Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Charles WILSON and Ann Mary nee CHISHOLM

Husband of Elsie Daisy WILSON nee PRESTON,  of Worlingworth, Annerley, Brisbane, Qld.

Death of Mr. Robert Wilson, Acting Under Secretary for Agriculture and Stock Mr. Robert Wilson, acting Under Secretary for Agriculture and Stock, who had been ailing since  February last, died in a private hospital last night.
He really was the executive head of the department, but as he had almost reached the retiring age when Mr. E. Graham, his predecessor, died, the permanent appointment 
was not made.
The late Mr. Wilson, who was 65 years of age, was born on the Logan River, where his father was engaged in cotton and cane planting, and sugar manufacture. Mr. Robert Wilson was an old Brisbane Grammar Schpol boy. Upon leaving that school and passing the Public Service examination, he was appointed to a junior position in the then infant
Department of Agriculture and Stock. By sheer ability he rose step by step in that department. In practically every branch of which he served until he became its principal executive officer.

EXTRANEOUS DUTIES.
In addition to this, he held at various times the secretaryships of important conferences, such as those dealing with rust in wheat, and of the Board of Advice under the Diseases in Plants Act, tho Meat and Dairy Board, and the Royal Commission on Central Sugarmllls, also of the various annual agricultural conferences held in different parts of the State from 1807 to 1903.
In January, 1935. Mr. Wilson was appointed Assistant Under Secretary, assuming the administrative responsibility under ministerial direction and by delegation from the Under-Secretary of a great department with activities and influence covering rural industry throughout Queensland. He was a member of the Agricultural Bank Board, Deputy  Chairman of the Rural Assistance (Farmers' Rehabilitation Scheme) Board, and a member of the Dairy Products Stabilisation Board. He also was Government representative of  the Butter and Cheese Boards, and other commodity boards operating under the Primary Producers Organisation and Marketing Acts, and related legislation. He frequently accompanied Ministers for Agriculture to the meetings of the Australian Agricultural Council in the South. When the State Hansard staff was short-handed, Mr. Wilson, who was  an expert shorthand writer, capably filled the vacancy until a permanent appointment could be made.
IN THE A.I.F.
The late Mr. Wilson, who was a brother of Brigadier-General L. C. Wilson, served in the Great War with the 47th Battery, 12th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, on the Somme  during the 1916-17 winter, through the autumn operations in the Ypres area in 1917, and the subsequent winter campaign also during the memorable events on the Somme  arid the Lys in the last year of the war. He was a vice-president of the State Service Branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A.

SPORTING ACTIVITIES.
Mr. Wilson was a prominent amateur cyclist and rower, and also an administrator of those sports. He was at various times, treasurer of the Queensland Cyclists' Union, captain,
secretary, and treasurer of the Brisbane Safety Bicycle Club, secretary, captain, and treasurer of the Commercial Rowing Club, a member of the Rowing Council, and selector of the Queensland Rowing Association.
In 1903 and 1904 ho was champion of the Brisbane Safety Club, at the time when Mr. J. N. Devoy was president and Mr. Matt Muir a vice-president of that club. Mr. Wilson, won several Brisbane Grammar School old boys' cycle races, and in 1900 was second in the Australian five miles championship. 
The late Mr. Wilson was also a member of the champion eight crew of the Commercial Rowing Club of 1900.
Wherever he was, in the department, in the A.I.F, in sports, in which he figured prominently for some years, And, amongst his friends, the late Mr. Wilson was noted for his  straight forwardness and his unvarying courtesy.

THE FAMILY.
Mrs. Wilson, who was Miss Elsie Daisy Preston, a daughter of the late Mr. Arthur Preston, a well-known Queen Street merchant, formerly also was a member of the Agriculture  and Stock Department Staff. She survives her husband, as also do three daughter— Elaine, a dentist, Esme, who is in the Lands Department; and Nancy, who is a member of the Coorparoo State School staff — also one son — Colin, who is a student at the Brisbane Boys' Grammar School.
In addition to Brigadier-General Wilson, brother, there also are Mr. J. A. Wilson, Sydney, brother, and. Misses E. nnd A. C. Wilson, sisters'

The funeral left the late Mr. Wilson's residence, 39 , Kirkland Avenue, Coorparoo, this afternoon and proceeded to the Crematorium.

"A WHITE MAN"
Minister's Tribute
"Mr. Bob Wilson, as he was known to all his associates, was a white man," said the Acting Minister for Agriculture and Stock (Mr. D. A. Gledson) to-day. "No officer of any department was more beloved than he by those with whom he worked, and no one had a closer grip of all branches of the Agriculture and Stock Department. He was personally known to and knew personally every officer. His association with the Minister with whom he served was always the closest. He was not only an officer, he was a kindly friend, and while I only had the opportunity of seeing him as Assistant Minister during his illness, his thoroughness and capable handling of all problems in the department were of the  greatest assistance to me in taking over the responsible position which I now hold.
"We all feel that we have lost a dear friend who will be hard to replace, and desire to extend our heart felt sympathy to Mrs. Wilson and her children In their great loss."