The Don Dorrigo Gazette and Guy Fawkes Advocate
Sat 18 May 1912
The Late Mr. Alb. Phillips.
A correspondent writes of the late Mr. Phillips
(whose death was reported in our last issue) :
At North Dorrigo on 7th May, 1912,
there passed away at his late residence
one of the oldest and most
respected pioneers of this district in
the person of Mr. Albert Phillips,
aged 69. The deceased gentleman
had been suffering, more or less, for
some time past, but no serious results
were expected by the bereaved
family until a short time before the
end came, when he began to fail
rapidly. On the morning, of the
7th a bad turn was again noticed,
and Dr. Gatenby was immediately
sent for, but the Dr. soon gave the
anxious family to understand that
the poor old gentleman was beyond,
medical aid, and gave him a soothing
medicine which enabled him to
pass away in a most peaceful manner
at about a quarter to 11 p.m.
He leaves a widow and a large
family to mourn their sad loss,
there being 14 in the family (7 sons
and 7 daughters), who are as follows : —
Messrs. John, Albert, William, Henry,
James, Francis and Gus ; Mrs. J. W. Bryant (Moree),
Mrs. R. Ross .(Sydney), Mrs. T.W. Martin (North Dorrigo),
Mrs. H. W. Hillier (North Dorrigo),
Mrs. M. Saunders (Sydney), Mrs.
Jas. Cox (North Dorrigo)., Miss
Angie Phillips (Moree) ; also 23
grandchildren. Each member of
this large family was born and
reared in the Dorrigo district. The
deceased gentleman pioneered this
place in the year 1866, where he
has worked for a living ever since.
He principally followed up the
cedar cutting in the good old days.
I might also state that I have heard
personally on different occasions
from friends aud mates of deceased
of over 50 years standing, that a
more honest and straightforward
man could not be found, and he
was at all times a truthful, upright
man in business matters. Of late
years he principally followed up
work with bullock teams in the
timber industry. I heard the old
gentleman say during the course of
a conversation on one occasion that,
as he had been in the cedar trade
for so many years he would prefer,
at his death, a cedar coffin to that
of any other sort of timber, and
strange to say, this wish was granted,
as the coffin was made out of a
most lovely piece of cedar which
was cut some. years ago by another
Dorrigo pioneer (Mr. Arthur Hewett).
The great respect and esteem
in which the deceased gentleman
was held was shown by the very
large number of friends who followed
the remains to their last resting
place, and also by the very many
telegrams of sympathy and floral
tributes sent by the numerous
friends of the sorrowing relatives.
The sad event cast quite a gloom
over the place.

The Don Dorrigo Gazette and Guy Fawkes Advocate
Sat 18 May 1912
The Late Mr. Alb. Phillips.
A correspondent writes of the late Mr. Phillips
(whose death was reported in our last issue) :
At North Dorrigo on 7th May, 1912,
there passed away at his late residence
one of the oldest and most
respected pioneers of this district in
the person of Mr. Albert Phillips,
aged 69. The deceased gentleman
had been suffering, more or less, for
some time past, but no serious results
were expected by the bereaved
family until a short time before the
end came, when he began to fail
rapidly. On the morning, of the
7th a bad turn was again noticed,
and Dr. Gatenby was immediately
sent for, but the Dr. soon gave the
anxious family to understand that
the poor old gentleman was beyond,
medical aid, and gave him a soothing
medicine which enabled him to
pass away in a most peaceful manner
at about a quarter to 11 p.m.
He leaves a widow and a large
family to mourn their sad loss,
there being 14 in the family (7 sons
and 7 daughters), who are as follows : —
Messrs. John, Albert, William, Henry,
James, Francis and Gus ; Mrs. J. W. Bryant (Moree),
Mrs. R. Ross .(Sydney), Mrs. T.W. Martin (North Dorrigo),
Mrs. H. W. Hillier (North Dorrigo),
Mrs. M. Saunders (Sydney), Mrs.
Jas. Cox (North Dorrigo)., Miss
Angie Phillips (Moree) ; also 23
grandchildren. Each member of
this large family was born and
reared in the Dorrigo district. The
deceased gentleman pioneered this
place in the year 1866, where he
has worked for a living ever since.
He principally followed up the
cedar cutting in the good old days.
I might also state that I have heard
personally on different occasions
from friends aud mates of deceased
of over 50 years standing, that a
more honest and straightforward
man could not be found, and he
was at all times a truthful, upright
man in business matters. Of late
years he principally followed up
work with bullock teams in the
timber industry. I heard the old
gentleman say during the course of
a conversation on one occasion that,
as he had been in the cedar trade
for so many years he would prefer,
at his death, a cedar coffin to that
of any other sort of timber, and
strange to say, this wish was granted,
as the coffin was made out of a
most lovely piece of cedar which
was cut some. years ago by another
Dorrigo pioneer (Mr. Arthur Hewett).
The great respect and esteem
in which the deceased gentleman
was held was shown by the very
large number of friends who followed
the remains to their last resting
place, and also by the very many
telegrams of sympathy and floral
tributes sent by the numerous
friends of the sorrowing relatives.
The sad event cast quite a gloom
over the place.