MITCHELL, Thomas William (1857-1873)
Award Book Cover
'Thomas Mitchell, the son of Thomas Mitchell and Charlotte nee Stuckey was born at Beechworth on 8 April 1855.
He died on 21 December 1871 age 18 years. His death notice in the
Argus newspaper reported that Thomas William (Mitchell) of Tamgambalamga had died at Rigby's Club Hotel. He was buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery on 23 December 1873.
His nephew, 'Tom' Mitchell, in 1980 donated several books to the Geelong College which included 6 of Thomas William Mitchell's Award Plates from 1872. Two books have been covered in black felt and richly embroidered with his dates of birth and death.
He was listed in the Geelong College Enrolment Register with an entry date of 2 February 1871 though he could have been at the School prior to this. He remained at the School until 1873. His enrolment address lists him as of Tangambalanga Little River, Yackandandah and he was enrolled by Thomas Mitchell, 'landed Proprietor'.
In the Annual Reports Thomas Mitchell of Yackandandah is listed as winning several prizes as follows:
Award Bookplate 1st Arithmetic
Fourth Class Thomas Mitchell
1871 1st Latin 3rd Class.
1871 1st Euclid 3rd Class.
1871 1st Drawing 2nd Class.
1872 1st English Grammar and Composition 5th Class.
1872 1st Geography 4th Class.
1872 2nd History 4th Class.
1872 1st Arithmetic 4th Class.
1872 1st Euclid 3rd Class.
1872 1st Drawing 3rd Class.
1873 4th English 6th Class.
1873 3rd Arithmetic 6th Class.
1873 3rd Algebra 4th Class.
1873 1st Drawing 4th Class.
Ernest William Watts (1854-1944) a student of the College of 1873 onwards referred to 'Tom' Mitchel in some reminiscences published in Pegasus. He described his class and
'Tom Mitchell, of Tanganballanga, Yackandandah, via Wangaratta -we used to chaff him about his address. Poor Tom was a great favourite with the boys - he died from over-study that Christmas.' His brothers,
Peter Stuckey Mitchell (1854–1921),
John Francis Huon Mitchell (1859–1921), and probably
Walter Edward Mitchell (1863–1917), were also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Argus (Melb) 22 December 1873 p1; Pegasus August 1928 p43-44.