The Mercury (Hobart)/1906/Death of Mrs. Rooke

DEATH OF MRS. ROOKE.

Information was received yesterday of the death of Mrs. Rooke at Burnie, and notification appears in this day's obituary column. Mrs. Rooke had for years been one of the most prominent figures in philanthropic and temperance work in Australia, and was always to the fore in any movement for the amelioration of the condition of the poor, or any reform in the drink traffic. She was for five years president of the Tasmanian branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and for three years president of the union in Australia, and all through her recent illness was looking forward hopefully to attending the sixth triennial convention of the Australasian Woman's Christian Temperance Union to be opened at Hobart on February 23. Mrs. Rooke, who was the widow of the late Dr. C. Rooke, had a charming personality and endeared herself to a large circle of friends, not only in Tasmania, but all over Australia. Our Burnie correspondent wired last night that Mrs. Rooke died, after a lingering illness of six months, and that she had been unconscious for some days. The following letter published in the 'People's Friend" on January 1, was probably the last she wrote for the cause she had so much at heart.—"W.C.T.U. Beloved Comrades,—Let me wish you a very happy 1906, and full of loving and prosperous service for the cause we are pledged to uphold. One thing we are assured that His grace is sufficient for all our needs, and we shall be more than victors through Jesus Christ. Plans will have to be considered, and made to secure local option during this coming session, and I hope that every union and individual member will be prepared to work vigorously for the measure. To prepare the way, literature bearing on the subject should be widely circulated, and so educate public sentiment on its justice. My health is still very feeble, and I ask the continuance of your prayers. Praying God's blessings may rest on one and all.—I am, yours lovingly, Jessie S. Rooke."