My father was eldest son of J.R.C. and was educated at Geelong Grammar and Longerenong. He went to Europe when he was 29 and taught Maths, science and languages in various schools. With a friend he owned a private school in Paris. He also walked from Paris to Madrid teaching along the way. In 1912, after marrying a French girl, who is still living in Melbourne, aged 85, he left France (where I was born) and purchased a property at Cockatoo, where we made our home. He resumed teaching at Prince Alfred (Adelaide) Wesley and Camberwell Grammar. Later he returned to farming at Cockatoo, Trafalgar and Calignee. He retired to Maldon, where he died in 1963 at the age of 91.
Ray's father had had a very good education and was quite clever. He could speak several languages andlived in France for a number of years and married Ray's mother (who was French). Ray's mother was 19 when she married him and his father was 36. His father was 40 when Ray was born. His mother and father were divorced when Ray was 18.
(continued in Malcolm Georges Crooke)
- First wife of Robert James.
It can be said that few people have packed more experience into a lifetime than did popular and colorful Maldon personality, Mr Robert James Crooke, whose death at his home in High-st. on Tuesday, July 9, at the age of 90 years, caused widespread regret in the town and district.
The late Mr. Crooke was born at Manor House, Bacchus Marsh, in December 1872. He was later a pupil at Geelong Grammar and Xavier College.
His most prized possession was a gold medal awarded to him as dux of Longerenong College in 1894. These medals were awarded alternatively each year to Longeranong and Dookie Colleges by the Council of Agricultural Education.
He remembered the Kelly family at Glenrowan, and witnessed the Kelly Gang robbery of the bank there. He remembered also when the police, with Captain Moonlight in custody, stayed at the Woolpack Inn at Bacchus Marsh, of which his grandfather, Elijah, was owner and licensee.
Entering the teaching profession, the late Mr. Crooke was at various times a master at Wesley College, Melbourne Grammar, Camberwell Grammar, Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, and Hailebury, Brighton.
He spoke several languages, and preferred to read books written in French or Spanish.
Mr Crooke and Mr Harry Cottell, his lifelong friend, went to Paris in 1901 and taught at schools in Paris. He and three others ran a school of languages in Paris.
Returning to Australia in 1912, Mr Crooke settled and farmed at Cockatoo in a colorful era to 1928. He later farmed at Trafalgar South and Calignee, and came to Maldon in 1949.
Always a keen walker, he could until recently be seen taking long walks on the roads around Maldon. Whilst abroad he walked from Paris to Madrid, and some years ago walked from Melbourne to Sydney.
All his life he was also a keen chess player and his ability in this regard was far above average.
In addition to his sorrowing wife, deceased is survived by four sons and daughter, viz., Robert, Marcelle (Mrs. A. M. Frame), Raymond, Maurice and Malcolm. There are also 13 grandchildren.
The funeral took place on Wednesday when, following a service at Holy Trinity Church of England, conducted by the Rev. A. A. Holtham, a large cortege followed the remains to the Maldon Cemetery.
Casket-bearers were Messrs. Robert Crooke, Raymond Crooke (sons), Harry Cottell, Doug Haig, Robert Street and Doug Shannon.
Among the many beautiful floral tributes received were wreaths from Maldon Ladies' Croquet Club, Holy Trinity Church of England, and Stevens & Allan's Garage.
One of Maldon's oldest and best loved citizens, Mr. Robert James Crooke, died at his home, High St., Maldon on July 9 in his 91st year, after a short illness.
Mr. Crooke was active until a few months prior to his death. His veegetable garden was a credit to a much younger man and he was a regular visitor to the Maldon Athenaeum Library where subscribers welcomed the opportunity of a chat with such an intellectual and well informed personality.
He also read widely in French and Spanish and it was his pleasure to tutor any interested persons in these languages.
Mr. Crooke enjoyed playing chess and card games, and regularly attended card evenings in Maldon.
Born at Bacchus Marsh in 1872, he was educated at Geelong Grammar School Xavier College.
At the age of 22 he was dux of the Longerenong Agricultural College.
He wore the gold inscribed medal with pride all his life.
He witnessed the Kelly gang robbery at Glenrowan and often recalled the occasion when the police captured Captain Moonlight and all stayed at the Woolpack Inn at Bacchus Marsh. At that time, his grandfather was the owner and licensee of the hotel.
As a member of the teaching profession, Mr. Crooke taught at Wesley college, both Melbourne and Camberwell Grammar Schools, Prince Alfred College in Adelaide and Hailebury at Brighton.
At the age of 29 he went abroad and lived in France and Spain for ten years. He taught at schools in Paris and was a partner in opening a school of languages there.
Mr. Crooke was a great hiker and he saw much of life in France and Spain on a walking tour from Paris to Madrid and on many other lesser hikes in those countries.
Returning to Victoria he took up farming, first at Cockatoo, then at Trafalgar South and Caligneer
Fourteen years ago he retired to live in Maldon.
Mr Crooke is survived by his widow, four sons and daughter, Robert, Marcelle (Mrs. A. Frame), Raymond, Maurice and Malcolm, also 13 grandchildren.
The funeral on July 10 followed a service at Holy Trinity Church, Maldon. A service was conducted by the Rev. A. A. Holtham and was largely attended by residents who mourned the passing of a polished gentleman and friend. Burial was in the Maldon Cemetery.
Casket-bearers were Messrs. Robert and Raymond Crooke (sons), Harry Cottell (life-long friend), Douglas Haig, Robert Street and Douglas Shannon.
It is perhaps understandable but regrettable that there is no reference at all to my grandmother, Alice Louise, Robert James Crooke's first wife and mother of all his children.
There is also no mention of the fact that my grandfather was a committed atheist and would probably have been horrified at the idea of a Church funeral.]
