MEEK, John Howard (1861-1908)John Howard Meek was
enrolled at Geelong College on 11 February 1879. He was a son of Rev. John Meek and Dinah, nee Hutton. He was awarded 1st Prize in Greek in the 3rd Class in 1880 and awarded
School Dux that same year.
The
Yackandandah Times published his obituary. The following is an extract:
‘John Howard Meek was a worthy scion of an illustrious parent. He was born at Gisborne on the 13 November. 1861, and was the eldest son of the Rev. John Meek, who received a call to the Gisborne charge fifty years ago. In this town he remained until early last year, when he resigned, and came to spend his remaining years with his son in Yackandandah. As a mark of their appreciation, the residents of the Gisborne district presented him with a purse of 500 sovereigns on the occasion of his severing his active connection with the ministry.
Mr Meek was early intended for the ministry, and the foundation of his education was laid at the Geelong College, at which he was dux in his final year. He was afterwards a student at the Melbourne University, whilst residing at Ormond College, and had a distinguished University course. He gained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1884, and completed his theological training at this college. Mr Meek was licensed to the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria by the Presbytery of Macedon in 1889. He came to Yackandandah in May 1891, and was ordained in August of the same year.
When Mr Meek arrived in Yackandandah he had an arduous duty to perform, as his circuit embraced what is now the Kergunyah charge. This order remained until about twelve months ago, when the Rev. J. T. McDougall, M.A., was appointed to the latter place. In addition to his labours as a minister, which are too well known throughout the district to need recapitulation in these columns, the rev. gentleman took a deep interest in every movement that had for its object the advancement of the town and district. He was an active member of the A. P. and H. Society, and was the prime mover in the formation of the Billiard Club in connection with the Athenaeum. The establishment of a sanatorium in the town was mainly due to his advocacy in the cause of suffering humanity, and in the list of office bearers of practically every organisation in the town his name occupied a prominent position. His last public act was in connection with the Easter Monday picnic, for which he undertook to organise the selling of tickets in the outlying centres. Death has cut short a brilliant career’. He had been a resident of Yackandandah for 17 years. ‘His remains will be removed from the Manse at 2.30 tomorrow (Friday) afternoon to the church, where a service will be held before proceeding to the Cemetery’. He died at the Manse, Yackandandah on 1 July 1908.
His brothers, Thomas Edwin Meek (1865-1950), and Robert Augustus Meek (1869-1934), were also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: The Yackandandah Times 2 July 1908 p2.