Cudgegong Valley History Project

DEATH OE A PIONEER. Mr. William Keech, aged 86, passed away at his residence, Camboon, on Tuesday evening, 14th instant. Deceased was one of the pioneer settlers of Rylstone district, and was one of the most successful. He came from the Motherland. He was not afraid of hard work and long hours, and did things thoroughly. These qualities were the medium of his success. His motto might have been "Waste not, want not." Few, if any men, were more respected, and he leaves a family of sons and daughters who will honorably sustain and preserve the reputation of their parents. Mrs. Keech predeceased her husband by several years. To record all that might be written of the late Mr. Keech's life and connection with this district would run into columns. Suffice it to say that he was a moral, exemplary unit of this locality during the fifty odd years of his residence, and as he lived so he died. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, and was well attended, though the news of the passing had not reached far into the surrounding district. The remains were interred in the Methodist portion of the cemetery, the Rev. Mr. Drummond carrying out the service at the grave most impressively (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 23 April 1914, page 7).

The late William Keech came out to this country with the father of the well-known Dewey family, now deceased. Both were hardy pioneers, and knew how to hold money when they earned it. A coincidence was that both men, though they parted, when landing, eventually drifted to this district. (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 23 April 1914, page 7).

Corporal K. Keech. Corporal Kenneth Keech was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Keech, of Lilydale (Rylstone) and Mudgee. He enlisted from Tamworth, where he had lived for six years, in the early days of the war, and fought at Gallipoli for some months, receiving a bad wound in the leg from which he only recovered a few months ago. He was a splendid type of soldier, and returned comrades of his have said that he deserved the V.C. on more than one occasion for his bravery. A sad feature of his death is that his parents, who are living in Mudgee, have been very unwell of late. Mrs Keech has been in a particularly low state of health, while her husband has also suffered considerable. The blow is a sudden and severe one to them. Only a few hours before the news of his death came through we were handed a letter written by Corporal Keech on the day before he met with his untimely end. Deceased was 29 years of age. He was an eloquent speaker, a good Church worker, and a splendid hand at landscape painting. He leaves sorrowing father and mother and the following sisters and bers to mourn: - Mrs. J. Olde (Manildra), Alice, Grace, Ethel, Marion and Gladys (Mudgee), and Stanley (Maitland), Vincent (Putta-bucca, Mudgee), James Garnard (Tamworth), Leslie (Orange), Edward (Tamworth). Aubrey, Maurice and Harold (Lilydale, Rylstone), and Percy (Maitland) (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 21 August 1916, page 2).

Killed in Action. PRIVATE AUBREY CHARLES KEECH. The sad news came through on Saturday morning, by way of a telegram from the military authorities to the Rev. W. Danks, Superintendent of the Mudgee Methodist Circuit, of the death in action, in France, of Pte. Aubrey C. Keech, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Keech, Lilydale, Rylstone, and a member of the well known district family of that name. Pte. Aubrey C. Kcech, who was about 25 years of age, was the second son to sacrifice his life in the great war. The ber who earlier paid the supreme penalty was Corporal Kenneth Keech, who fell a little over two years ago. Pte. Aubrey C. Keech was an exceptionally fine specimen of young Australian manhood, and was greatly beloved by all who knew him, left Australia on his way for the front in November, 1916. Prior to enlisting he was working on his father's farm. A third ber, Private Percy Keech, has also enlisted, and was to have left Mudgee for camp on Saturday, when he was arrested by the sad news of his ber's death, and was given indefinite leave by the recruiting staff at Mudgee (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 21 October 1918, page 3).

Sudden Death. MR EDWIN KEECH. The news was received in Mudgee last week of the death of Mr. Edwin Keech, formerly of Mudgee, and "Lilydale," Rylstone, and now of Sydney. The deceased, who was 67 of years of age, had been living in retirement for some years past, and had been in very indifferent health. Last week he paid a visit to Wiseman's Ferry, where his son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs. J. Olde reside. The deceased went to Wisemans Ferry with the intention of enjoying some fishing, and after walking some little distance he succumbed into a faint, and died shortly after. The deceased was born at Broombee and lived at Camboon, "Lilydale," Rylstone and Mudgee, and was one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of the Mudgee and Rylstone districts. For many years he successfully carried on farming operations in the Rylstone district, and was considered an efficient farmer and grazier. The deceased was married to Miss Charlotte Mogg, daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Mogg of Mudgee. Besides his widow he is survived by the following children: - Stanley (West Maitland), Vincent (Butta Bucca, Mudgee), James ("Gorn") (Tamworth), Mrs. J. Olde (Wiseman's Ferry), Leslie (Orange), Alice (Sydney). Mrs. Williams (Sydney), Ethel (Sydney), Maurice ("Lilydale," Rylstone, Percy "Lilydale," Rylstone), Marion and Gladys (Sydney). Two other sons Corporal Kenneth and Private Aubrey Keech, were killed in action. The deceased is also survived by the following bers and sisters: - Mrs. Cameron (Mudgee), Alfred (Lithgow), Mrs. Charles Mogg (Mudgee), William (Drayton, near Rylstone), Mrs. George White (Queensland), Arthur (Camboon), Alice (California), Thomas (Camboon), Mrs. George Brown (Mt. Brace, near Rylstone), Wesley (Lismore), Percy ("Loma," near Rylstone), Mrs. West (Sydney), Mrs. Allan Rose (Mittagong). The remains were interred in the Wiseman's Ferry cemetery on Thursday last (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 23 May 1921, p. 8).

VINCENT ALFRED KEECH. THERE passed away in Lane Cove, Sydney, on September 29, Vincent Alfred Keech, well known in Mudgee, where he carried on farming for a number of years at Putta Bucca, and since then had been in business at Mosman, and for the past year at Lane Cove. Vin, as he was popularly known to all his friends in this district, was an enthusiastic cricketer and tennis player, and for a number of, years was a member of the Mudgee District Cricket Association, and also of Wilbetree C.C., where he earned the respect and esteem of all his club mates. He was honest and upright and was ever ready to do a good turn for anyone in need. He was the son of late Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Keech, of Lillydale, Rylstone, and has many relatives and friends in Mudgee and Rylstone districts, who will be sorry to hear of his passing. There was a large family of boys and girls, 16 in all. Two bers paid the supreme sacrifice in the last war, and Perce, second youngest ber, is ready to go overseas with the A.I.F. The rest are scattered over N.S.W. All the sisters live in the suburbs of Sydney. Although Vin had been ailing for 10 months his sudden death was a shock to all his relatives and friends, and of him it may truly be said, "His sun went down while yet 'twas day.' He leaves a sorrowing widow who, prior to her marriage, was Miss Rochester. Mr. Joseph Keech, of Wilbetree, is a cousin (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 3 November 1941, page 2).

DEATHS: KEECH, Harold Colin.-October 8 1947. at Prince Henry Hospital. Harold Colin Keech, late of Attunga, Tamworth, beloved husband of Faith Mavis, and loving ber of Garnett, Edward, Leslie, Percy, Maurice, Lillian, Alice, Grace. Ethel, Marion, and Gladys, aged 47 years. (Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 9 October 1947, page 20).

DEATHS: KEDDIE, Alice Maud, December 3, 1955, as a result of an accident, and late of 99 Gale Road, Maroubra, relict of the late Percival George Keddie, and loved mother and mother-in-law of Marcia and Ralph Pattinson, aged 66 years (Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, December 05, 1955).

Death KEECH, Leslie William. - February 20, 1962, at his residence, 608 Prince’s Highway, Sutherland, dearly loved husband of Linda, and loved father of Eileen, Margaret, Anne and Kenneth, aged 74 years. In God’s care. Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 21 February 1962, p. 38. Death notice Leslie William Keech