Cudgegong Valley History Project

A Gulgong Pressman farewelled.

Mr. A. L. Dowell Honored. Mr. A. L. Dowell who for three years, acted as editor of the Gulgong "Champion," was tendered a farewell banquet at Mr. Lynch's hotel, Gulgong, on Thursday night last. Most of the public bodies were represented. His Worship the Mayor (Ald. R. Heard) occupied the chair. The toast of "The King" was proposed by the Mayor, and loyally drunk. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Aldermen Naughton and Murn, and Messrs. Dowd and Russell. The Mayor remarked that Mr. Dowell had occupied the position of editor of the "Gulgong Champion," for over three years, and during that time had always proved himself to be a true and worthy townsman He had always worked to promote the interests of Gulgong, and as a private citizen he was all that could be desired. His aim had always been to advance the interests of Gulgong, and his Worship was sure all felt sorry they were, losing Mr. Dowell. The town could ill afford to lose a man of his calibre, and the speaker trusted that wherever his lot would be cast it would be a happy one, and that he would meet with every success which the speaker was sure he deserved, because if he did not, then he (the speaker) would not say it. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. E. P. O'Donnell proposed the toast of "Our Guest." It afforded him great pleasure to propose the toast of their guest, while at the same time they were sorry to lose Mr. Dowell, both as a citizen and as editor of the "Gulgong Champion." They were sorry to lose him as a citizen, because it was men like Mr. Dowell who go to make a town what it should be. He was a man who took an interest in public affairs, and a man who, not only by his sympathies but by his presence and by his support, had during the time he had been in Gulgong assisted every movement that tendered for the betterment of the town and district. Mr. Dowell, as a citizen, deserved the thanks of the towns-people. During the past four or five months he had gone out of his way in regard to supplying the towns-people with the latest war news. That fact was not lost sight of by the citizens. As a private individual he was second to none in the town. During his editorship of the "Champion," he had always given fair and accurate reports of all the meetings held in the town. He gave criticism freely. He certainly had "slated" the public bodies at times, such as the Council, of which the worthy chairman was the Mayor; he had kept them up to the mark, and the reverend gentleman was sure that the citizens, the Mayor, and all the public bodies thanked Mr. Dowell, because they all required, now and again, to be spurred on, as they might have been inclined to fall asleep. In that respect Mr. Dowell had done a good and great work. In conclusion, Father O'Donnell expressed his sincere regret at Mr. Dowell's departure, and hoped that he would meet with success wherever he went, and that they would hear of him filling a position that would do credit to himself and the name of Arthur Dowell (Applause.) The Rev. Father D. M. O'Reilly, in supporting the toast, expressed his pleasure at being present so as to publicly express his feelings in connection with Mr. Dowell's departure. They were told that only on occasions when men went away from them that they really recognised their value. He thought, by the gathering, that that was their feeling in regard to Mr. Dowell. They were beginning to realise what a value he was to the town and district and every movement. They all knew from experience that Mr. Dowell had taken a very public and prominent position in all matters that tendered for the advancement of the Gulgong district, and he might say that the cause Mr. Dowell advocated and expoused had been materially benefited by his efforts. The hospital of which he had been a committeeman, might, and did, recognise its sense of loss. In social matters he had always gone forward to give a helping hand. As a press man he came before them mostly, and the speaker believed Mr. Dowell had acted honorably and fairly, and had done a great deal to bring before the public the advantages of Gulgong and promote its interests. He had done that fearlessly, not sitting on the rail and allowing £ s d, like some other papers, to go before them, instead of their duty. He had advocated a cause he considered just and advantageous, and he had honestly tried to push that cause ahead, and they must congratulate him. Father O'Reilly again expressed his regret at Mr. Dowell's departure, and, at the same time, wished him luck and prosperity. (Applause.) Mr. Richards had very much pleasure in supporting the toast. He had come in contact with Mr. Dowell in many ways, both privately and publicly, and whatever public affair he was connected with he always manifested great interest, and did it with great success. (Hear, hear.) He had always done his best, and that was one thing the speaker admired about him. He would be considerably missed by the public. Mr. Dowell would be missed personally by himself, and he was not afraid to say it; again and again he had gone to Mr. Dowell for information regarding the district, and that gentleman had always given it, in a very pleasant way, and if he did not have that information in the office, would take trouble to get it. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Dowell had gone to a great deal of trouble to let people know the war news, and on many occasions he took the trouble to walk to the house and hand the speaker the latest war news. In conclusion, Mr. Richards wished Mr. Dowell all sorts of success wherever he went, and he hoped that before long he would be married. (Applause.) Ald. Beauchamp was very sorry Mr. Dowell was leaving Gulgong, and he wished him every success wherever he went. (Applause.) Mr. J. Judge said it gave him great pleasure to be present that night to say a few words of Mr. Dowell. They were known to each other for a long time, and he wished to say that Mr. Dowell had proved himself a man. On all occasions Mr. Dowell had gone forward and did his work, and did it well. (Applause.) Mr. Judge also wished their guest every success. Mr. English remarked that he was very sorry Mr. Dowell was leaving. He would be very much missed as a citizen. The public was very much indebted to Mr. Dowell for the trouble he had taken in connection with the war news, which was always well posted at the "Champion" "war" office. In all social matters he had taken a leading part - never shirking his duties. The hospital, and also all the social bodies, would miss Mr. Dowell very much. Mr. De Groen said he could only cordially re-echo the sentiments already expressed at the departure of his worthy friend, Mr. Arthur Dowell. When he (the speaker) first came to Gulgong he was strongly advised by those whom he thought knew, to keep out of everything and not take an interest in anything. But he had arrived at the conclusion that he made a big mistake. On one thing he must congratulate Mr. Dowell. If a man had an opinion of his own, Mr. Dowell never took offence when that opinion was pressed. (Hear, hear.) He wished Mr. Dowell all the success he deserved and no one deserved it more than one who had played the part of a man. Through his association with Mr. Dowell he had found him a man to the core. When they met a man they could appreciate him. May he soon see his way clear to enter into double harness, concluded Mr. De Groen. Father O'Reilly: You are looking to the wedding ring. (Laughter.) Mr. Miller, on behalf of the country friends of Mr. Dowell, expressed his sorrow at the departure of their guest. He had always reported the country meetings to the best of his ability. The toast was enthusiastically drunk, and then his Worship the Mayor, on behalf of Mr. Dowell's friends, presented him with a hand some gold wristlet watch, which, the Mayor was sure, their guest would value. He was sure Mr Dowell richly deserved it, and it seemed a pity that the present was not coupled with a purse of sovereigns. Their guest had proved himself one of their best townsmen, and one the people should be proud of, and it was his (the Mayor's) hope that wherever Mr. Dowell settled down his lot would be cast in a happy place. (Applause.) Mr. A. L. Dowell, on rising to respond, was accorded an enthusiastic reception. It was, he said an awkward moment in a man's life. He did not know whether he deserved the praise they had given him. Mr. Richard: You do! Continuing, Mr. Dowell thanked all for the very kindly remark they had made, and the spirit which had prompted them to be present that night. Three years ago he came to Gulgong on a job, which he knew was rather tough, and he came with the fixed intention of doing what he thought, right in the interests of the public (applause) and to help for the betterment of the people as a whole. He wished to tell them that above everything he held that as his duty, and he did not think that he had deviated one inch from that course. No doubt that attitude had caused him a little trouble at times. But when one was straight, and he hoped he was straight, and as a newspaperman to help matters of public interest, he considered it a duty of a pressman, if given a free hand, to make use of what he thought, in the interests of the public as a whole. Through that he had cause to think that he had made a few enemies. Rev. Father O'Donnell: A man is no good without an enemy. Mr. Richards: The Kaiser has a few. Mr. Dowell: Yes; the Kaiser has a few, and I am one. Proceeding, he remarked, in a facetious strain, that he had no intention of getting married, not for the present. He thanked them for the kindly remarks, and mentioned that whatever little trouble he had taken to do anyone an act of kindness, he did it because he thought it was the duty of a man to help his fellow man. He thanked them for the present. In conclusion, he wished the Gulgong district every prosperity. (Applause.) The toast of "The District" was proposed by Mr. Dowell and responded to by Messrs. Richards and English. The Rev. D. M. O'Reilly proposed the toast of "Mr Dowell's successor" (Mr. R. E. McClintock), and his Worship the Mayor, on behalf of the citizens, extended a hearty welcome to Gulgong to Mr. McClintock. The toast of "The Chairman," proposed by Mr. Dowell, was enthusiastically drunk, and, after the Mayor had responded and the company had sung "Auld Lang Syne," the proceedings came to a close. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 11 February 1915, p. 29. Arthur Dowell Farewell

Gulgong Personal

The sympathy of the residents of Gulgong district is extended to Mr. J. H. Stahl, whose father, Mr. Lou Stahl, aged 95 years (known as the grand old man of Dunedoo), passed away in Dunedoo War Memorial Hospital last Thursday. Deceased sustained a fall recently, fracturing his hip. He is survived by his wife (to whom he was married in Gulgong 69 years ago), a son, Mr. J. H. Stahl (Gulgong), three daughters, Mesdames A. L. Dowell (Chatswood), J. Dulvey (Wollongong), and T. J. Weedman (Brisbane, Q). At the funeral at Dunedoo last Friday, Gulgong Bowling Club (of which Mr. J. H. Stahl is president) was represented by Messrs. E. J. Gudgeon and E. A. Marsh. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 11 June 1953, p. 17. Arthur Dowell In Chatswood