My great grandfather Robert White was not a rich man in any
material sense of the word. But he had a
rich life and was deeply mourned by his family and community on his death.
Robert was the youngest child of Charles and Eliza White
(nee Andrews). His 3 older brothers and sister
were all born in England and travelled to Australia with their parents when
they were small children. The family paid
6 pounds for their voyage on the “Blundell”, arriving on 7 May 1853. Charles was described as a gardener, and both
he and Eliza could read and write.
They appear to have gone to Lismore, NSW almost immediately
so perhaps they had connections there, although we know that all of their many
siblings remained in England. Charles became
the first foreman of works for the Lismore Municipal Council and also kept a market
garden in South Lismore all his life. He
was a popular exhibitor of his produce at local shows.
Robert was born in 1867, when his parents were both in their
40s and his next sibling, John, was 15.
He had the limited education afforded country children of the time – he probably
left school at 12 – but he was an autodidact who never stopped reading and
being curious and interested in the world.
My father remembered that he was an avid reader of “The Bulletin”, “Smith’s
Weekly” and the Sydney Mail (a paper Dad recalled as being like the “London
Illustrated News”.) He was an early
member of the Labor Party, although he became more conservative as he got
older. Most significantly, he was
interested in local politics.
Robert’s sister, Jane, who was 20 years older than her
brother, was married the year before he was born, to Robert McKenzie. Their son Charles was only two years younger
than Robert and the two men were friends who became fellow Councillors on the
Lismore Municipal Council. Robert was first
elected in February 1901 as an advocate of sewerage for Lismore and after this
term he served with only two short breaks until his death in 1932. Charles was elected in 1906 and served 17
terms as Mayor during his long career.
Robert fought for Municipal services and for equality all
his life. As well as the campaign for
sewerage, he wanted better educational facilities and was largely responsible
for the South Lismore Public School being expanded to full Primary school
status just in time for my father to attend it (1921). He had given not only his time; some of the
land on which the school stands had been donated by him, and he became the first
President of the P & C Association. For
five years he was Honorary Secretary of the Lismore Hospital (until 1908) and
he remained a Board member for many years after that. He was the strongest voice for another
crossing of the Wilson River to connect North Lismore more easily to the centre
of the city. Fittingly, the bridge was
named the Robert White Bridge (1926). He was also an environmentalist before
his time – he was concerned about the health of the Richmond River as early as
the beginning of the 20th century when it was still navigable, but
gradually being choked by water hyacinth and his supervision of work by the
Richmond County Council resulted in better weed control.
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| Three of Robert White's descendants at the unveiling of the new sign - 2017 |
His concerns for a more equitable society were behind his involvement
in the Friendly Society movement. He
joined the Manchester Unity Oddfellows as a young man, and subsequently held
leadership positions including that of Grand Master of the local Lodge (elected
1905) and then Grand Master of NSW (1912-14).
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| Robert White the Grand Master |
He was interested in the work of the local agricultural and
horticultural associations too. He was
the first President of the Lismore Show Society and of the Lismore Horticultural
Society and a judge at many shows up until the time of his death. The love of flowers was fostered within the
family – his daughters Nellie and Sis (Mabel) were successful exhibitors at
many Lismore Shows, and two of Nellie’s daughters became florists. Robert himself was responsible for the first
plantings of street trees in Lismore.
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| Robert White the gardener |
One could be forgiven for thinking that all of this public
service must have come at a cost to his family.
That doesn’t seem to have been the case.
He was loved and respected as a husband, father and grandfather. Although he died long before I was born, I and
my siblings and cousins all heard stories about him from our parents and
grandparents. He was a towering figure
in their lives.
Lismore gave Robert White a huge funeral and people lined
the streets as his hearse drove by. The
NSW Grand Master of the Manchester Unity wrote a lengthy obituary which
concluded:
Not "How did he die? ' but "How did
he live?'
Not "What did he gain? " but
"What did he give? "
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not "What was his station? but "Had
he a heart? "
And "How did he play his God-given part? '
"Was he ever ready with word of good
cheer, to bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not "What was his Church? nor ' 'What was
his creed?
But "Had he befriended those really in
need?
Not "What did the sketch in the newspaper
say?"
But "How many were sorry when he passed
away?"
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