乔治 (也称Georgie) 慕容 (Moohong), 出生于清朝广东。具体的出生年月和地点不详。在他很年轻的时候就背井离乡只身来到澳大利亚。他于1884年三月乘坐“Enchung”号船抵达澳大利亚悉尼。
在他来到杨一带以前他在悉尼,特莫拉和格伦佛一带生活,后来1893年7月又来到Eurabba给Caldwell一家工作了几年,之后又来到杨。根据1917年10月份的一份报纸显示,他在杨生活不久又返回到格伦佛,报纸记载他在格伦佛的主街经营了一家小商店。
后来乔治回到杨,在R H Tout’s的地产“Wambanumba”居住。他的小住所就位于小溪旁边,方便他取水浇灌他的菜园。
乔治是一个非常慷慨的人。当他还在Eurabba生活时,他常常把钱借给一同工作的人,与此同时,那些年他还向格伦佛医院,第一次世界大战比利时救济基金和Burrangong区域医院捐款。
George took great pride in his garden and was a regular exhibitor at the Young District Annual Show, taking out many prizes for his wide variety of vegetables.
He reportedly was supposed to have moved from Wambanumba in 1939 to live on Tommy Young’s property on the Wombat Road but the National Security (Aliens Control) Regulations records show that he changed his address on the 25 November 1943, following a warning from the Aliens Control Board 24th January 1940 for failing to register his change of abode.
George lived in a two room hut at the back of Young’s property, daily he would walk over 200 metres to his garden having to cross a creek on stepping stones and climb through a fence, this he was still doing at age 105. As George aged Mr. Young would keep an eye on him as he worked in his garden for George was a very independent gentleman and would not accept
help with his daily activities, caring for himself and tending his garden up to the time of his death. His longevity can be contributed to the fact that he ate hearty meals of rice and meat and no doubt vegetables, he walked where ever he needed to go and just prior to him celebrating his 105th birthday he still walked 3km into town. He was never sick, refused to take medicine and had never seen a doctor or been in hospital. Only in his later years did he suffer from semi-deafness and rheumatism. One of his joys in life was to have a small bet on the horses every now and then.
George a very intelligent man had a cheery nature and was well liked and respected by the people of Young, so much so that he was known as Georgie to everyone.
Life for Georgie came to a sad end. Whilst burning grass to clear land for a vegetable garden his clothes either caught on fire or he was overcome with smoke. His badly burnt body was found by Mr. Tommy Young who, not having seen George working in his garden, went to look for him. The finding at the Inquest held at Young on 15 June 1957 by C M Western, Coroner, was shock following upon severe burns. He is buried in the Church of England portion of Young General Cemetery.
There is some controversy regarding George’s age as the only surviving official records we have show him as been 98 when he died, but George was particular about when he was born therefore his age of 107 at the time of his death was most likely correct. All his official documents had been destroyed in a fire in Tom Young’s shop in Main Street, the year before his death.
We dips our lid, Georgie.
Hilltops Council would like to acknowledge the Young and District Family History Group and the National Archives for their support in the creation of this article.