History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Thomas William Watkins Burgess

Thomas William Watkins Burgess

Burgess, Thomas William Watkins [1] - 1861(NSW)-1929(NSW) - Licences: XDA Wagga Wagga (1913-1914) - Qualifications: Nil yet identified - early wireless experimenter - Electoral Rolls: medical practitioner (Wagga Wagga, 1901-1903)

A comprehensive biography of Thomas William Watkins Burgess has not yet been prepared for this Wikibook, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:

• Research - Thomas William Watkins Burgess - Summary of research to date

• Transcriptions and Notes - Thomas William Watkins Burgess - More than 40 transcriptions

• Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Thomas William Watkins Burgess - Nothing uploaded as yet

• Incubator of Wikipedia Article on Thomas William Watkins Burgess - Coming real soon now!

Pending further progress on the foregoing, the following lovely obituary from the Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser provides an excellent life summary, though sadly missing any reference to his wireless experiments:

OBITUARY. DR. T. W. W. BURGESS. In a private message received in Wagga on Christmas Day, the news was conveyed of the sudden death of Dr. Thomas William Watkins Burgess, of Vaucluse, who practised in Wagga for a great many years. He was well known throughout Wagga and District, and the news of his death will be learned with very great regret — by a large circle of friends and former patients. Dr. Burgess, who first came to Wagga as assistant chemist to the late Mr. H. J. Williams, as a very young man, afterwards went into business for himself as Chemist, starting in Baylis street in premises now occupied by Mr. C. Perritt as a tyre repair depot. After conducting this business successfully for some years he purchased the site at the corner of Baylis and Morrow streets and there erected the premises now occupied by Mr. L. Anderson. It was while conducting his business in these premises that Dr. Burgess studied for medicine, eventually going to England, where he became attached to Guy's Hospital, London. Taking his degrees in medicine, he returned to Australia and began practicing in Wagga about 30 years ago. Dr. Burgess established a very extensive practice. He met the lady who eventually became his wife in England, and Dr. and Mrs. Burgess lived at "Wollundry" which he had erected in Morrow street on the site of the original Temperance Hall. There were three sons, Messrs. Whittley, Clifford, and Neale Burgess; the elder is now Dr. Whittley Burgess, and practises at Vaucluse. Dr. Burgess's retirement from Wagga followed a serious breakdown in health, accentuated by an attack of pneumonic influenza contracted during the epidemic of 1919. He afterwards practised at 21 Coolong road, Vaucluse, and in the last few years had made a couple of trips to England for the benefit of his health. At the time that his death occurred at a private hospital in Darlinghurst on Christmas Eve, he was 68 years of age. Throughout the whole period of his practise in Wagga, Dr. Burgess was very successful and accumulated valuable property, both here and in Sydney. He also won a name for his very great kindness to poor families who were unable to pay doctors' fees. For many years he was the Government Medical Officer here, and an honorary doctor of the Wagga District Hospital. He was also one of the oldest members of the Masonic Lodge Harmony, No. 22. He joined the order in Wagga and became Master in 1901, while 22 years ago he was made a grand officer of the order, being appointed Grand District Inspector of Workings. He had held office as trustee of the Wagga Masonic Hall for many years right up to the time of his death. He was always a great worker for the fraternity. The funeral took place yesterday morning at the crematorium at Rookwood.