Judge Docker

ERNEST BROUGHAM DOCKER

DOB 1st April 1842 Thornthwaite near Scone NSW
12th August 1923 Elizabeth Bay, Sydney

Ernest Brougham Docker, judge and photographer, the eldest son of Joseph Docker and his second wife Matilda, née Brougham. Educated at the Collegiate School, Cook's River, in 1860 he won the Sir William Denison scholarship to enter St Paul's College, University of Sydney, where he lived up to his early promise, winning the University Medal for English verse in 1861 and the Wentworth medal for an English essay in 1862. He graduated B.A. in 1863 and M.A. in 1865, then turned his attention to the law.

Docker was a notable amateur photographer. He took lessons from William Hetzer and in 1858, with his father, began experiments with a wet-plate process. Between 1860 and 1868 Docker was sensitizing his own dry plates by the tannin-collodion-albumen process, although dry plates were not widely used until the early 1880s. Joining the Royal Society of New South Wales in 1876, he used his own extensive collection of photographs for many illustrated addresses before it. He did much to promote photography through his articles in overseas and Australian journals, particularly in the British Journal of Photography and as president of the Photographic Society of New South Wales in 1894-1907.

On 25 June 1873 at Wangaratta, Victoria, he had married Clarissa Mary, daughter of Archdeacon J.K. Tucker. She died on 3 June 1918, the judge at his waterfront home, Mostyn, Elizabeth Bay, on 12 August 1923. He was survived by seven daughters and two sons; the younger son Ernest won the Military Cross in World War I.

Thursday 25th June 1908 Page 6 - Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW)

On Friday Judge Docker, who has been coming to Mudgee for the past 40 years as barrister and judge, under the auspices of the photographic Society, lectured to a crowded house upon his recent visit to the East. Starting with Ceylon, the lecturer took his audience through Aden, Egypt, and Palestine, and as the lecture was illustrated with some hundreds of lantern slides, a glow ing picture of Eastern life was provided. The pictures of the Holy Land proved most interesting and the views shown included "The Holy Sepulchre", "Calvary", "The Garden of Gethsemane" and many more other places familiar through the New Testament. His Honor was complimented on the number and quality of his pictures, and many present expressed a wish that the lecture be repeated.

Thursday 28th February 1918 Page 25 - Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW)

Judges, like other individuals, have hobbies, Judge Docker is nearly 76. He has always been a most enthusiastic lawn tennis player and amateur photographer. His advanced age does not prevent his pursuing his hobbies, and at 75 he has routed many skilled players. Judge Docker is one of the oldest judges on the Bench, and he can well remember practising at the Mudgee Courts as a young barrister, 50 years ago, at what time Judge Carey presided on the Bench. In those days (before the advent of train or motor) the judges travelled their circuits in buggies. The Crown Prosecutors then were Messrs. R.M. Isaacs (father of our esteemed old friend, Mr. Frank Isaacs, at one time C.P.S. and Land Agent at Mudgee, and afterwards S.M.) and Chambers. The Crown Prosecutor's headquarters were then at Maitland.

Wednesday 31st August 1904 Page 7 - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW)

FORBES - Tuesday 30th August 1904
At a largely attended meeting last night it was decided to form an amateur camera club. The following officers were elected; Patron, his Honor Judge Docker; President, Dr M'Donnell; Vice-Presidents, Lieutenant Colonel Weeks, Messrs. S.M. Raff and E.J. Halliday; Hon.Secretary, Mr A.E. Morris; Hon.Treasurer, Mr W. Cook. It was decided to hold an exhibition in the early part of next year.

Friday 17th August 1923 Page 7 - The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney NSW)

LATE - JUDGE DOCKER

The funeral of the late Judge Ernest Brougham Docker left St. John's Church, Darlinghurst, for South Head Cemetery yesterday and the large gathering which attended the service at the Church and the graveside testified to the high esteem in which the deceased gentleman was held. The casket, which was removed to the Church in the morning, was surrounded by many floral tributes.

The chief mourners were: Dr. E.N.R. Docker, of Coonabarabran (son); Mrs Maynard Pain, of Wahroonga, Mrs F. Piddington, of Capertee and Misses Winifred, Rosamund and Constance Docker (daughters); Messrs. C.T. Docker, P.W. Docker, K.B. Docker, Ronald Docker and Robert Docker (nephews); Mrs Edward Docker (sister-in-law); and Mrs Mottershead (niece). At the church the service was conducted by Canon Beck (rector of St. John's), Archbishop Wright giving the address. The service at the graveside was conducted by Canon Beck, assisted by Archdeacon Davies, of Moore College. Archbishop Wright, in his address, said that with his saintly figure, his many gifts, his affectionate nature and his intellectual powers, the late Judge Docker had a personality that made him stand out from all others and they thanked God for the privilege of having known him. He had served his generation well. He served the community in his great professions at the Bar and on the Bench and all who knew him respected him and had a warm place in their hearts for him. In the Church he was no mere idle parishoner. He gave of himself and his purse as far as he was able. From the earliest days of his manhood he served the diocese as a member of Synod and at the last Synod there was a singular pathos about his words when he said that it would probably be the last opportunity he would have of speaking there. In all those years he was ever on the watch to promote legislation that might be for the better being of the Church he loved. The members of the Girls' Friendly Society could never forget the way he went to the help of the building committee of the new hostel and how his presence gave confidence to the public outside. They earnestly prayed that his great example might inspire younger men to come forward and take up something of the task he had laid down. They prayed that God would comfort the bereaved in their sorrow.

At the conclusion of the service the Dead March in "Saul" was played. Among those present, either at the church or at the graveside, were: Mr Justice Rich (High Court of Australia), Mr Justice Street, Mr Justice Gordon, Mr Justice Edmunds, Mr Justice Sly, Judge Cohen, Judge Scholes, Judge Curlewis, Judge Rolin, Judge White, Judge Hamilton, Judge Beeby (represented by Mr T.J. Kelly), ex-Judge Backhouse, Mr T.R. Bavin (Attorney-General), Mr W.J. Kessell (Acting Under-Secretary for Justice), Mr Weigall (Solicitor-General), Messrs. M.A.H. Fitzhardinge, M. Wilkinson and F.B. Wilkins (representing the Law Institute), Sir Albert Gould, Archdeacon D'Arcy Irvine, Archdeacon Boyce, Canon Langley, Rev. A.E. Morris, Rev. E. Howard Lea, representatives of the council of the Girls Friendly Society, Brigadier-General Harry Finn, Mr James Mitchell (Inspector-General of Police), Mr J. V. Tillett (Crown Solicitor), Dr. F.G.N. Stephens, Mr Parker (Master in Equity), Mr A. Cochrane (late Chamber Magistrate, Dubbo), Mr. C. Watson (Deputy Sheriff), Mr H.E. Barff (Registrar of the Sydney University), Mr Geo. Overill (National Association), Mr C.T. Burfitt (Australian Historical Society), Mr D.R. Hill, president of the Photographic Society of New South Wales (represented by Mr E.F. Pollock), Professor Fawsitt (Vice-president) and Messrs. W.S. Dun, G.A. Waterhouse and Professor O.U. Vonwiller (Royal Society), Mr W. Hamlet (late Government Analyst), Messrs. Piddington, E.A. Maddock, A.L. Maddock, S. Redshaw, S. Mack, J.T. Lingen, Captain James Watson (Australian Historical Society), Messrs. E.F. Pollock, J.S. Stenning, H.R. Hitchman, E.T. Davis and A.J. Perrier (Photographic Society of New South Wales), Mr Victor Cohen (representing the Albert Cricket Club), Mr and Mrs W.F. Robertson, Professors MacCallum, Warren and Holme, Messrs. M. MacCullum, J.A. Ferguson, E.R. Abigail, S.C. Burnell, W.H. Linsley, P.J. Caldecott, J.L. Watkins, H.H. Massie, H.H.I. Massie, H.C. Mitchell, H.F. Roberts, H.C. Kent, P. Lewis, J. Gonsalves, Lacey, E.A. Hagon, H. Morris, Walter F. Gale, W.K.S. Mackenzie, H.J. Matthews, James Shute, P.W. Shaw, R.S. Cranna, A.F. Dawson, M.M. Lloyd. C.M. Gunther, J. Shute, J.P. Jones, R.S. Murray Prior, J. Hawley, Beresford Grant, A.R. Wheeler, C.W. Koefred, B.C. Fuller, Simpson, H.J. Gould, J.P. Sheridan, N. Netterfield, W.J. Sinclair, F.H. Dare, S.J. Porter, R. Foster, E.H. Brady, J. Lyons, H. Murray, E.A. Scott, John Fuller, Detective-Sergeants Lynch anderson, Garlick, Prior and Sergeant Alexander.

Friday 17th August 1923 The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser (NSW)

A profoundly religious man, Judge Docker passed a good deal of his time in pondering over the Bible. He took an active part in the Church of England and was a member of the dioceses of Sydney and Bathurst. Amongst his sacred verse was 'Hymns of the Kingdom'. Judge Docker was a member of the Council of the King's School and had been the President of the Photographic Society of New South Wales. He was an expert amateur photographer, an excellent tennis player and took the most enthusiastic interest in big cricket, games which he played frequently when on circuit. The veteran judge married on 25th June 1873, Clarissa Mary, eldest daughter of the late Venerable Archdeacon J.K. Tucker.