Archives for January 2016

The One Armed Cameleer – Murderer or Madman ?

From the Sunday Times 11th May 1941:- A Tragedy Recalled Elderly, venerable, Said Mahomet Yar first spread his praying mat and commenced his morning with Allah then rolled and strapped his blankets and dismantled his self made wind sheet. Before continuing his journey he carefully counted the contents of two leather pouches which swung at […]

Queen Victoria is Dead

On the 22nd of January 1901, 121 years ago, Queen Victoria died. This is how the Goldfields heard and what happened. From the Western Argus 29th January 1901 pg 9 THE DEAD SOVEREIGN HONOURED AT KALGOORLIE Directly it was made known to the people of Kalgoorlie that the worst fears regarding Queen Victoria had been […]

Can You Help? – The Partizanka and the Radnik

Can anyone help with information on any family members who may have returned to Yugoslavia on two ship that were chartered by Marshall Tito just after WW2 to repatriate the people of Yugoslavia back to their home country. However, most of them after a short period wanted to return to Australia. Dr Criena Fitzgerald is […]

Wally Davis – A Life Well Lived.

The following is an extract of an oral history interview in 2013 with Walter Davis by Dr Criena Fitzgerald for the:-‘History of the Slav/Italian Community in Kalgoorlie/Boulder’ project. My name is Walter (Wally) Dominic Davis and I was born on the 3rd April 1921 in Perth. My mum was born in New Zealand and her […]

Miners Lung (Silicosis) – The Silent killer

This photograph depicts the Jugoslav International Tug O’War Team in 1926:-  In 1926, these men were in their prime, strong, fit and apparently healthy, having just been proclaimed as the goldfields champions of the ‘Tug of War’ competition. Almost all men who worked underground were at risk of damaging their lungs through the inhalation of […]