to Barambah Aboriginal Settlement where he spent his last years coaching promising Aboriginal boxers and refereeing their bouts. Jerry Jerome ended life as he began it, in squalor, and stone motherless broke. His last days were spent in segregation at Barambah (Cherbourg) Aboriginal Settlement, Murgon, Queensland. It is said this comedian of the fight ring died with his famous bowler hat on. Jerome was survived by his three sons and one of his two daughters. In his professional career Jerome fought 58 boxing battles, 35 were wins and 23 were losses. In 1915 at the age of 41 Jerome resigned from boxing. Jerome died on 27 September 1943 at Cherbourg Aboriginal mission penniless and is assumed to be buried at Murgon cemetery. At the time of his death Jerome was a white-haired, bushy-whiskered, toothless old man in his seventies. Approximately 20 of Jerome's first-class fights netted him something in the vicinity of £5000. Worth over $500,000 in today's money according to the Reserve Bank of Australia Pre-Decimal Inflation Calculator. Reckless handling of his share of the purse resulted in the Chief Protector of Aborigines taking over control of his interests. His biggest purse was £575 for his fight with David Smith at Sydney Stadium under the direction of Snowy” Baker, worth over $71,000 today. Snowy Baker once said: “If old Jerome would ever keep as fit as he is capable of being made, he would be the greatest middle-weight fighter in the world”. With his money all gone he spent his last years coaching promising Aboriginal boxers and refereeing their bouts. Jerome was survived by his three sons and one of his two daughters. Jerome was the 2008 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Old Timers category. References External links ADB biography Jerry Jerome (Aboriginal boxer) 1874-1943 - State Library of Queensland 1874 births 1943 deaths Indigenous Australian boxers Australian male boxers People from the Darling Downs Middleweight boxers