Sara Jane (Sal) Groube

  General Notes:

Miss S.J. Groube
Hay. Sept. 1st 1934
We regret to have to report the death of Miss S.J. Groube, which took place about 3 a.m. on Saturday, at "Wendoure" the residence of her niece, Miss Proctor. The deceased lady has been in failing health for some time and her death was not unexpected. Miss Groube was the youngest daughter of the late Rev.Horatio Groube who was Congregational Minister at Taranaki, New Zealand, and afterwards resided at Glenferrie, Victoria.
She was born at Taranaki, now known as New Plymouth, about the end of 1859, and was thus in her 75th year. When she was but a child of 2 or 3 the second Maori War broke out, and nowhere were the Maoris in stronger force than in the province of Taranaki It was deemed expedient to order all the White settlers, other than combatants, to leave Taranaki, and the Groube family were taken in a ship of war to Auckland. It is a coincidence that the man o war was commanded by Captain Norman, whose son Henry Norman, was afterwards Manager of the Bank of N. S. W. at Hay. Six months after going to Auckland, Mr. Groube removed with his wife and family to Victoria, where he was engaged in Ministerial work until his retirement.
Mr.Groube, who was a son of Rear-Admiral Groube, had a fairly large family, which included Mr. Tom. U. Groube, who was an inter-colonial cricketer and played for Victoria in several contests, and was a member of the 1880 Australian Team to visit England. When she was old enough to take lessons in voice production and singing the Rev. W.Groube sent his daughter as a pupil to Madame Caradini, a well known artiste of the 70's and early 80's, and the training which Miss Groube then received stood to her during her long life. About 20 years ago Miss Groube made her home permanently in Hay, but prior to that she was a frequent visitor to Hay, to see her sister Mrs.H.Proctor and she made many friends amongst the older residents. Miss Groube's first visit to Hay was about 1883, and she made her bow to a local audience at an amateur concert in the old Athenaeum Hall. Her success was most marked and instantaneous.
Very few of the audience had heard a singer of such accomplishments. She sang "Remember Me No More" by Sir N.Robinson, Governor of South Australia, a song in which she was heard over a number of years. She had a well-modulated and very true soprano voice, and her assistance was much sought by concert promoters. Her vocal talents were freely placed at the disposal of the Methodist Church and she was able to take her part in the choir there up to a year ago. Despite advancing years, her voice was very true and reliable, although it naturally lost some of its flexibility and power. Those who have heard her singing in the past 20 years may be able to form some idea of the singer she was when in the Zenith of her vocal powers. During wartime, Miss Groube was an indefatigable worker of the Hay branch of the Red Cross Society, and of the Hay War Workers, but apart from these activities, she was of a retiring disposition and did not take an active part in any public affairs. The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, the Rev. Canon Thompson conducting the service at the graveside in the Methodist burial ground. A number of beautiful wreaths were sent by sympathising friends, including floral tributes from the Hay Croquet Club, The Methodist Church congregation and the Methodist Church Choir.

Extract from the Melbourne 'Herald' Sept 1934.
Miss Sarah Groube, who lived in Hay (NSW) for many years, died there last night after a long illness. She was the daughter of the late Rev Horatio Groube, a Congregational Minister, and a grand daughter of the late Rear Admiral Groube. She was also a sister of the late Mr T W Groube, a former Melbourne cricketer who visited England as a member of the Australian team in 1880, and who was for many years cricket writer for the Weekly Times.