MINTORN, William (1888-1979)
Honorary Life Member 1967
OBITUARY: The Society has lost one of its oldest, and in earlier years most active and energetic, members by the death, at the advanced age of 91, of Mr. William Victor Mintorn (Honorary Life Member). Mrs. Mintorn predeceased him. To his son William and his daughters Lorraine and Julie the Society extends sincere sympathy.
Mr. Mintorn had lived at Manly since 1973, but until leaving the district had regularly attended Society meetings. Until advancing age compelled him to relinquish more active work, he was for many years a Councillor and officer of the Society. As a record of his services it would be impossible to improve on the tribute which appeared in the October 1973 Bulletin (contributed by another stalwart of the Society's early days, the late Mr. A. P. Fleming).
Bill Mintorn joined the Society in its foundation year and served it loyally as Councillor and Honorary Curator-Librarian for many years, being made an Honorary Life Member in 1967. Born in Wollongong well over eighty years ago, he is a perfect example of ''Living History," as over the years his quiet ''but l was there" has clinched many a discussion and illuminated or expanded some point of local history. He addressed the Society on a number of occasions and his graceful accounts of our excursions, especially the ''three dayers." over the years were a feature of the early Bulletins.
Apart from being briefly one of the four original operators of the Wollongong telephone service (1908) his working life was spent at the E.R. & S. Co. Pty. Ltd., from whkh be retired in a senior administrative position. He is remembered, however, to at least two and possibly three generations as ''The Weatherman" and/or "Mr. Cricket." As "The Weatherman•· his comments were always of interest and his meticulous work culminated in his appointment as the first non-departmental official recorder. On the cricket field he earned respect as a player, umpire and administrator and the number of honours awarded would fill a score book. His "History of Cricket in lllawarra'' published in the now defunct "South Coast Times'' ( 1963) is invaluable to that date and must be the basis of future works.
An original member of the present Showground Trust, he represented summer sports until reaching the statutory retiring age of 70. In civic affairs he has been concerned with progress and betterment associations, and for a lifetime has been a devoted worker for the Smith Family. As a gardener he also merited acclaim.
Illawarra Historical Society Bulletin November 1979
PERSONAL — MR. WILLIAM VICTOR MINTORN:
After the September meeting had adjourned for supper, the President announced that Mr. and Mrs. Mintorn were shortly to take up residence at Manly.
Bill Mintorn joined the Society in its foundation year and served it loyally as Councillor and Honorary Curator-Librarian for any years, being made an Honorary Life Member in 1967. Born in Wollongong well over eighty years ago, he is a perfect example of “Living History”, as over the years his quiet “but I was there” has clinched many a discussion and illuminated or expanded some point of local history.
He addressed the Society on a number of occasions and his graceful accounts of our excursions, especially the “three dayers”, over the years were a feature of the early bulletins. Apart from being briefly one of the four original operators of the Wollongong telephone service (1908) his working life was spent at the E.R. & S. Co. Pty. Ltd., from which he retired in a senior administrative position.
He is remembered, however, to at least two and possibly three generations as “The Weatherman” and /or “Mr. Cricket”. As “The Weatherman” his comments were always of interest and his meticulous work culminated in his appointment as the first non-departmental official recorder. On the cricket field he earned respect as a player, umpire and administrator and the number of honours awarded would fill a score book.
His “History of Cricket in Illawarra” published in the now defunct “South Coast Times” (1963) is invaluable to that date and must be the basis of future works. An original member of the present Showground Trust, he represented summer sports until reaching the statutory retiring age of 70. In civic affairs he has been concerned with progress and betterment associations, and for a lifetime has been a devoted worker for the Smith Family. As a gardener he has also merited acclaim. This tribute endorses the President’s wishes for a happy time in their new life for Mr. and Mrs. Mintorn.
Alec Fleming
Illawarra Historical Society Bulletin October 1973