Webmaster's note: The surname was spelled Slavin in the heading and Slaven in the story; we're going with Slaven as that's the spelling used by descendants today.
Our Springhurst correspondent writes:
It is with regret that I have to announce the death of a very old and
respected resident of Springhurst in the person of Mr Jeremiah Slaven, at the
Wangaratta Hospital on Friday, at 6 a.m. Mr Slaven had not been in good
health for some time, and a few months ago went to live with some members of
his family in Melbourne, but as his health did not improve he returned to
Wangaratta about a fortnight ago, and gradually sank until the end came as
stated, his trouble being an affection of the heart. The deceased, who was 73
years of age, was born in Tipperary, Ireland, on March 7th, 1842. He arrived in
New Zealand with his brothers when but 14 years of age, and engaged
in mining in the Otago district. Coming to Victoria at an early age he followed
up mining at Taradale, in the Castlemaine district for a time. He then
went to Tasmania, but soon returned to Victoria and obtained work on the construction
of the N.E. Railway and worked right through to Wodonga when
he received a permanent appointment as ganger from the Government, about
1874, and settled at Springhurst, where he remained until the retiring age.
While on the railway he selected land adjacent to the railway, about half-a-mile
from the township, where he made his home. His wife predeceased him 27
years ago. Five sons and four daughters mourn the loss of a devoted father—
Frank (Wodonga), James (North Melbourne), Phillip (Rutherglen), (all being
in the Railway department) Jeremiah (Coolamon, N.S.W.), Herbert (Sydney),
and Mesdames Howell (Benalla), Smith (Melbourne), O'Brien and Connor
(Springhurst). The funeral took place on Saturday and was followed by a large
number of sorrowing friends to the
Chiltern cemetery. The mortuary arrangements were carried out by Mr A.
Smith, Mr J. J. Handby carrying out the Wangaratta portion. Rev Father Cremin
read the burial service.
Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser (Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia), October 19, 1915.