Walter Skelton was born in Scarsdale, Victoria, on 5 February 1864, the son of Walter Skelton and Maria Moyle.[1] His parents were sufficiently prosperous to educate him at Wesley College[2] in Melbourne. In 1883 his father, also a draper, died in Dunolly.[3] In 1885 he tendered for a new house to be built.[4] On 11 March 1887 at Collingwood he married Grace Elizabeth Threlkeld[1] in her parents' house.[5] Their son, Walter, was born in 1888 and passed away within 5 month.[1] Then in 1890 they had a daughter, Ida Frances, who lived a full life.[1]
Business
Walter Skelton Poultry - Dunolly - Advertisement 1900
Skelton was an accountant and also a businessman; in 1900 the Weekly Times reported that ‘At Dunolly he carries on business as a merchant, and is a leading public man’.[2][6] He ran one of the drapery businesses in Dunolly until 1910 when he offered it for sale by tender.[7]
He was a breeder of fine poultry ‘who delights in the feather hobby’ – Indian Game, Black Orpingtons and Langshams.[8] Over the first decade of the 20th century Skelton entered many poultry competitions and either won his class or was well placed nearly every year from 1902 to 1910.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15] While he delighted in the hobby, it was also a business as he sold poultry and fertilised eggs.[16] The eggs had a warranty on their fertility or immediate replacement.[16]
Skelton invented and applied for a patented on an improved combination water tank and cool chamber in 1896.[17] In 1900 his solicitor wrote to the Herald newspaper in Melbourne requesting publication of the letter to clarify to the public his patent another claimed inventor.[18] The letter advises that Skeltons invention had previously been published in "The Scientific Australian".[18]
Community
Skelton was appointed a lieutenant in the Victorian Rangers, the Colony of Victoria's volunteer infantry in November 1889.[19]
He was a member of the Dunolly Borough Council, being first elected unopposed in an extraordinary election in 1894.[20] While 1900 was the third year in succession he was elected Mayor of the borough of Dunolly.[2]
Skelton was a Justice of the Peace (JP).[21][22] On 16 October 1901 he was appointed a magistrate, ‘to keep the peace in the Midland Bailiwick of Victoria’.[23]
Australian Natives' Association
Skelton was a founding member and the first Vice President of the Dunolly ANA Branch No. 33 in June 1885.[24] Dunolly was one of the flourishing gold fields towns where there was a rich source of members needing the support of a Friendly Society such as the ANA.[24] The branch grew steadily while the gold held out.[24] Skelton attended his first annual ANA conference in 1886 and was a regular attendee thereafter.[25] At the 1900 conference he was elected Chief President after a strong challenge from James Liddell Purves a previous Chief President and a capable and charismatic speaker.[26][27]
Skelton was the board of directors’ candidate for the presidency at the 1900 ANA annual conference in Geelong.[26] He was opposed by Purves, who had the backing of a number of metropolitan branches.[26] Skelton was ‘not one of the orators of the association’, rather a hard worker on its behalf.[26] He defeated Purves soundly, probably because it was widely believed that Purves was intending to use the ANA to enter federal politics.[26] Skelton's presidency was not marked by controversy or rancorous debate.
His election as Chief President also meant he was to host the 1900 Intercolonial Conference of ANA.[25] He also saw the culmination of almost 20 years of work by the ANA to bring about the federation of the six Australian Colonies into the Commonwealth of Australia.[25] Skelton was the head of a maturing organisation that now had an average membership age of nearly 30 years.[28] This is 10 years older than it was in the 1880s, it was also something that would keep growing.[28]
Skelton was also involved in the opening of the Carngham ANA Branch No. 198 opened in 1900.[29]
In appreciation of his services Skelton was presented with a gold medal studded with six diamonds stars.[25]
In his address to the 1901 ANA Conference Skelton made the following points:
Referring to the death of Queen Victoria he said few received affection from world as she had;[30]
Referring to the planned interstate conference of ANA boards of directors he urged:
Federating the Australian Natives’ Association;[30]
Subscriptions for members serving in the South African conflict he said treat it in a business like manner rather than a sentimental spirit;[30]
Commended the principles of the old age pension;[30]
Recognised the achievement of federation of the Australian Colonies;[30]
Challenged members to study the great national questions;[30]
observed that the ANA had been called a nursery for politicians while the ANA is apolitical and non religious and that politicians in its ranks represented all shades of opinion.[30]
^ abAveling, Marian (1970). A History of The Australian Natives Association 1871-1900. Melbourne: Department of History, Monash University - Thesis. p. 414.
^Menadue, J. E. (1971). A Centenary History of the Australian Natives' Association 1871 - 1971. Melbourne. p. 76.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
