The Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 - 1889; 1895; 1897 - 1954)

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Obituary - Patrick McGrath - 1937

The Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 - 1889; 1895; 1897 - 1954), Fri 12 Nov 1937, Page 2:

PASSING OF THE PIONEERS
The remorseless hand of Death has been extremely busy in our midst of late, carrying off one by one members of the fast-diminishing band of sturdy old pioneers whose tenacity of purpose and sterling worth contributed so largely to the progress and advancement of the Braidwood district. On Tuesday night yet another fine old citizen, Mr. Patrick McGrath, of Warrumbucca, passed away at the age of 72, after a long illness, during which he was devotedly attended by his sisters and brother, Bernard, with whom he had been living since his retirement some 14 years ago. Born at Tomboye in 1865, the eighth son of the late Mr. Owen and Mrs. Ellen McGrath, he went to work on his father's farm at Warri when he was very young. This little holding, by the way, was situated on the Shoalhaven River above where Mr. John Day now lives. Later on he gave up farming and went to work on the railway, where he put in the greater part of his life. It is claimed he worked on practically every line in N.S.W., as well as in Victoria and Tasmania. The last work he was engaged in was the line between Mittagong and Picton. An honest, conscientious worker, he was held in the highest esteem wherever he went in the Braidwood district he was one of our best-known identities, and had many friends. His parents came from Ireland, first settling down at Corang and later at Tomboye, where they took up one of the first selections in the Braidwood district. Possessed of a retentive memory, the deceased related many interesting stories of the early days. He often spoke of the times when there was no bridge over the Shoalhaven River at Warri and travellers had to swim their horses over the stream. The bullock teams, too, crossed here, in wet times the drivers being compelled to swim their bullocks. In those days the track ran up the river to Colombo, where this creek junctioned with the river, and then turned past Mr. Jas. McGrath's, coming out at the back of the showground. Often the teamsters encountered almost insuperable difficulties along this bush track, being compelled to pack their loads on to sleds in order to get them over the boggy, greasy stretches. Mr. McGrath remembered the Taylors resorting to this method of transporting their loads, which were then picked up near the showground and brought on to Braidwood. These were what we now often hear called the 'good old days.' Deceased had not married. He leaves four brothers, viz., Bernard and Thomas, of Braidwood, Owen (Mandurama), Edward (Temora) and two sisters, Misses Annie and Alice (Braidwood). The funeral, which took place at Braidwood yesterday, was largely attended. Mr. E. G. Morris conducted the arrangements in his well-known capable style.

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