Individual Details

Birth

Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
Name: Edwin Tomkins
Birth Date: Abt 1863
Birth Place: Mcar, Victoria
Registration Year: 1863
Registration Place: Victoria, Australia
Father: Henry Holland Tomkins
Mother: Martha Baker
Registration Number: 2999

Marriage

Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index, 1837-1950
Name: Edwin Tomkins
Gender: Male
Marriage Registration Year: 1893
Marriage Registration Place: Victoria, Australia
Spouse: Esther Collett
Reference Number: 527

Death

Death of Mr. Edward Tomkins
Pioneer of Benambra District
One of the pioneer graziers of the Benambra district, Mr. Edward Tomkins, has passed away. He was 87 years of age.
Always a man who derived a great deal of happiness from his work or his recreation, he was working in his garden where he spent so much of his time since his retirement when he collapsed and died on Friday.
Mr. Tomkins was born at Macarthur 87 years ago, where his father Henry Holland Tomkins was established in the grazing industry. He went to Benambra at the age of 11 years and the 47 years he lived there he saw a vast change in the development of transport which followed when the Country Roads Board was constituted, and a new conception of road construction was put into practice.
Mr. Tomkins was a recognised authority on live stock. He made a success of his enterprise as a grazier, and for many years was the district representative for A. Macarthur & Co., stock and station agents. He was a well-informed man and he always made a very practical and intelligent contribution to community service. In sport he found a great deal of enjoyment. In his early manhood he was a well-known runner and hurdle racer. and for manv years he kept up his association with rifle clubs. He was an expert trout fisherman, and few men were more frequently seen at the favorite haunts in the mountain streams, where he spent so many happy hours.
As a judge of merino sheep and sheep dogs, Mr. Tomkins' services were sought and gladly given at Gippsland shows.
Mr. Tomkins retired from the grazing industry in 1921 and came to live in East Bairnsdale. He retained his keen interest in angling in the district streams, but most of his time was spent in his garden in which he took a great deal of pride. Many East Gippslanders will mourn the loss of a genial companion and faithful friend, whose life was an outstanding example of honesty and uprightness in word and deed.
Mr. Tomkins married Miss Esther Collett, of Benambra. His son, Edwin, serving with the A.I.F. in the 1014-18 war was killed in action. He is survived by his wife and members of the family are:— May (Mrs. Raymond), Cecil, Herbert, Essie (Mrs. Barrie), Frederick, Reginald and Alan.
There was a large representation of district residents at the funeral which took place on Sunday afternoon. The service of the Church of England was conducted at the graveside in the Bairnsdale cemetery by Rev. G. F. D. Smith, and the Masonic service was read by Mr. W. E. Baker. The funeral director was Mr. Geo. Holford.