Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939), Friday 21 September 1928, page 1


OBITUARY ———o——— MR. W. C. YOUNG. The death of Mr. William Craw-ford Young, managing director of Standard Newspapers Pty. Ltd., occurred at Maxwelton Private Hospital, Frankston, on Monday after a few hours illness. While preparing to attend divine service on Sunday he was taken ill, his condition becoming so serious later in the day that Dr. Max-well was consulted and ordered his removal to hospital, where, with the assistance of Dr. Bickart (Somerville) and Dr. Shaw (Mor-dialloc), an operation was per-formed about midnight. Although the operation in itself was suc-cessful, the patient did not recover from the shock and died at 9.45 on Monday morning. Burial took place at Frankston cemetery on Tuesday, when a long cortege of mourners paid their last tribute to one of Frankston's most respected citizens. Rev. A. W. Cooper officiated at the grave, and at the conclusion of the ser-vice paid tribute in a short ad-dress to the part which Mr. Young had played in the community. The funeral was conducted by Mr. H. Gamble, of Frankston. Cr. M. Clements and Messrs. J. H. Sheedy (directors) and J. A. Mc-Kenzie (secretary), Standard Newspapers Pty. Ltd.; P. Bond ("The Age," Melbourne), H. F. Northe (Sandringham City News), A. Aitken (Standard Newspapers, Cheltenham), N. W. Clements and A. Bruce (Frank-ston) acted as pall-bearers, while the coffin was borne by Messrs. S. Wilkins, J. Cunneen (brothers-in-law of deceased), S. Croucher and C. F. Jewell (Frankston and Somerville Standard). The respect in which the late Mr. Young was held was empha-sised by the number, and beauty of the floral tributes sent from all parts of the district. These included: — President, Councillors, and Ratepayers, Shire of Frank-ston and Hastings; Directors New Mentone Theatre, Frankston Agri-cultural Association, Board of Management Frankston Presby-terian Church, Presbyterian Ladies' Guild and Choir, Presby-terian Sunday School, Frankston High School Welfare League, Directorate Standard Newspapers Pty. Ltd., Employees Standard Newspapers Pty. Ltd., Frankston A.N.A., State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Frankston; Frankston Life Saving Club, Frankston Athletic Sports Club, and many others from councillors, business houses and friends. The late Mr. Young spent the early years of his business life in the Postal Department. At this time his father, Mr. W. W. Young, conducted the Leongatha "Star," thus, even in his early years, he was more or less in touch with the journalistic world. Later he joined his father in Stanley, Tas-mania, when he founded the Cir-cular Head "Chronicle," the first paper to be printed in that town. After a time Mr. Young was tempted to apply for the position of Municipal Clerk of Circular Head and his application was readily accepted. This position he held until, after a residence in Stanley for 13 years, he came to Frankston to take charge of the Frankston and Somerville Stand-

ard, which was then owned by his father. Since his arrival in Frankston in 1918 Mr. Young worked assidu-ously in practically all movements for the advancement of the town and the Peninsula generally. He was one of the founders of the Frankston branch A.N.A.; was an active worker in the Frankston Progress Association, of which he filled, at different periods, the position of secretary and presi-dent for many years prior to his death was a member of the committees of the Frankston Agricultural Association and the Frankston Athletic Sports Club. As a worker in the Church he was untiring, and for some years had been secretary of the Board of Management of the Frankston Presbyterian Church. When the possibility of secur-ing a High School for Frankston was first mooted the movement found in him a strong advocate, and he brought the full weight of his personality and journalistic talent to bear on the question. The splendid modern school, erec-ted in 1926, stands as a monu-ment to his and his supporters' sturdy fight for educational facili-ties which are today an incal-culable blessing to the whole Peninsula. Since the inception of the school he had been a member of the High School Advisory Council. Those interested in the munici-pal affairs of the Peninsula have reason to be proud of his work on behalf of the welfare of the muni-cipality and of the ratepayers generally in the days of financial chaos in the affairs of the Shire some five years ago. His facile pen did much to point out reme-dies for many tangles, and the great improvement in the affairs of the municipality to-day may be attributed in part to his guidance. After guiding the destinies of the Frankston and Somerville Standard and the Mornington Standard for some seven years and founding the Phillip Island Standard, he, with others of the present directorate of Standard Newspapers Pty. Ltd., success-fully launched that company which now controls the largest chain of provincial newspapers in the Commonwealth. His business acumen soon placed the new com-pany on a sound footing, and a few months prior to his death he brought one of his cherished dreams to reality — the building of new and up-to-date offices and factory at Cheltenham. This was practically his last achievement in a long and useful business career, and this journal pays its tribute to his keen management and careful guidance. The deceased gentleman was held in the highest esteem by the employees of the company, being always courteous and considerate for their interests, all of them losing a personal friend. He leaves a wife, two sons, two daughters, father, mother, two brothers and four sisters to mourn their loss. One sister predeceased him. At the meeting of the Moorab-bin Shire Council on Monday last it was resolved that a letter of condolence be sent from the council to Mrs. Young and family.