Alfred William Blowes

From The Orange Wiki

Former Orange alderman and mayor Alfred William Blowes had a long association with Holy Trinity Church Orange. Born on 18 July 1879, he was reportedly the first male infant to be baptised in the newly-opened church. It was there, in 1903, that 24-year-old Alfred married Lilian Grace Spurway, and there, fifty years later, that his funeral service was observed. During the course of his life Alfred had been a prominent worshipper, a member of the choir, a vestryman and Synod representative of the church.

Alfred’s early years were spent at his parent’s Kensington orchard homestead near the eastern entrance to Orange. He was educated at Orange Public School, where he excelled as a cadet.

Following Alfred’s death the Leader observed:

Always a good townsman, he displayed a keen interest in his church, and also in civic matters.

Blowes was as an alderman of Orange Municipal Council from 1917 to 1934, serving as mayor from 1932 to 1934. He was one of the founding members of the Rotary Club of Orange and was later the club’s president. He was also a trustee of the Orange Bowling Club and chairman of the Orange Trout Fishers Club.

During his mayoral term Blowes oversaw the construction of the conservatory in Cook Park. Council provided the raw materials, however the labour for the project was supplied by the Unemployed Relief Scheme, with no cost to council. Blowes Conservatory, as it had become known, was officially opened by the mayoress on 27 November 1934, during the Duke of Gloucester’s visit to Orange.

Alfred William Blowes died in Manly on 7 August 1953, aged 74. His remains were transported to Orange and laid to rest alongside Lilian’s in Orange Cemetery.