Late Mr. G.M.Marsh
An interesting personality was removed by the death on Sunday last at his residence at Roseville, Sydney, of George Milbourne Marsh, at the age of 84. He was for over 40 years associated with the Department of Justice, the last 20 years of which, prior to his retirement about 14 years ago, were spent at Balmain as Chamber Magistrate and C.P.S.
Born at sea on the way out to Australia, from England, he was the only son of the late J.Milbourne Marsh, who also had long association with the department. He was at Yass, Dubbo and Bathurst as P.M.and later S.M. at the Water Police Court.
The late Mr.Marsh had an experience with the Ben Hall gang of bushrangers. The railway at that time did not go beyond Penrith, and he lived with his parents at Wellington, where at that time there were no schools. His education he received in Sydney, and 200 miles between Penrith and Wellington had to be covered on horseback.
The late Mr.Marsh once described an experience:- “My parents decided to send me to school in Sydney,consequently there was nothing for it but ot put the saddle on an Arab mare my father had, and ride to Penrith. I did this journey both ways before and after school vacation for a few years. One morning just after I had left Orange going home prior to the Christmas holidays, I rode into Ben Hall’s gang, then pretty troublesome in the district. I suppose I looked a bit green, or they took a fancy to the mare. They ordered me to stand. I decided to give them a run for it, and putting the mare to it I was soon about to get clear, though they gave chase for some distance. I expected to see them on the return journey, but fortunately did not.
In the 80’s he was appointed to Cobar where most of the miners’ huts were then of hessian or bark. He explained that everyone was happy though. There was no scarcity of meat in the West those days, for the late Mr.Marsh was wont to explain that they used to go out and knock a rabbit over with a stick or trail a scrub turkey. “Mutton grew all round them on the stations. Three of Mr.Marsh’s sons were on active service during the war. Five sons and two daughters survive. His wife predecessed him 17 years ago. A son is Mr.R.Milbourne Masrh of Byron Bay, who is a member of the staff of the Dairy Branch.