Coghill, George (1864 - 1957)
Born on 27 July 1864 in Victoria; died on 19 August 1957, Canterbury, Victoria.
A stalwart of the early days of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria.
A quote from the 'Victorian Naturalist' in July 1952 reads:
"THREESCORE YEARS AND TEN – MR. COGHILL'S NOTEWORTHY
Joining up in July 1882 when,
the first President, Sir Frederick
McCoy, was still in office. Mr.
Coghill's entry pre-dates 'The Victorian Naturalist', now in its 69th
volume. . .
Two years only
had elapsed when he got into harness as Assistant Secretary; at
the same time his father-in-law,
the Rev. Dr J.J. Halley, a keen
ornithologist, began his presidential term of three years.
Although not aspiring to the academic attainments of some of history
distinguished colleagues, Mr. Coghill, by virtue of his capacity for hard
work in the several offices he held, his infectious enthusiasm for nature,
his cheery presence, with wildflower buttonhole, at practically every function of the Club, his business acumen, his power of getting the best out
of others, and by the force of his example, is entitled to be regarded as
outstanding in our history.
To quote one example, both he and the late-
Mrs. Coghill were unfailing in their efforts at the Club shows, travelling
far afield to bring in exhibits, and taking pains in their setting up. . .
With his flair for organisation. Mr. Coghill was outstanding with
excursions in earlier days. Under his direction, which he avers was
thrust upon him at the last moment, one very successful camp-out took
place. This, was at the Buffalo Mountains over the Christmas period of
1903, fifty years after the first ascent of the range by Baron von Mueller.
There were no roads up then, nor tracks as we now know them to-day on
the Plateau. Rain fell incessantly, the tents leaked, and walking was the
only means of progression. Yet the party contrived to make a complete
ecological study of the Buffalo, and even added some notes on a sortie to the foot of Mount Bogong. . ."
Source: Extracted from:
https://www.geni.com/people/GEORGE-COGHILL/6000000027509461029
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40915115
Vic. Nat. Vol.69 July 1952 p.35
Portrait Photo: Vic. Nat. Vol.57-58 May 1940 p.24
Collecting localities for 'Coghill, G.' from AVH (2024)
Data from 320 specimens
