Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Angus William and Annie Geddes McKinnon.

"ATHOL McKINNON— PATRIOT,
HERO."
Opportunity was taken at the evening session of the South Granville Public School bazaar on Friday, to unveil a full size coloured portrait of the late Athol William McKinnon, who for some time occupied the position of assistant to Mr. Dwyer, the head teacher, prior to his enlistment for the front. For a short space the bazaar proceedings were suspended and all invited to attend the solemn ceremony in the large school room, the scene of the late lamented teacher's labors. There was a numerous gathering, chiefly of young people, who all knew Athol McKinnon well. Amongst those present were Mrs. Perry, sister of deceased, and Mrs. Blumer. Mr. Joseph Broadhurst presided, and in a brief reference to deceased said they all knew of his many good qualities he was a man in every sense of the term, and died a man's death. Mr. L. Blumer, Senior Inspector of Schools, who had been asked to perform the ceremony of unveiling the picture, which hangs in the nost prominent position in the school, spoke as one who felt keenly the position he was placed in. He said he knew he had to perform the ceremony, but he had made no preparation. He thought it best just to speak from a full heart rather than have a set speech. To say that his duty was a pleasing one would be hardly right, yet there was a pleasure in doing honor to one they all honored. At the same time they word all sad over what had happened. As inspector, he saw their late friend's value as a teacher, and knew his relatives well. He had opportunities of judging his personal character, and the opinion he formed of him was a very high one. Deceased was one of four young soldiers in camp, the others being two nephews of the speaker and his own boy. There all restraint was removed, and they saw him in his true character. They said more of him than he could, and they all honored and respected him. The potency of his influence for good could be judged by the way the pupils of the school spoke of him. As a teacher he did his best, and did it creditably. As a soldier he did likewise. He was one of the very first to offer his services and go to fight in defence of liberty and right. He had nothing to gain personally from going. He simply offered himself as a living sacrifice. He was a clean, brave and courageous lad, one whom all respected, one of the best. Let them compare the nobleness, the heroism and self-sacrifice of such a life with the conduct of those other young men who ought to be at tho front, but who continued to turn a deaf ear to the cry of the brave lads at Gallipoli for help. He (the speaker) wished to God he had boforo him a room-full of such young men he referred to — strapping young fellows who dared not go, because they were frightened out of their own skins — he ought to say hides. Athol McKinnon died a hero. He did not receive a V.C. or anything of that sort, but he got something better; he heard from the King of Kings the words of commendation, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' Their late young friend took part in the great fight at tho landing at Gallipoli, and from what he had heard from his own sons at the front he had acquitted himself well. He did it for those whe, like himself, could not go, and for others who dared not go. Concluding  with the words, 'Athol McKinnon, patriot, hero,' Mr. Blumer moved the covering from the picture and revealed an excellent likeness of the young soldier in military attire. 'Mr. Dwyer said he know Athol McKinnon perhaps more intimately than Mr. Blumer. He knew him as a comrade. Though they wore master and assistant, they were always comrades. He was always at his post, a true, conscientious worker, and when the call to duty came, he was one of the first to go to the front. The simple, but touching ceremony was then brought to a close.