Mrs. Alex Gaydon, a loved Croquet Club member, dies

The passing of Mrs. Alex Gaydon, which occurred with tragic suddenness on Thursday morning, has cast a cloud of sorrow over the whole community and the sincerest sympathy is expressed for Mr. Gaydon and his daughter and sons in their great bereavement. Though suffering from heart trouble for some time past, Mrs. Gaydon had been much stronger recently. There was no sign that she was seriously ill, and her sudden passing on Christmas Eve—a season of joy and gladness—is doubly sad for her nearest and dearest. Mrs. Gaydon was a woman of exceptional character, and her ability as an organiser, combined with her sweet and gracious personality, endeared her to a very wide circle of friends. There are few charitable organisations in which she was not interested. During the War she was a devoted worker for the Red Cross, and until the time of her death was a member of Simla House Committee. For twenty-one years she held the office of honorary treasurer of the Neil-street Methodist Church Help Society, and was twice president. She was also a life member of the committee. She was a member of the General Hospital Help Society and a greatly loved member of the Toowoomba Croquet Club. The eldest daughter of the late Mr. F. Grayson, M.L.A., of Warwick, Mrs. Gaydon leaves two sisters, Mrs. W. J. Jackson (Brisbane), and Mrs. I. B. Woods (Warwick) and one brother, Mr. G. Grayson (Sydney). Besides her husband, Mr. Alex Gaydon, there are a daughter, Mrs. G. W. Martin (Brisbane) and two sons, Mr. Frank Gaydon (Sydney), who recently returned from Edinburgh, and Mr. Ken Gaydon, who is associated with his father in business in Toowoomba. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at Drayton. Rev. Isaac Bennett officiated at a short service at "Myola," and was assisted by Rev. E. G. Walker (Secretary of the Methodist Congress). Revs. I. Bennett and E. J. Taylor officiated at the graveside. The funeral was very largely attended. The members of the Neil-street Methodist Church Help Society were present and reverently placed the wealth of beautiful flowers which were so appropriately sent as silent messengers of love and esteem to a great garden lover—for Mrs. Gaydon loved her garden, and the beautiful flowers from "Myola" were always a feature of any church or charitable entertainment with which she was associated. Mr. Frank Gaydon, Mr. G. Grayson and Mr. Noel Grayson (a nephew) arrived from Sydney yesterday and Mr. and Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Jackson came from Brisbane and Mrs. Woods from Warwick. Not only in her own home circle, but in the organisations with which she was associated and to many personal friends, Mrs. Gaydon's passing will be a great sorrow. With them we leave these beautiful lines of Rossetti:

Light is our sorrow, for it ends tomorrow, Light is our death which cannot hold us fast; So brief a sorrow can be scarcely sorrow Or death be death so quickly past.

One night, no more, of pain that turns to pleasure, One night, no more, of weeping, weeping sore; And then the heaped-up measure beyond measure, In quietness for evermore.

Our sails are set to cross the tossing river, Our face is set to reach Jerusalem; We toil awhile, but then we rest for ever, Sing with all saints and rest above with them.

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 26 December 1931. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)