Thomas Brady

In Thomas's obituary in the Kilmore Free Press newspaper ( Victoria, Australia) Thursday the 23rd of August 1917 it states, "An old colonist of 70 years standing, Mr Thos. Brady, died at Flowerdale on the 15th.  Mr Brady who reared a large and respectable family, was a native of Cavan, Ireland and was an excellent type of the Victorian pioneer- manly, patriotic, straightforward and honorable.  It is only about five years since the writer had the privelidge of a very long interview with Mr Brady at his home in Flowerdale when he was very vigorous for his time of life and conversed upon several topics, more especially Home Rule for Ireland, of which he was an ardent advocate, his remarks generally gave evidence of intellectual activity displaying a tenacious memory, with a good grasp of the happenings in Reedy Creek.

Mr Brady leaves a grown up family of 11 sons and daughters, 29 grand-children, and 7 great grand-children.  Almost up to the time of his death he was hale, hearty and strong and at all times of great heart.  The general opinion  beng that he was a "grand old man".

His long residence in the district and personality naturally made him a noted landmark, and old residents who have left the area were frequently making enquiries regarding his welfare.

From the time of his arrival in Australia he was mining at the Ti-Tree in the early diggings, at Woods Point and at Yea.

During his lifetime he met with many accidents.  On one occaison  whilst working at the Providence mine he was crushed by a fall of earth weighing about two tonnes.  His injuries consisted of a broken leg, two collar bones broken and a hip put out of joint. On another occaison he fell of a load of wool and had his thigh broken.  As he was being taken away to the Kilmore hospital he waved his hand to his friends, many of whom thought they were bidding him a last farewell.  But he rallied and was soon back amongst them again. On one occaison he was removed to the Kilmore hospital dead house.

Old residents relate many little incidents in the deceased life.  Mr John Aldous of Yea another old identity has a lively recollection of the deceased who was an old man when Mr Aldous was a lad of nine years old. Whilst on a recent visit to Melbourne, Mr James Payne of Flowerdale met a large number of former residents of theYea district, everyone of whom made enquires about Mr Brady. The last years of Mr Brady's life were spent in farming pursuits at Flowerdale.  His remains were interred in the Yea cemetery, where the last rites of the church were performed by Father Ellis.  Every part of the district was represented at the funeral.