Hinton Edward Lowe
Pharmacist and Justice of the Peace
8-7-1921 – 15-10-2014
Born in Bright, Hinton Lowe grew up through the Great Depression, a time when unemployment reached 30 per cent and the hardships suffered by so many engendered strong values of hard work, thrift, and both family and community solidarity and service.
Mr Lowe attended school at Melbourne’s Trinity Grammar, where he held a scholarship as a choirboy under the direction of renowned organist and choirmaster Dr A. E. Floyd.
His love of the religious and other classical music continued throughout his life. Mr Lowe maintained his Anglican faith and was a member of the congregation and a churchwarden at St Thomas Church in Werribee, where his funeral was held on October 22.
Mr Lowe arrived in Werribee in 1952, when the town was a rural outpost of Melbourne with a population of only 3500. He opened a pharmacy in Watton Street and his customer base grew rapidly as he became known as a warm and generous friend, particularly to the large numbers of migrants in the area.
Lowe’s Pharmacy was more than a business. As well as its professional contribution to health in the community, it became a base for Mr Lowe’s many other community projects, including launching an ambulance service, serving on the community management of the Werribee Hospital, establishing an aged care home and a public housing loan facility.
An active member of the Freemasons, which he joined in 1944, Mr Lowe eventually rose to positions of leadership within the organisation.
A keen follower of sport, Mr Lowe enjoyed tennis and was a keen Fitzroy Football Club supporter, with Hadyn Bunton one of his early heroes.
But cricket was his great passion and, like most Australians, he watched the feats of Don Bradman with a sense of awe.
A notable Justice of the Peace, Mr Lowe was awarded life membership of the Victorian Association of Honorary Justices and he continued as an active volunteer JP until last year.
Mr Lowe married Roma Fisher in 1943 and later Anne Klepner, who died in 2012.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and his four children, Hinton, Toylaan, Nova and Kim.
