OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 22295, 10 April 1934, Page 9

OBITUARY

DR. WILLIAM McARA. Advice has been received in Gore of the death at Auckland on Saturday of Dr. William McAra, who for 30 years was in active professional practice and who left for Auckland only a few months ago on account of ill-health. He was born at Kaikoura, North Canterbury, 57 years ago, and was a son of the late Rev. William McAra, of Kaikoura, and later of Sumner (Christchurch), a prominent Presbyterian minister. He was educated at Wellington College, where he gained a scholarship, and he graduated M.B. and Ch.B. from Otago University in 1902. He commenced his professional practice as locum tenens for Dr. J. E. Rogers at Wyndham in 1902 and a year later took up practice at Gore. He married Miss Gertrude Stewart, , of Dunedin, in 1905, who now survives her husband. During his college days he was well known as an athlete and played representative football for Otago in 1897 and 1898. He was regarded as one of the province’s finest half-backs, and was captain of the Otago University team in ISOO. He was also a keen tennis player, but in later years much of his leisure time was devoted to fishing and shooting. Shortly after the outbreak of war Dr. McAra enlisted with the medical corps and was attached to a hospital staff in Egvpt. Mrs McAra, who prior to her marriage had been in the nursing profession, also gave valuable service on hospital staffs overseas during the war. Dr. McAra was invalided home, returning to Gore to resume his practice. Shortly after the armistice Dr. and Mrs McAra left on a trip to the Old World, spending about 12 months in a comprehensive tour of the British Isles and a brief stay on the Continent. The late doctor had wide district interests. He was a foundation member of the Gore Returned Soldiers’ Association and he was also on the committee of the Gore Boy Scout Troop, a member of the Gore Club for 27 years, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a charter (foundation) member of the Gore Rotary Club, which he has represented at Dominion conferences. He was also a member of the advisory board of the Gore branch of the Plunket Society.

Reference to the death of Dr. McAra was made at yesterday’s luncheon of the Gore Rotary Club and the secretary was instructed to convey to Mrs McAra an expression of the club’s sympathy in her bereavement. The club then adjourned as a mark of respect to Dr. McAra’s memory.