Maitland City Hall of Fame Inductees

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—The Maitland City Hall of Fame, last month, acknowledged four citizens for their service to the community. Henry Chamberlain Russell serving as government astronomer at the Sydney Observatory from 1870 to 1905. He established a network of weather stations in NSW, set data collection standards and advocated for a national approach to meteorology and pioneered the idea of climate cycles. Robert Fletcher Watson gained fame as a remarkable athlete, winning numerous foot races, including the Sydney Cup in 1873. His race times along Belmore Road and Belmore Track still stand as world records today. Colonel Alexander Wilkinson VD joined the Northumberland Volunteer Rifle Company in 1860 serving until 1893. Colonel Wilkinson served as an Alderman of West Maitland for 21 years and was mayor multiple times between 1883 and 1904, passing away while in office. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Scobie VD MID attended Maitland Boys High School joining the School Cadet Corps and the local militia unit. Lieutenant Colonel Scobie served in the military for 31 years, including the militia, Boer War and WWI, until his death at Lone Pine in 1915. Thank you for your service to the Maitland community.