Hugh Alexander Buntine

  General Notes:

Corner Scott and Tennyson Streets, Elwood
The St Kilda Presbyterian Church in Alma Road established a small branch Sunday school in the home of Mr and Mrs A. W. Bruce at 20 Scott Street in 1909. This was in response to the number of young families moving into the new suburb of Elwood, to the south of St Kilda.[1]
The St Kilda congregation had already bought land and a meeting on 18 December 1909 decided to build a hall on this site. The first Presbyterian service in Elwood was held on 28 April 1912 at 20 Scott Street, Elwood and was conducted by Latrobe Bagley. The hall was opened and dedicated on 12 December 1912. The building and contents had cost £785. The Reverend Alexander Yule became the first minister and was inducted on 26 June 1913 and served until September 1924. Subsequent ministers were: Sidney Hadley, 1924-28; Hugh Buntine, 1929-37.

The Argus, Saturday 15 May 1920.
CLERGYMAN’S RESENTMENT.
Ordered to Pay Damages.
   A Presbyterian minister, Rev. Hugh Alexander Buntine, of Dandenong, was the defendant in an action in which damages amounting to 249 pounds were claimed on account of an alieged assault, heard by Judge Williams in the Country Court on Thursday.
   The plaintiff, Samuel Styles, orchardist, of Yarra road, Croydon, gave evidence to the effect that. he was at Mordialloc, in January recuperating his health. On January 13, accompainied by an invalid friend named Harlow, he was strolling along the beach with two boys looking for sand-worms. They came accross some rocks which had been piled up, and as appeared afterwards, had been erected as a bathing shelter by defendant’s children. Plaintiff and the children dug around the base of the shelter, and knocked down some of the top rocks, without any idea of causing offence to anybody. A moment later, defendant came in haste, and demanding to know what they meant by pulling down his children’s bathing-shelter, struck Harlow a blow which knocked him down. Plaintiff protested, and was at once struck a servere blow on the point of the chin.  Plaintiff demanded to know what the newcomer meant by striking two invalids. Defendant’s answer was to strike him again.
   Medical evidence was given that when plaintiff was examined by Dr. Ferguson Lemon, an X-ray specialist, a month later, it was found that there was a cleavage of the windpipe, which in the doctor’s opinion, might have been caused by a blow. Plaintiff suffered much pain, and was unable to swallow without great difficulty for a fortnight.
   The defence was a denial of assault, and an assertation that the defendant was merely defending himself. He denied having struck defendant’s throat.
   Judge Williams said that he appreciated the position that the defendant was in. He might have had cause to be annoyed, but he had taken the wrong course. He awarded the plaintiff 54 pounds, including costs. On the application of counsel for the defendant, a stay of six weeks was granted.
   Mr. J. R. Macfarlan and Mr. Gorman (instructed by Messrs. Brayshay and Luke Murphy) appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Magennis (instructed by Messrs. McPaerson and Kelly) for the defendant.

Argus (Melbourne, Vic) Friday 25 June 1920
DANDENONG. The Rev. Hugh A. Buntine, minister of Scotts Church, Dandenong, was on Tuesday presented by the citizens of Dandenong with a wallet covering the whole of his expenses in a recent law case.

Argus (Melbourne, Vic) Wednesday 23 January 1924.
CHURCH NEWS
It is stated that the Rev. H. A. Buntine, of Dandenong, has received a call from the Dorcas street Presbyterian Church, North Melbourne.

Electoral Roll: - 1903 - Ormond College, Parkville, Vic - Student
1914 - The Manse, Dandenong, Vic. - Minister.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Cremation, 20 Feb 1947, Fawkner Crematorium & Memorial Park, Melbourne, Victoria Australia.

• Occupation: Presbyterian Minister.

Hugh married Flora McLeod, daughter of William McLeod and Ann Hall, in 1905 in Victoria Australia. (Flora McLeod was born in 1875 in Wall?, died in 1963 in Kew, Melbourne, Victoria Australia and was buried in Garden Of Remembrance, Melbourne, Victoria Australia 1 Compartment 5 Niche L. L..)