Walter Skelton

Walter Skelton (February 1864 – May 1929) was an accountant, businessman, draper, Magistrate, breeder of fine poultry, and Chief President of the Australian Natives' Association (ANA).

Early years Walter Skelton was born in Scarsdale, Victoria, on 5 February 1864, the son of Walter Skelton and Maria Moyle. His parents were sufficiently prosperous to educate him at Wesley College in Melbourne. In 1883 his father, also a draper, died in Dunolly. In 1885 he tendered for a new house to be built. On 11 March 1887 at Collingwood he married Grace Elizabeth Threlkeld Their son, Walter, was born in 1888 and passed away within 5 month. He ran one of the drapery businesses in Dunolly until 1910 when he offered it for sale by tender.

He was a breeder of fine poultry ‘who delights in the feather hobby’ – Indian Game, Black Orpingtons and Langshams. Over the first decade of the 20th century Skelton entered many poultry competitions and either won his class or was well placed nearly every year from 1902 to 1910. While he delighted in the hobby, it was also a business as he sold poultry and fertilised eggs. The eggs had a warranty on their fertility or immediate replacement. In 1900 his solicitor wrote to the Herald newspaper in Melbourne requesting publication of the letter to clarify to the public his patent another claimed inventor. The letter advises that Skeltons invention had previously been published in "The Scientific Australian".

He was a member of the Dunolly Borough Council, being first elected unopposed in an extraordinary election in 1894. While 1900 was the third year in succession he was elected Mayor of the borough of Dunolly. On 16 October 1901 he was appointed a magistrate, ‘to keep the peace in the Midland Bailiwick of Victoria’.

Australian Natives' Association Skelton was a founding member and the first Vice President of the Dunolly ANA Branch No. 33 in June 1885. Dunolly was one of the flourishing gold fields towns where there was a rich source of members needing the support of a Friendly Society such as the ANA. At the 1900 conference he was elected Chief President after a strong challenge from James Liddell Purves a previous Chief President and a capable and charismatic speaker.

Skelton was the board of directors’ candidate for the presidency at the 1900 ANA annual conference in Geelong. This is 10 years older than it was in the 1880s, it was also something that would keep growing.

In appreciation of his services Skelton was presented with a gold medal studded with six diamonds stars. Referring to the planned interstate conference of ANA boards of directors he urged: Federating the Australian Natives’ Association; Subscriptions for members serving in the South African conflict he said treat it in a business like manner rather than a sentimental spirit; Commended the principles of the old age pension; Recognised the achievement of federation of the Australian Colonies; Challenged members to study the great national questions; observed that the ANA had been called a nursery for politicians while the ANA is apolitical and non religious and that politicians in its ranks represented all shades of opinion.

Later years Skelton died in Essendon on 11 May 1929.