Story: James Oswald Free (1892 - 1967)

From a newspaper, added to this site 1 Feb 2001

Sudden Passing of a Quambatook Pioneer

As briefly announced in last week's issue, the sudden passing of Mr James Oswald Free came as a severe shock to his many relatives and friends.

Aged 75 years, Mr Free came to the Quambatook district 69 years ago, being a member of a family who have been closely associated with the development and progress of the district, especially in the areas where they were engaged in agricultural pursuit.

Born at Corack, he was only 6 years of age when he came to Lalbert East, and he spent the remainder of his life there. He was educated at the local school, spent his young days in the district, where he was a well-known footballer.

Like many others who derived their livelihood from the land, Mr Free had to experience bad years and indifferent times, along with the good years, and with many others in the district found that at times the going was anything but easy.

However, imbued with the fine spirit of the early settlers, and with unshakeable faith in the capacity of the district to produce, he worked hard until good years and stabalised prices for primary products brought reward. Mr Free, by his own foresight and industry, like others, did much to improve the land on which he lived and kept abreast of the latest production methods.

His long association with the district made him a well-known and familiar figure, and his bright cheery personality won him many friends. Many people recall the good turns done quietly, and to many he proved to be a sincere and helpful friend. A happy nature, with a joke here and there, something done to help a less fortunate one along the way, were characteristics of the man everyone respected.

A foundation member of the Quambatook Bowling Club, one of the game's greatest enthusiasts and certainly one of the keenest players, Mr Free derived hours of genuine pleasure from the game. He was a frrequent spectator at football games at Quambatook and Lalbert, being keenly interested in the Quambatook club and an excellent supporter.

A familiar figure in many spheres he will be greatly missed by all. Mr Free earned the respect of all his excellent citizenship, an honourable life and his readiness to do a good turn for others. He did his best for the advancement of the district and generously supported appeals for local improvements and amenities. The district is certainly the poorer by the passing of a good and highly thought-of citizen.

Mr Free enjoyed the blessing of a large family, the majority of whom have settled in the district and become fine citizens. They are Robert (Kerang), John, Annie (Mrs V. Kelly), George, Dorothy, and Ron (Melbourne), to whom sympathy is extended on their loss. Mr Free's wife pre-deceased him in 1955, but brothers and sisters who survive him are Cis (Mrs Bailey, Woorinen), Eliza (Mrs E. J. Williamson), Ernie (Sunbury), Norman, Pearl (Mrs Hasty) and Allan.

The funeral took place at Lalbert on Tuesday and was probably one of the largest the district has known. When the cortege set off for the cemetery it was at least 2 miles long. At the graveside Rev. Graco officiated and the casket-bearers were sons Robert, Jack and Ron, nephew Lawrence, and sons-in-law A.J. Schlitz and V. Kelly.

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