[Editor: This obituary, regarding Edward Jolley, was published in The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 2 January 1915.]
Death of Mr. Jolley, M.P.
Labor Party’s heavy death toll.
Mr. Edward Francis George Jolley, member of the House of Representatives for the Grampians, died on Thursday night at Maryborough, his native town. Mr. Jolley was elected at the elections on 5th September last, and when Parliament assembled a month later he moved the Address in Reply to the Governor’s speech. His deliverance created quite a favorable impression, but he was not permitted to take part in the subsequent debates. Not long after the commencement of the session Mr Jolley was overcome with nervous prostration. His friends, however, believed that the illness was merely a result of overtaxing his strength in the election campaign, and that a little rest alone was needed to completely restore his health. But his condition did not improve. He sank lower and lower, and eventually collapsed from an attack of hemorrhage of the brain.
The deceased gentleman, who was a barrister and solicitor by profession, was born at Maryborough 40 years ago. His father, the late Mr. Edward Francis Jolley, conducted a brewery for many years. After a State school education at Maryborough Mr. Jolley, jun., studied at Xavier College, Kew. Having matriculated he went to Melbourne University, where he studied for law. He passed through the various examinations with great credit, and before leaving the University took the Master of Arts degree. Having completed his articles Mr. Jolley commenced the practice of his profession at Maryborough. He was closely identified with all movements having for their object the improvement of the town, and was distinctly popular with all classes. His election campaign was notable for the amount of zeal he displayed. He hit hard, but fairly, and his defeat of his opponent, Mr. Hans Irvine, was regarded as a fitting recognition of ability and sincerity to his political creed.
His death, following so closely that of the ex-Minister for External Affairs (Mr. J. A. Arthur) will come as a great shock to members of the Parliamentary Labor party. The death toll on the party has been severe. The late Mr. Jolley was not married.
Acting Prime Minister’s regret.
The Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) stated last night that Mr. Jolley’s death would come as a great shock to every member of the Parliamentary Labor party. A bright and promising career had been cut short. Following so closely on the death of Mr. J. A. Arthur, Mr. Jolley’s demise would be a staggering blow to the party. He was a brilliant young man, on the very threshold of a promising public career. The toll of death on the Labor party during the last four years had been very heavy indeed. His sympathy and that of the members of the party went out to the relatives of the deceased gentleman.
MARYBOROUGH, Friday.
Mr. Jolley last night returned from Warrnambool in his motor car seriously ill from nerve trouble. Dr. Deane was in constant attendance on him, but he died this evening. Mr. Jolley, who in 1874 went to Xavier College, Kew, had a very successful educational career. At Xavier’s he was captain and dux. He won an Ormond College scholarship, and in the second year at the University took a scholarship in British history and jurisprudence. In the next year he took the Wyselaskie scholarship in English and constitutional law. Other honors followed, including distinction in political economy and first place in the final examination for the law of obligations. He also passed qualifying examinations in chemistry, metallurgy, assaying, geology, mineralogy, and was a student in X-rays and wireless telegraphy. He took up the profession of barrister, and built up a solid practice in Maryborough. He was not married.
Source:
The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 2 January 1915, p. 10
Editor’s notes:
captain = school captain (a student in the highest year of a school who has been appointed or elected as the leader and representative of the student body; some schools have two school captains, one male and one female)
dux = the top academic student in a class, year level, or school; the student who has achieved the highest academic marks in a school or in a particular academic discipline
Edward Francis George Jolley = (1874-1915), a lawyer and Labor Party politician; he was born in Maryborough (Victoria) in 1874, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives (1914-1915), and died in Maryborough (Victoria) in 1915
See: 1) “Edward Jolley”, Wikipedia
2) “Jolley, Edward Francis George (1874 – 1915)”, The University of Melbourne Perpetual Calendar (University of Melbourne)
3) “Edward Francis George Jolley”, Historical Database of Australian Elites
jun. = an abbreviation of “junior”, especially used as an appendage to someone’s name (normally a male) to indicate that he is the son of someone of the same name, whilst the father’s name may be appended with the abbreviation “snr.” to indicate that he is the senior of the two (e.g. “John Smith, snr., and John Smith, jun.”)
matriculated = passed a “matriculation examination”, an examination which (if successfully completed) qualifies a student to apply for admission to a university or college; passing a matriculation examination normally means that a student can receive a secondary school leaving certificate, commonly known as a high school certificate
M.P. = (abbreviation) Member of Parliament
[Editor: Changed “Grampians” to “the Grampians”.]
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