Kalgoorlie Western Argus 7 October 1902, page 19
THE LATE MR. J. RESIDE
M.L.A., First Member for Hannans.
Mr John Reside M.L.A Member for Hannans
The news of the sudden death of Mr. John Reside. M.L.A., first representative for the Legislative Assembly for Hannans, was received with regret throughout the goldfields and, it is not too much to say, throughout the State. Among the many who had personally known him in life there was a deeper feeling, of which remembrance of the man’s fine qualities of heart was the dominant attribute. On all sides, there were expressions of regret at the untimely end of a life that promised service to the State, and telegrams in that spirit, and expressive of sympathy with the deceased’s family were forwarded by the Premier, the members of both Houses of Parliament, and many private citizens, while numerous messages of sorrow came from White Hills, Victoria, Mr. Reside’s native town.
The Funeral Procession down Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie for John Reside – Photo J J Dwyer
A post-mortem was made on Monday by Dr. J. B. Lewis. revealed the cause of death to be a failure of the heart’s action arising from dilation of the organ’s right side. The doctor gave a certificate to that effect, and an inquest is therefore. not to be held. During his whole life Mr. Reside had been a stranger to illness, and he came from a long-lived family, of whom no other member has manifested similar weakness. Mr. Reside was an extremely abstemious man and one who was, apparently not prone to excessive excitement.
Grave of John Reside – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo Danelle Warnock
On Tuesday, attended with every expression of public sorrow the mortal remains of the late Mr. J. Reside, M.L.A., were committed to their last earthly abode in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. Early in the morning wreaths began to arrive at the Trades Hall, and theyr were so numerous, that they had to be conveyed to the cemetery by a special vehicle. The body lay in state for some time before the funeral, and large numbers of people visited the chamber of death. The coffin bore the inscription:
“John Reside. died 28th September, 1902. aged 33 years.”
The cortege, about half a mile in length, was headed by a band composed of drafts from the Boulder City A.W.A., and Kalgoorlie bands. The solemn strains of “The Dead March” beat slow time for the mourners during the long journey to the cemetery. Following was a double file of unionists representing all the Eastern Goldfields unions, more particularly those with which the dead man, was more intimately associated – the Trades and Labor Council and the A.C.E.D.A.–and behind the unionists marched members of the Hannans Progress Committees and the M.U.I.O.O.F. (Kalgoorlie Lodge), of which the deceased was a member.
The hearse was preceded by the flower vehicle and succeeded by the mourning coach. containing Messrs. W. J. and J. C. Reside, Miss Reside. and Mrs. Scott. Beside the hearse walked several Parliamentary and unionist friends. About 30 private vehicles formed the concluding unit of the cortege, which passed along streets thickly lined for some distance with sympathetic people.
At the gates of the cemetery “The Dead March” swelled forth from the band
for the last time, and then began the mournful procession to the grave. The grave is situated in the Presbyterian portion of the cemetery. Round it grouped a crowd of several hundred people. The Rev. J. Haynes read a prayer, and the Rev J. H. Shallberg (of Victoria) preached a short funeral oration. Seldom, he said, had death taken so fine a form of promising a life.
Grave of John Reside – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – Photo Danelle Warnock
Rev. J. Haynes gave forth the splendid words of Job, beginning “Man that is born of woman”. The scene was strangely impressive – the motionless crowd, bareheaded around the grave, distant trees swaying in the sharp wind, and the canopy of dark threatening clouds. Some of the dead man’s old comrades were moved to tears. Those who paid the last mark of respect to the late members for Hannans were representative of all classes of the community.
Biography:
John Reside (19 August 1867 – 28 September 1902) was an Australian trade unionist and politician who was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1901 until his death, representing the seat of Hannans.
He was born at Emu Point, White Hills, Bendigo, Victoria to William Reside and Nancy Agnes nee Carr. He attended the Bendigo School of Mines and qualified as a mine engine driver in 1888, afterward working at various mines in the local area. He also became involved in the labour movement, serving as a branch president of the Engine Driver’s Union and as a member of Bendigo’s trades and labour council.
Reside moved to Kalgoorlie Western Australia in 1897, and helped to found the Eastern Goldfields Trades and Labour Council of which he later became president. Reside entered parliament at the 1901 state election, winning the newly created seat of Hannans. However, his time in parliament was short-lived, as he collapsed and died suddenly in September 1902, aged only 35, he was unmarried.
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A very sad tale. The funeral procession is very impressive as is Mr Reside’s grave.
Moved to tears by this extraordinary man’s life and a strange sudden death!😢