On Friday the 16th August 2019, a ceremony was held out in the bush at the Bardoc Cemetery on Mt Vetters Station. It was to celebrate the culmination of almost three years work on a project started by Kellie Carter who owns the Bardoc Station House, and assisted by myself, Kellie is the third generation of Carters at Bardoc as her Grandfather had the original pastoral lease which was then passed on to her father, when he retired the pastoral lease was sold to the present owner but Kellie kept the homestead of which she is very proud.
In 2017 when I met Kellie, the state of the current Bardoc cemeteries were of great concern. Although somewhat protected from the threats of vandalism because of its location, it was showing the effects of the ravages of time and weather and until recently the attention of the local cattle who found it a most attractive place to scratch their backs on the headstones.
Kellie Carter , Julie Aitken, Moya Sharp and Alex Aitken.
Something had to be done !!! The plan was to be in three stages. The first, and most important step, was to securely fence the surviving headstones (8) to prevent further damage. This consisted of three areas, although there are only two cemeteries. The first small cemetery which is partially visible from the highway, holds only four burials and was at ther time considered too close to the residential area. A second cemetery of 5 acres further away was then gazetted on the condition that the original four bodies be exhumed and removed to this spot. An undertaking was given to this effect but as is often the case, it never happened. So the original four keep each other in solitary company along with a memorial stone to Kellie’s Grandfather, Wesley Wallace Carter.
The second cemetery is roughly divided into two areas. However we have not been able to accurately find out which one of them is Catholic and which the Anglican sections. We do know the religion of the presiding minister at the burials, if indeed there was one available, but this does not necessarily denote the religion of the deceased. If there was a death in town and a minister available, he would preside over them regardless.
With the assistance of the pastoralist and Kellie’s father and friends, the three areas were soon securely fenced. The next stage in the project started with myself, in finding out exactly who is buried there and a little about them if possible. After some months, and a great deal of research, a final list was supplied to Kellie and the result was a most attractive sign board which lists the persons name, age, date of death and cause of death.
The final stage was to secure the services of Kalgoorlie Monumental works to assess and to restore and preserve the existing headstones and to repair the damage done to them. This involved local mining companies and friends of the Bardoc cemetery who very generously assisted with the costly restorations. Kellie campaigned tirelessly to secure this funding and the ceremony on the 16th of August was in the main part, to thank all those who had been involved and to show the community what had been achieved.
In Kellie’s thank you speech she read out this most appropriate verse by Suzan Polis Schultz.
The world was made to be beautiful
but sometimes we get caught up in everyday actions
completely forgetting about this,
completely forgetting that what is truly important,
are the simple basic things in life honest pure emotions
surrounded by the majestic beauty of nature.
We need to concentrate on the freedom and peacefulness of nature
and not be driven by material aspects of life.
We need to smell the clean air after the rainfall
and appreciate the good in things
Each of us must be responsible and do our part
in order to help preserve a beautiful world.
The deserts, the eucalyptus woodlands, paper daises,
the morning dew, the dark starry nights, the sunrise and sunset,
fury caterpillars that follow each other in a line,
the galahs, the 28s, kangaroos, emus,
a spec of gold shining back at us, the willows that blow in the wind.
We need to remember that we are here for a short time
and that every day should count for something
and that every day we should be thankful for all the natural beauty.
The world is a wonderful place and we are so lucky to be part of it.
(All photographs of the 2019 graves and plaques were kindly taken by Danelle Warnock)
PREST Alfred Ernest (AKA William Prest):- Age 22yrs, Died 20 Apr 1896 cause Fever, congestion of lungs & Pneumonia (1st death)
DUDLEY Lionel Joseph, d 13 Dec 1896 age 54yrs cause Consumption (2nd Death)- DUDLEY Frederick James Private – memorial plaque – killed in France 20 Sep 1917 Erected Mrs Mary Dudley nee Steedman
Sponsored by – Norton Goldfields Ltd- Paddington
DUDLEY L J Bardoc 2017
DUDLEY L J Bardoc 2019
TURNBULL William: Age 40yrs Died 7 Jun 1896 Cause Dysentery (3rd Death)
FLYNN Charlie:- Age 21 yrs Died 18 Feb 1897 Cause Typhoid, from Victoria (4th death)
Memorial to Wesley Wallace CARTER:
ASHWORTH Robert Albert:– died 24 Feb 1904 in Cross Street, Bardoc, Age 31yrs, Cause inhalation of dynamite Fumes, Inquest held. Father:- John ASHWORTH (Plumber and Iron Moulder) Mother:- Helen WHIPP, He was married to Ida Jean Wightman at aged 30yrs in Kalgoorlie, one child, Robert Alfred Wightman ASHWORTH, aged 8 days Death registered by his brother, Acton Ashworth, One of the wittnesses was James Wightman, Buried on the 25th Feb 1904 At Bardoc Cemetery, Reg -Broad Arrow death cert 4/1904
Sponsored by McVerde Minerals Pty Ltd
ASHWORTH Robert Bardoc 2019
ASHWORTH Robert Bardoc 2017
BENDELL Elizabeth Frances d. 5 Apr 1904, age 24 yrs, Cause – Shock from burns caused by dress accidentally catching fire, Father:- Edward VAUGHAN (Clerk of Courts Ireland) Mothers name not known. Buried 6 Apr 1904 at Bardoc, Born:- Ratheal, Limerick Ireland, Been in Western Australia for 6 yrs, married to Norman Hall BENDELL, married at age 22 yrs in Kalgoorlie. Reg -Broad Arrow death cert 5/1904
BONALDI (Bonaedi) Pietro d. 14 Sep 1903 at the Slug Hill GM Vettersburg, age 33 yrs, Cause fractured skull from accident, Father:- Michele BONALDI (Farmer) Mother:-Angela BONALDI , His death was register by his cousin Benidetto BONALDI, Born Schilpanio, Bergamo, Italy, he had been in Western Australia for 18 months. At the age of 22yrs he married Angela Bonaldi in Schilpanio, Bergamo, Italy, they had the following children:- Michelina 10yrs, Valento 8yrs, Michele 4yrs, Nina 1yr, (they had 1 male and 1 female deceased). Buried 16th Sept 1904 at Bardoc, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 14/1903
BRADBURY Charles d. 6 Jul 1898, age 47, at Vettersburg GM Bardoc Cause accidentally killed by a fall of rock, Born America, had been in Western Australia for 3 yrs, Buried 7th Jul Bardoc Cemetery, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 14/1898
BRENNAN James d. 13 Apr 1898, age 27, at the Bardoc Hospital, Cause of death Run over by train, Buried in Bardoc Cemetery Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 12/1898
CAGNEY Daniel d. 6 May 1901 age 32, Miner, Cause accidentally killed by fall of earth at the Zorosteronian GM Bardoc, Coroners Inquest held, Parents unknown, Was in Western Australia for 7 yrs, prior to this he was in NSW, Buried on the 8th May in the Bardoc Cemetery, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 10/1901
COEN John d. 5 Mar 1902 at the Broad Arrow Hospital age 33, Cause of Death internal injuries caused by a fall accidentally received while skylarking with a mate, Father:- Luke COEN (Farmer) Mother:- Mary HUNT , Co Mayo Ireland, had been in Western Australia for 8 yrs, Single, Headstone erected by his brother James Coen, Buried Bardoc, Reg -BA Broad Arrowdeath cert 5/1902
Sponsored by Spitfire Materials Ltd (Bardoc Gold)
COEN John Bardoc 2017
COEN John Bardoc 2019
FERGUSON Andrew Brackenridge d. 25 May 1899, age 41, at the Broad Arrow Hospital, Cause Dysentry, Father:-Donald Ferguson, Born Mt Plesant SA, was 36yrs in SA and 5yrs in Western Australia, Single, buried in the Reg – Bardoc Cemetery, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 15/1899
HARPER William Alexander Iby Ian d.21 Feb 1898 age 10mths, Cause Gastro Enteritis, Father:-George Thomas Harper (Baker) Mother:- Lavinia Alice SPARK, Born in Bardoc, Buried at the Bardoc Cemetery,
Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 7/1898, 1st burial in the second cemetery.
HENRYON (Thenryon ) Marceline d. 1 Jun 1901 (Female) age 14 weeks at Vettersburg, Cause Hydrocphalus (swelling of the brain since birth) Father:- Paul Francois HENRYON (Mine Manager), Mother Mary Catherine LEYDEN, Born at Vettersburg. Buried at Bardoc Cemetery, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 11/1901
HUG Ernest Roy d. 25 Aug 1911, age 5, at Moss Street, Bardoc, Cause Asphxia from tumours of the larynx, Mother:- Lisette HERBERT now Lisette HUG Born in Higate Hill, Perth WA, lived in Western Australia for 5 yrs, Buried at Bardoc, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 5/1911
JESSOP George Augustus d. 30 Apr 1903, age 30, at Broad Arrow Hospital, Cause fracture of skull at the Zorostorian GM, Bardoc from an accident. Father:- George JESSOP (Farmer and Grazier) Mother:- Mary DEANE, Married to Margaret Ellen STEEDMAN at age 27yrs in Kalgoorlie WA, Buried 1st May 1903 at Bardoc Broad Arrow death cert 6/1903
Sponsored by Spitfire Materials Ltd (Bardoc Gold)
JESSOP George Augustus 2017
JESSOP George Augustus 2019
McDONNELL (McDonald ) Alfred George, d. 27 Nov 1899 at Bardoc, age 2yrs, Cause scalding and shock , Father:- Alfred Chapple McDONNELL (Mine Manager), Mother Margaret Ethel O’LOUGHLIN, Born in Adelaide, SA, Came to Western Australia at 3 mths, Buried in the Bardoc Cemetery on the 29th Nov 1899, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 25/1899
O’BRIEN James W, d. 14 Apr 1900 near Bardoc, age abt 50, Cause Self Inflicted gunshot, Born Ireland, been in Western Australia for 4 yrs. Buried at Bardoc, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 13/1900
RADNELL Frederick d. 22 Aug 1903 at Bardoc, age 28, Cause suffocated by fall off earth at the Wycheproof GM Bardoc, Father Charles RADNELL (Bootmaker), Mother:- Sarah PAIN, Born Tarnagulla, VIC, Been in Western Australia for 2 yrs, Buried at Bardoc on 23 Aug 1903 Reg – Broad Arrow 12/1903
Sponsored by McVerde Minerals Pty Ltd
RADNELL Frederick 2017
RADNELL Frederick 2019
SIMMONSEN female stillborn 5 Jun 1900 at Bardoc, Cause premature birth, Illegitimate child of Florence Jane SIMMONSEN, Buried Bardoc. Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 14/1900
SMITH stillborn 26 Mar 1901 at McConnell Street, Bardoc, Cause stillborn Father:- William SMITH (Hotel Keeper) Mother:- Mary STEEDMAN, Buried at Bardoc, Reg -Broad Arrow death cert 7/1901
SMITH William d. 23 Dec 1916, age 51, at the Bardoc Hotel, Hotel Keeper, Cause gunshot wound self inflicted, Son of Charles Smith and Maria, nee Gallagher, who married at Tarraville VIC in 1856 and selected land at Rosedale VIC in 1865. Bill was the sixth child and fourth son of their brood of 14 and the first to be born at Rosedale. He was married to Mary Dudley (Widow) at the age of 34yrs in Kalgoorlie WA, 1 child Kathleen age 12 yrs, 1 child deceased. Broad Arrow death cert 2/1917
Sponsored by Spitfire Materials Ltd (Bardoc Gold)
Bardoc William Smith 2017
Bardoc William Smith 2019
SNOWDEN George d. 5 Jan 1917 age 61, Miner/Prospector, Cause heart disease, at his camp 1 mile west of Bardoc, Born in London England. Buried at Bardoc. Broad Arrow death cert 1/1917
STEWART Ivy May V d. 22 Oct 1903 age 1 yr 5mths at the Vettersburg GM, Cause marasmus and exhaustion, Father:- Nicholas STEWART (Miner), Mother:- Jessie EVANS, Born Paddington WA, Buried Bardoc, Broad Arrow death cert 15/1903
STEWART Nicholas Robert d. 29 Oct 1900, age 1yr 8mths, at Vettersburg, Cause Collapse of Bowel Father:- Charles STEWART (Labourer) Mother:-Margaret ELLEGAT, Born Vettersburg, Buried Bardoc, Broad Arrow death cert 22/1900
Sponsored by Norton Goldfields Ltd -Paddington
STEWART Nicholas R Bardoc 2017
STEWART Nicholas R Bardoc 2019
WILLIAMSON Sarah Annie d. 21 Sept 1908 age 55 at Bardoc (On Crown Land), Cause- Cancer of the uterus, recurring after operation, Father:- George HANDLEY (Sea Captain) Mother:-Jane BROWNWELL, Born Hobart Tasmania, been in Western Australia for 10 yrs, Married in Beaconsfield Tasmania at age 22yrs to William WILLIAMSON, no children, Reg – Broad Arrow death cert 14/1908
Sponsored by Henri Chassaing and Golden Triangle Tours
WILLIAMSON Sarah Bardoc 2017
WILLIAMSON Sarah Bardoc 2019
WILSON Lancelot George d. 31 Dec 1903 age 4mths, natural causes, Father:- William Henry John WILSON (Contractor) Mother:- Jane KER , Born Boulder WA – Broad Arrow death cert 3/1904
At the eleventh hour, the crew from Outback Graves heard of our plans to hold this ceremony and with the greatest of speed they produced plaques for each of those buried at Bardoc with no headstone. These were all put in place in time for the big day and we would like to extend a huge thank you to them for helping to make this day so special. If you would like to know more about their work you can go to their brand new web site at:- htwww.outbackgraves.org/
Moya Sharp
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What a great effort from you all. So distressing to see cemeteries deteriorate and nothing done about it.
That is a real terrific story Moya! I enjoyed reading it, just wish that I could write like that!
Thank you Moya, once again you have given us more wonderful stories from the past.
You are a national treasure.
William Hooper
Congratulations to Kelly and all involved in undertaking this work. It keeps our history alive for those yet to come.
Congratulations to all those involved. A truly heartwarming story.
Buzz Brennan
Thank you for restoring some of our soon to be lost history. Your group have done a fantastic effort.