MACKENZIE, Gilbert Macmichael (1886-1907).jpg)
Gilbert Mackenzie (Football 1905).
.jpg)
Gilbert Mackenzie (Rowing 1905).
Gilbert Mackenzie, known as 'Bert' was enrolled at Geelong College as a boarder in 1901 and probably left in 1905. At College, he was a member of the 1st Football XVIII from 1903-1905; the 1st Cricket XI in 1905 and the 1st Rowing VIII of 1904 and 1905. He was also a sergeant in the College Cadet Corps. His brother,
John Mackenzie (1888-1961) was a similarly talented sportsman.
An obituary recorded the following:
'A letter was received at Geelong on Thursday announcing the tragic death of Gilbert McKenzie (sic), a Geelong College boy, who left school last October to go to India, where he was engaged on a tea plantation in Assam. It was part of his duty to attend to the machinery, and when replacing a belt on a pulley he was drawn into the machinery and mangled to death. His brother is Captain of the College team at present playing a series of football matches in Adelaide.' A further notice noted:
'On the 8th Jun, at Kondoli Tea Estate, Nowgong, Assam, result of an accident, Gilbert Macmichael ('Bert'), aged 21 years, eldest beloved son of Robert R. and Emma L. Mackenzie, 'Chandpore Tea Estate', Chittagong, East India.' His cousins,
Neil Freeman (1890-1961) and
Allan Freeman (1893-1964), were also educated at Geelong College.
Gilbert was the son of Robert Ross McKenzie who managed the Chadpore Tea Estate in Chittagong and grandson of John McKenzie who established Ghazepoore Station in Freshwater Creek in 1855.
Sources: Correspondence, S Gawler.