First Name:
Walter Windeyer
Place:
At the residence of the bride's sister, West Maitland
Details:
Marriage of Walter Windeyer, youngest son of the late Rowland J. Traill M.D., of Collaroy, to Fanny Australia, youngest daughter of Edward Irby of Bolivia, New England on 18 August 1886. Minister Rev. A.A. Maclaren
Details:
Assisted injured trooper Maher
Details:
Dr. Rowland John Traill, who died at Collaroy in August last, was emphatically a successful sheep-farmer, and his success is attributable only to his ability, energy, and perseverance. The son of an Episcopal clergyman in East Lothian, the deceased took his degree as Doctor of Medicine at an early age at the University of Edinburgh and emigrated to New South Wales about the year 1838, when he commenced the practice of his profession in the Clarence River district; but the impecuniosity of the colony at that time was such as to compel him soon to turn his attention to (under the circumstances) a pursuit more profitable than medical practice. After acquiring his first knowledge of pastoral affairs, Dr Traill for many years managed Tenterfield Station for the late Sir Stuart A. Donaldson (then Mr Donaldson), during which period he firmly established his reputation as one of the most able managers in the colony; and, on the retirement to England of Mr. Edward Hamilton, of Collaroy, Dr Traill s services were secured by that gentleman. After a few years spent as manager of Collaroy, Dr Traill became a partner, which position he held till his death, or for some fourteen years in all. It was his intention, as he expressed in a letter written shortly before his death, to have soon retired to his own station of Llangollen; but this was not to be, and he closed a laborious life without the rest which most men look forward to as befitting the evening of their existence. His was not the mind or temperament, however, which, had his health remained to him, would have been content to have lived in idleness or inactivity, and, doubtless, had he been spared he would have gained still further repute amongst the wool-growers of Australia. In reference to this, it may not be out of place here to note briefly the course pursued by him in raising the Collaroy flocks to their present high standard. On assuming the management (about 1854 or 1855) Dr Traill found these flocks to consist of good strong-constitutioned sheep, of large frame, but having a somewhat low character of wool, at least as compared with the flocks at present. The first infusion of new blood was from the Rambouillet flock, and from that of Mr. Sturgeon, of Essex. The latter sheep, being the descendants of the flock of merinos once the property of Royalty, and no doubt, by their strength of frame and vigour of constitution, assisted greatly to maintain those most requisite characteristics in the Collaroy flocks. The Rambouillet sheep were, however, Dr Traill s favourites, and, after an importation of Negrettis, a step which he afterwards greatly regretted having taken, Dr Traill continued to use as imported stook the first-named sheep; but the writer is not aware that for some years past any stud sheep have been used at Collaroy other than those bred on the station, and it is to the careful selection for breeding purposes of members of the same "family " and type that we can attribute the present excellence of the flocks. Though averse from engaging in public life, Dr. Traill was, as may be readily imagined, a man of no mean ability and of cultivated mind. Like most intellectual men he was of the most genial disposition - a good friend, a kind master, always ready to assist the needy (but in the most unobtrusive manner), and to further to the utmost objects of religious or educational benefit to his district, his death may well be considered a public loss. As an old and successful colonist and most estimable man, Dr. Traill was - as to the past, a man of mark; as to the future, a sterling example
