes Willing, a sister of Mr R. J. Willing, who was formerly c nnected with the "Spectator," and was afterwards secretary of the Shireof Portland. The lath Mr Run dell continued as a shire contractor until about eight or nine years ago and was re garded as a good employer of labor. His bluff geniality and hearty generosity led to many lifelong friendships, and throughout the district from Hamilton to Portland no man was better known or more generally respected. He enjoyed robust health until a couple of years ago, when age made In roads on a hitherto strong constitution, and the end came as stated The remains were interred in the Condah cemetery on Wed nesday, and the large concourse of people who attended the funeral gave ample evi dence of the widespread regret felt at the passing of an estimable citizen.-.'Spectator'