Australian Groups

Lot 2721       Australian Groups

Estimate $400
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $780

PAIR. Volunteer Officers' Decoration (VRI); Silver Jubilee Medal 1935. Major A.J. Gould 4th Inf. Regt. 1866-95. First medal engraved and in Garrard's case of issue, second medal unnamed. Very fine.

VD: New South Wales Government Gazette 768 of 19November 1895. Together with: extracts from the N.S.W. Army and Navy Lists of 1896 and Army list of 1907; extract from Australian Dictionary of Biography and copies of newspaper reports of his death and State funeral. The Honourable Sir Albert John Gould Kt, lawyer and statesman, was born at Sydney on 12 February 1847. After attending school at Parramatta, he studied law at the University of Sydney and was admitted as a solicitor in December 1870. Beginning work the following year at Singleton NSW, he had by 1887 established his own practice both there and in Sydney, being co-founder of the legal firm of Gould and Shaw. He eventually moved to Sydney in 1897. Whilst at Singleton, Gould was active in local affairs and in 1882 was elected to the Patrick's Plains (Singleton from 1894) seat in the Legislative Assembly, serving under Sir Henry Parkes as Minister for Justice from 1889 to 1891 and in the same portfolio from 1894 to 1896 in Sir George Reid's government. As a minister, Gould proved himself to be an energetic administrator and built up a reputation as a skilful and judicious debator in the parliament. Having lost his seat in 1898, the following year Reid nominated him to the Legislative Council. At Federation in 1901, Gould was elected as one of the first Federal Senators from New South Wales. Re-elected in 1906, he was President of the Senate from 1907 to 1910, being created a Knight Bachelor in 1908. He remained a Senator until 1917, when the National Party declined to re-endorse his candidature. Although treated by the press as an elder statesman, Gould devoted his remaining years to his extensive business, charitable and church interests. He was chairman of the Sydney Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation and a director of the City Bank of Sydney. He was also a director of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children, as well as serving as the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Sydney and for many years as a member of the General Synod of Australia. In his earlier years Gould had been a supporter of the Volunteer movement, having enlisted in the Fourth Infantry Regiment in 1866. Commissioned in 1884 he was awarded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration in 1895 and retired as Lieutenant Colonel on 1 September 1902. He was subsequently awarded King George V's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935. A Freemason from 1879, he was Master of Lodge St. Andrew in 1883 and also a Mark Mason and a Royal Arch Mason. Sir Albert Gould died at Sydney on 27 July 1936 and was survived by three daughters and two sons. Mr J. Lyons the Prime Minister said at the time that 'the distinguished public service rendered by the late Sir Albert Gould in the State and Federal spheres, including his term as President of the Senate, will long be remembered with gratitude by the people of this country'. The Acting New South Wales State Premier Sir Michael Bruxner also commented that 'although his death breaks an important link with the past, the memory of his lofty ideals and notable achievements will long be treasured'. At a State funeral in St Andrew's Cathedral the following day, Archdeacon Langley in his eulogy stated that 'Australia has lost one of its leaders and most devoted servants. Although he was a fighter, there was no bitterness in his nature. He was one of the kindest of men.' Following the State funeral he was buried in South Head cemetery.