Albert Fryar

Albert Edmund Fryar (2 December 1875 – 23 July 1944) was a South Australian philatelist and sportsman.

Family and education Fryar was born on 2 December 1875 and raised in Stanley Flat, South Australia a small rural town about 6 km north of Clare, to Irish immigrant parents Joseph Fryar (1847–1928) and Isabella née Carey (1839–1913). After completing school, Fryar was employed by Mr Magnus Badger Solicitor in Clare, where he worked for 18 years as a clerk. He then moved to North Adelaide to work for Elders Smith & Co as a land broker and Justice of the Peace. He was eventually promoted to lands department manager of the company.

On 3 May 1916, he married Wanda Elsa Von Sanden, daughter of Bernhard Von Sanden (1850–1924) and Alice Emily née Spencer (1860–1930) at North Adelaide. They lived at Rose Park in South Australia. Together they had three sons; Colin Thomas Fryar, Donald (Rocky) Fryar and Bruce Edmund (Bill) Fryar.

Fryar died at his residence on 23 July 1944 following a long illness and was buried at the Clare General Cemetery.

Philately Fryar began collecting stamps as a boy. His specific interest was South Australian stamps. At the International Philatelic Exhibition held in Melbourne in November 1928, Fryar secured the championship of Australia trophy and gold medal for his collection of South Australian stamps. His collection comprised 15 albums and contained practically a complete set since the first issue of postage stamps in 1855, the first year postage stamps were issued in South Australia. Another rarity in his collection was a South Australian shilling violet stamp. This was a stamp that was prepared in England about 1855, but on arrival in South Australia were mislaid, and did not get into circulation.

Fryar's stamp collection also helped solve a controversy about the correct name of a small town in South Australia. For many years during the 1930s and 1940s, it was unclear whether the correct title of the name of the town of Sevenhill was Sevenhill, or Sevenhill(s). Fryar provided conclusive evidence (cuttings from envelopes and postal cancellations) that the correct title was indeed Sevenhill.

Sports

Fryar was a prominent footballer, cricketer, and cyclist. He was regarded as the most accomplished, all-round sportsman and athlete to have been produced from the Clare region. This record remained unbroken for 28 years. As a sports administrator, Fryar was treasurer of the South Australian Athletic League for over 21 years and was president of the Adelaide and Suburban Cricket Association and the vice president of the South Australian Junior Cricket Union.

As a footballer, Fryar was regarded as the best goal-sneak outside of Adelaide. He played for the Clare club for many years and for a long time he was captain. In later years, Fryar was a frequent visitor back to his hometown of Clare where he presented the "A. E. Fryar medal", an annual award for the fairest and most brilliant footballer in the Stanley Association.