Geoffrey Syme (1873 - 1942)

Born 1873 in South Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Violet Addison (Garnett) Syme — married Jan 1902 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Died 30 Jul 1942 at about age 69 in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Geoffrey Syme is Notable.

Geoffrey Syme was born in the Colony of Victoria (1851-1900)

Geoffrey Syme was born in 1873 in South Melbourne, Victoria (Australia). He was the fourth son of Scottish-born David Syme, owner of The Age newspaper, and Annabella Garnett-Johnson. ^[1] After moving about the inner Melbourne suburbs for some years, the family eventually settled in Blythswood, in Kew. ^[2]

He became a cadet journalist on The Age in 1892 and, later, a senior journalist. In 1902 he became Editor of the newly founded weekly paper Every Saturday, the forerunner of the Saturday Age.

Geoffrey married eighteen year-old English rose, Violet Addison Garnett in January 1902 in Clitheroe, Lancashire. ^[3] They immediately returned to Melbourne, whereupon they settled in Kew and commenced their family.

Upon the death of his father in 1908, Geoffrey became Managing Editor of The Age, a position he retained until 1941. This period ensured that he had to deal with problems resulting from the First World War, the growing importance of political philosophies such as Fascism and Communism, the Russian Revolution, the Commonwealth Government's move from Melbourne to Canberra, the Depression, the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War.

In 1941 Geoffrey was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).

Aged 69 years, he passed away on 30th July 1942 in East Melbourne. ^[4] He was survived by Violet, who passed ten years later, their three daughters and their young families.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #11085/1873
2. ↑ ascertained from children's places of birth and death
3. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Mar qtr 1902, vol 8c, page 461
4. ↑ Victoria Death Index #7769/1942

See also

• Sir Geoffrey Syme website; accessed 3 Aug 2023.