Northern Miner (Charters Towers) 21 may 1909
"The fact that Mr. G, P. Sandrock completes his 90th year, on Sunday next (says the Rockhampton "Dally Hecord" of May 14), was the subject of considerable comment and con gratulation at yesterday's meeting of the) Rockhampton General Hospital Committee, and, after the conclusion of its business, the members adjourn ed at the request of the President, to tile Union Hotel, where Mr. Sandrock's health was enthusiastically drunk. In briefly proposing the toast, Mr. Hart ley referred to the fact that he had known.Mr. Sandrock for 45 years, a longer period than anyone present, with the exception of Dr. Callaghan. He taped that Mr. Sandrock would be spared for many years yet, so long as he had his health and vigour.
A short outline of Mr. Sandrock's career may be of Interest to Rockhampton readers at tills present Juncture. He was born on the 16th May, 1819, at Chatham, Kent, England, and was married on the 20th January, 1845, to Miss S. M. Pain (who died on the 11th November 1905, aged 91 years). Prior to this, he had left England for the West Indies (1834) remaining at Barbados three years, after which he returned to England, and took the position of clerk with the firm of Barsham and Lonsdale, until the end of 1843, when he was appointed Relieving Officer at Greenwich, which appointment he kept until 1863. He then left for Sydney, where he took a position as a clerk, and occupied several appointments In that capacity until 1863, when he was appointed third officer of Customs at Rockhampton, arriving here 12th October, 1863.
In 1866 be was promoted to second officeship, and at the end of the same year was appointed Sub-collector of Customs for the Gulf of Carpentaria, with headquarters at Sweer's Island, where he remained until 1873, when he took up the same position at Bowen, which he held until 6th March, 1885. He retired from the Government service on that last date, and built a suburban heme with a lucrative orchard, living thereon until the year of his golden wedding In 1895, when he and Mrs. Sandrock took an extended trip south, visiting friends, after which they came and settled for a second time at Rockhampton.
Mr. Sandrock has two married daughters, Mrs. Kent and Mrs. Simpson (the former now living with him), 14 grandchildren, and 14 great-grand children (now living.)” |
