OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 38, 16 October 1946, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR GEORGE ALEXANDER BRABANT TOWN’S FIRST MAYOR PASSES In the death of Mr George Alexander Brabant, which occurred last Saturday night, the town has lost one of its best known and most widely respected identities. The late Mr Brabant who was aged 78 years gave unstintingly of his time and interest in the service of the community and this town owes much to his foresight and progressive instincts from the time he became its first Mayor, almost up till his decease. Those who knew him, only in his kindly old age can have little knowledge of the public spirited manner in which he devoted the major portion of his long life to the welfare of the Borough and its various organisations. Born at Kawhia in 1868, he was the second son of a family of thirteen. His father, the late Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M., relinquished his magisterial post to take up the duties of Judge to the Native Land Court. The late Mr Brabant, was educated at the Auckland College and Grammar School and resided alternatively with his family at Raglan, Tauranga, Hokianga, and various other parts of the North Island. His first employment was as assistant Clerk of Court at Tauranga. Later he toured the South Pacific Islands and as a young man visited the U.S.A. For two years he worked at various clerical jobs in San Francisco, where he met and married his future wife (Miss Bernhardine Smith). The couple returned to the Dominion in 1894 in the original S.S. Mariposa. He next joined the clerical. staff of the Northern Steamship Co.. Auckland, and was posted consecutively to Paeroa, Tauranga and Whakatane. It was during these years that he interested himself intensely in municipal and local body affairs. In Whakatane, he was a

member of the Town Board for some years and as we have mentioned became this town’s first Mayor when it was constituted a Borough in 1917. He was. particularly active in Patriotic work during the last war, and likewise played a prominent and lasting part in local life. He saw Whakatane developing into a first class commercial centre, and it was during his regime, that Hillcrest was first opened up for residential settlement. Likewise he fought the then Harbour Board on the question of a wide and spacious Strand, when the road was first mooted and the reclamation was taking place. His success in this respect is borne out by the broad nature of our main street, which is a monument in itself to his memory. He took a keen interest in education and was a long term member of the School Committee. He was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and a one time president. A Justice of the Peace, he also held the post of District Coroner for many years retiring only from that post two years ago. Up till the time of his death he remained a member of the Harbour Board and Chairman of the Domain Board. In association with Mr E. W. Beckett he made the first move to found the Whakatane Gentlemen’s Club and to lay the foundations of the local Golf Club. x During his term in Tauranga he served one term as a Borough Councillor. Of a strong constitution he enjoyed the best of health and until last June was actively interested in the business he founded 15 years ago, ; now known as Brabqnt Brothers Ltd., Garage Proprietors and Carrying Contractors. He will always be 1 remembered for the manner in ‘ which he strongly supported avia- ' tion and other progressive movements. He is survived by his widow and two sons, Messrs. H. W. Brabant and K. S. Brabant all of Wha- 1 katane. There are seven grandchildren.

The funeral last Monday was widely attended. Following the Masonic Service, the graveside service was conducted by Mr A. E. Cook; .The bearers were all members of the firm with which he was associated for so long; Messrs. R. H. Larmer, E. S. Mac Kay, F. H. Benseman, G. Stubbs, E. Bullot and G. C. Brabant.