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Furneaux Letter |
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The Prahran Mechanics’ Institute archives are full of Harry Furneaux’s meticulous notes and minutes of the Institute in his very distinctive handwriting. His notes reveal much to us about the Institute’s history and the hopes he held for its future. This sample shows a draft of his concluding paragraph of A Short History of the Prahran Mechanics’ Institute as Disclosed by Minute Books. It reads: Ladies and gentlemen In concluding this short sketch of this Institute—necessarily short at a function of this description, may I with feelings of pardonable pride say that in the face of almost Unsurmountable [sic] difficulties, with little public support, but with dogged perseverance—we have succeeded in building up a Mechanics’ Institute, and with the valued assistance of Mr Dean (Director of the School) a Technical Art School, of which our city may be justly proud. With properties (and stock) of a capital value of £38,000 and debts of less than £14,500, an up to date Library of 8000 books — a membership nearly 800 - surely we can justify our claim — — Something attempted — Something done — |
And trust that the Institute will do all the good its promoters hoped for. Harry Furneaux retired in 1938 due to failing health. His contribution to the Institute cannot be overestimated. In 1926 he attended a conference in South Australia, afterwards reporting to the Committee that the remaining Victorian mechanics’ institutes needed a State body to help promote their interests. The Mechanics’ Institutes of Victoria Inc. was formed 52 years later! Furneaux also sat on the Committee of the Library Association of Victoria, and continued to do so after his retirement. Furneaux had long associations with Prahran Pioneers Association, the Prahran Bowling Club, and the Prahran Chapter of the Rechabites. He served on the Board of Works as a Commissioner and on the Prahran Council for eight years prior to his appointment as Secretary to the Institute. Furneaux passed away in East Malvern and is buried in the St Kilda Cemetery. (Source: Prahran Mechanics’ Institute Archives) |
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