Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954)
Wed 23 May 1934
AN APPRECIATION
There died recently at his home at North Sydney, David Carment, exactuary of the A.M.P. Society, in his 91st year, a courteous gentleman and
Wed 23 May 1934 - Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954)
Page 11 - AN APPRECIATION
AN APPRECIA TION
LATE DAVID CARMENT
There died recently at his home at
North Sydney, David Carment, ex
actuary of the A.M.P. Society, in his
91st year, a courteous gentleman and
very fine classical schollar. His father
was a minister of the Free Church of
Scotland, and preached alternately in
Scotch and Gaelic. Mr. Carment was
educated in Comrie (where he was
born) and Edinburgh, where he read
Greek and Latin with the late Prof.
Blackie, of Edinburgh University. Un
like most, he retained his knowledge
and was as familiar up to the day of
his death with the ancient classics
in their original languages as the
average man is with Dickens and
• He was elected a Fellow of the In
stitute of Actuaries at an early age
and shortly afterwards became a
Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries.
He arrived in Sydney in 1872 under
engagement to the A.M.P. Society and
on the retirement of Mr. Black, be
came Actuary.
Perhaps not the least of the fac
tors which contributed to the wonder
ful success of the A.M.P. was the
mathematical accuracy of the wide
i knowledge of life insurance of David
Carment. He was very liberal and
never refused help to any deserving
ACTIVE CHURCH WORKER
He was a member of the Presby
terian Church and took an active
part in its management. He was
also a member of the various scientific
societies and at times an office holder.
He represented Australia at various
International Actuarial Conferences
in the.U.S.A. and England, and was
the author of one book and several
pamphlets on actuarial matters. At
the time of his death he was collect
ing data for another publication on
insurance in England and America.
One of his hobbies was music and
he sang in the Philharmonic Society
concerts in the Sydney Town Hall. He
also sang at the opening of the
Garden Palace Exhibition. He had
a genial disposition and contributed to
the success of the celebration of the
writers golden wedding, by singing
"The Good Rhine Wine," when he
was nearly 90 years of age He was a
member of the Australian Club for
half a life time.' He married Miss
Elizabeth Shallard, who predeceased
him three years ago, at the age of '
83. He left one daughter, Miss Bessie
Carment (who was studying music in
Germany at the time of the war, and
who was one of the last refugees to
get away), and one son, David Shal
lard Carment, who had just taken his
degree as "Naval Architect" in Glas
gow and was brought ©ut by the
Federal Government for naval work
at Cockatoo Island.
WONDERFUL VITALITY
He attributed his long life and
wonderful vitality to regular habits.
Cold plunge bath at 7.30 every morn
ing, breakfast at 9 sharp, and if one
was not down he wanted to know why.
Co£ 3e at 11 and then off to town and
a call at the A.M.P. nffice where Mr.
Garment's room was kept for him up to
the time he died, although he retired
20 years before. He was a member of
the Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Royal
Sydney Yacht Squadron ana Sydney
sailing club and was probably the
oldest yachtsman in Australia. The
writer has vivid recollections of
beating up the Harbour in the teeth
of a howling westerly gale with "the
Skipper" (as he was affectionately
called) at the tiller when he was
over 80 years of age. He built the
auxiliary cruiser "Athene" some 25
years ago and had a cabinet full of
prizes. He was a most enthusiastic
yachtsman and was noted for • the
fact that in spite of his years, he
would "go out" in all weathers.
To sum. up, he was one of the few
surviving members of the Victorian
"aristocracy of culture and learning,"
and the world is the poorer for his
passing. In the words of Adam Lind
say Gordon, he is "A good man gone
where we all must go." Four to five
hundred friends attended the
memorial service at the Presbyterian
Church It was conducted by four
clergymen (personal friends). He was
buried alongside his wife at Gore
Hill and the funeral was a mile long.
A. SHALLARD.
Boonah, Queensland.
AN APPRECIATION (1934, May 23). Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94533768
"AN APPRECIATION" Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) 23 May 1934: 11. Web. 17 Jan 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94533768>.
1934 'AN APPRECIATION', Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954), 23 May, p. 11. , viewed 17 Jan 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94533768
{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94533768 |title=AN APPRECIATION |newspaper=[[Northern Star]] |volume=58 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 May 1934 |accessdate=17 January 2022 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954), Wed 23 May 1934, Page 11 - AN APPRECIATION