Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Saturday 30 September 1939, page 12


OBITUARY

Mrs. Hugh Ferguson, who died on September 27 at Chiverton. Burnside, was the widow or Dr. Hugh Ferguson, who formerly practised at Strathalbyn

and Glenelg, and the eldest daughter of Mr. George Melrose, of Roseoank, Mount Pleasant. She was born at Inver-brackie, near Woodside. In 1848, and was therefore in her ninety-second year. Her surviving children are Mrs. Percy: Draper, wife of Mr. Justice Draper, of Perth, W.A. (retired); Mrs. Philip New-land, of Buderim, Queensland: and; Miss Effie Ferguson, of Chiverton. There are also grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. P. J. Brady, of Barabba, who died in an Adelaide private hosptial. was one of the best known residents of the dis-trict. He was a member of an old family. His parents (Mr. and Mrs.) Philip Brady), who came from Ireland, were among the first residents, and reared a large family. Mr. P. J. Brady was a Justice of the Peace, a member of the District Council of Grace, of which he was chairman for a number of years. He married Miss Elizabeth Farrelly, of Mallala, and bad one young son. Both survive. He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and a generous supporter of public movements. He was a successful farmer, with many friends. : Mrs. Janet Matthews, who died on Monday September 25. at the home of her eldest daughter, Mrs. E. C. Prid-ham of Park street. Woodville. was born on November 1. 1848. at Shipley, Yorkshire. She was the fourth daugh ter of the late Rev. Kerr Johnston, of Greenock, Scotland, the first seamen's missionary in Port Melbourne, then known as Sandridge. In 1853 the family, with six children, emigrated to; Victoria in the sailing ship Sir William Molesworth. In 1872 she married Daniel Matthews, who had a business with the steamers on the River Murray at Echuca, where they made their home. In 1874, having selected land In New South Wales, 16 miles up the river, they began the first established mission to; the aborigines in that colony under the name of the Maloja Mission. Today the mission continues on a grant of land given by the NSW. Government three miles from Maloja, under the name of Cummeragunja. In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Matthews visited England in, the interests oi the mission, taking, Paddy and Jenny, an aboriginal couple, who spoke and sang before large audi-ences in London on behalf of their race. In 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Matthews and some of their family came overland to South Australia to continue in the mis-sion work. The Government gave a small reserve at Manunka, above For-ster punt, on the River Murray, where for ten years a good work was done among about 60 of the natives. These, people now form a little settlement near Swan Reach, cared for by the United' Aborigines' Mission. A son (Daniel Gowan) died at the beginning of the work, and three months later Daniel Matthews died at Mannum. His widow went on with the work with her chil-dren's help, until in 1911 they retired to Adelaide. Up to the very last days of her life Mrs. Matthews continued to take an interest in all Christian work, especially that among aborigines. In her 91st year after a few days of weakness she pasPaynehay. She leaves four children surviving—Mrs. E. C. Pridham, of Woodville; the Rev. J. K. Matthews, formerly of the Canadian Methodist Church: and Miss Margaret M. Matthews, of Payneham: and Mrs. W. A. Norman, of "Helenholm," Mit-cham.