Good find Neale.
1908 - 60 = 1848 likely year of birth
1908 - 20 = 1888 likely move to Millicent
Gold Rushes commence in both NSW and Vic in 1851 - so very possible immigrant as a young child with his parent/s in 1853 from Wiltshire.
Re learning to read and write - Often family history buffs discard the non-religious benefits of Sunday Schools frequently taught reading and writing to those attending classes, on Sundays and sometimes on other days of the week too. Also, often on those long voyages to the colonies from Britain, the Ship's Captain and or Surgeon and or various leading passengers would use the spare time to hold classes in reading, writing, numbers, sewing, knitting, etc...
I can read that newspaper cutting both ways - childhood and also as a young adult even say to mid 30s...
JM
