Edward Augustus Petherick

“ A man of more flexibility in his opinions than Rusden (he was too often on the unpopular side) might in time have risen to the highest offices in the State. He also interested himself in the aborigines, and wrote a poem (1851) depicting their simple life. [1]
He was appointed Inspector of National Schools in 1849, the duties of the office taking him all over the country. Railways there were none and coaches few, so Rusden once, he told me, rode overland from Brisbane to Melbourne, a distance of nearly 2,000 miles. ”

“ FEW men were better known throughout Australia than Mr. G. W. Rusden, who died at his residence near Melbourne on December 23rd last, at an advanced age. The third son of the Rev. George Keylock Rusden, M.A.Camb., linguist and mathematician, he was born at Leith Hill Place, near Coldharbour, Surrey, in 1819. An elder son having proceeded to Australia, the rest of the family followed in 1834, the father being appointed chaplain to the Maitland district, New South Wales. ”

“ A son of the parsonage, he was prominent also in Church affairs, but could not tolerate dissent in any form. He must, however, have mellowed in later years, for, not very long ago, he purchased 250 copies of one of Dr. Caird's works for presentation to ministers of all denominations in the colony. ”