Obituary - Miss Sophia E. Velvin

8 January 1946 The Tumut and Adelong Times

There passed away at Valmar Private Hospital, Tumut, on Saturday morning last Miss Sophia Emilia Velvin, of Batlow, at the age of 85 years and six monhs. 

The late Miss Velvin was horn on June 17, 1860, at Marlborough, England, being a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John and Elizabeth Velvin, who came to Australia in l885 on the sailing ship Allenshaw.

Miss Velvin came to Australia in 1886, having resigned her position as Headmistress of a suburban school at Bristol.

She joined the N.S.W. Education Department and taught at Port Kembla, Blayney, and was for twenty six years mistress of the Infants' School at Drummoyne.

In 1925 she brought her invalid sister to Batlow and was in residence there except for the six weeks preceding her death in hospital at 'Valmar,' Tumut.

At Batlow she took an active interest in the work of the Church of England and he C.W.A., of which she was secretary for many years.

She was also secretary of the C.W.A. Mountain Home for several years and took a keen interest in the life of Batlow.

She is survived by her brother, the Rev. H. J. Velvin, of Batlow, and sister, Mrs. J, Smith, of Hamilton, Newcastle. 

A service was held at! the Church of England, Batlow, at 2.30 pm. on Sunday last conducted by the Rev. Dr. C. B. Alexander, Adelong, who gave a sympathetic and eloquent address.

The President and some members of the C.W.A. at Adelong, and the President, Secretary and other members of the C.W.A. at Batlow formed a guard of  honor at the graveside. 

A bunch of flowers from the C.W.A. and the Life Membership Badge of the C.W.A. belonging to Miss Velvin were buried with her.

There was a large and representative attendance and many beautiful floral tributes.

The pall-bearers were Messrs. H. V. Smith (nephew), .T, Sedgwick, Chas. Quarmby, C. Haslam, Geo. Smith and John Scholer.