INTRODUCING YOU TO
GUEST BLOGGER,
MOYA SHARP
from
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN VIRTUAL MINERS MEMORIAL
It would be indeed hard to estimate the number of Irish born people both men, women and children who may have come to the Western Australian Goldfields in the last 100 + years. As we know the Irish are great travellers and many of them would have been miners and would have been keen to discover the riches the new Goldfields offered. In fact, the three men who were the first to discover gold in Kalgoorlie were all Irishmen!
I would like to introduce to you The Western Australian Virtual Miners Memorials which now has a new
Web Site: - www.wavmm.com
This new and interactive site will enable people to create a permanent virtual memorial for a family member or friend who has died because of a workplace accident or from the various conditions of ‘Miners Lung’ in the course of their employment in the mining industry of Western Australia. Every type of mining is included.
Down through generations it is more than likely that facts of a person’s life and achievements can get lost or clouded. It’s time that these men and women who have sacrificed their lives to make this state great are respectfully remembered.
The following is only a very small example of some detail of ten men of Irish birth but there will be many more on the list of over 3500 people who have not, as yet, had their place of birth recorded. In most cases, only the name, the date of death and the location of the mine is known.
If you have any Irish descendants who you may think have died as a result of a mine accident or from one of the many conditions of ‘Miners Scilicosis’ go onto the site and search their name. We always welcome additional information and if you wish you can create a personal profile for them.
BEHAN Daniel (Registered as BE) Age 45 Miner Died 2/3/1903 at the Sir Samuel GM near Lawlers, Killed in an explosion,
born County Cork IRELAND
CURRAN Philip - Age 27 Miner Died 24/09/1903 at the Nil Desperandum GM, Leonora, Buried at the Kathleen Valley Cemetery, Killed by a fall of stone Born IRELAND. He was also known as Philip CORRIDON and he left £252, 19s and 6d to Cornelius LYHANE
DAVOREN Michael, Age 36, Bricklayers Labourer, Died 22/11/1905, Golden Horseshoe GM, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Born: Bally Vaughan, County Clare, Ireland, Father: Michael DAVOREN, Mother: Margaret MEEHAN
IRWIN William James, Age 56, Miner, Died: 11/8/1916, Aurora GM Mt Keith, Killed by a fall of stone from Kilroy IRELAND, Father Samuel IRWIN, Mother Matilda
LYSAGHT Patrick Age 35, Miner Died 19/11/1901 Lady Shenton GM , Menzies, Buried: Menzies Cemetery, Born Ennistyman, Co Clare IRELAND Father Henry LYSAGHT Mother: Kate NEVILLE. AKA John DAVIS
Patrick LYSAGHT, Menzies Cemetery.
MCCONACHIE Wayne Thomas, Driller, Died 15/05/1992 at Jubilee GM Kalgoorlie Born Ireland
O'SHEA Daniel Age 30, Miner, Died 4/5/1901, Englishman GM, Kookynie, Buried: Niagara Cemetery, Father: William OSHEA, Born: Kilmarney IRELAND
Daniel OSHEA, Niagara Cemetery
PAYNE William Age 38, Mine Proprietor, died 31/8/1899 Fields Find GM, Yalgoo, Buried Fields Find, killed by a fall of a bucket down shaft, Born Kinsale, IRELAND
William PAYNE
SHERLOCK Patrick Age 54, Miner and Publican, Died: 7/12/1896 Talisman GM Black Flag, Buried Black Flag Cemetery, Killed by an explosion, He had lived in New Zealand for 20yrs and had been in W Aust for 1 yr. He was born in Tipperary, Ireland, the son of Maria (nee O’Rourke) and John SHERLOCK, Farmer. At the age of 47yrs he married Mary Ann LLOYS in West Port New Zealand. They had one child, Patrick aged 1yr 19mths
McCARTHY Felix Age 32yrs, Miner, Died 21/01/1912 at the Northern Mines GM at Lawlers, Born Co Cork Ireland
WA Record 17 Feb 1912
FATAL' ACCIDENTS.
The recent holidays were not without a chapter of fatal accidents in and around Lawlers. At the Northern Mines, Mr. Felix McCarthy met with a sudden death by one hundred and fifty tons of slimes falling on him. The bank of the slimes was sloping inwards at the bottom; of the face, and while Mr. McCarthy was fixing iron rails at the base of the slope, he was crushed to death. The catastrophe cast quite a gloom over the town, for the deceased was admired and respected for his manly qualities and noble virtues. He was a native of Co Cork, Ireland, where his relatives reside. He was buried in the Catholic cemetery here. His many friends will not forget to pray for the deceased's soul.
He is buried in the Lawlers Cemetery.
Western Australian Virtual Miners Memorial
Post: PO Box 8247, Hannans, 6433 Western Australia
CREDIT for newspaper clippings
Daniel BEHAN – West Australian 7/3/1903 Pg 7
Phillp CURRAN - Photo Western Argus 7/7/1903
Michael DAVOREN – Kalgoorlie Miner 23/11/1905 Pg 6
William IRWIN – Kalgoorlie Miner 17/9/1917 Pg 4
Patrick LYSAGHT – Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette 21/11/1901 Pg 2 Headstone photo (c)Moya Sharp
Daniel SHEA – Westralian Worker 10/5/1901 Pg 3
William PAYNE – Coolgardie Miner 4/9/1899 Pg 6
Patrick SHERLOCK – Coolgardie Miner 8/12/1896 Pg 5
Felix McCARTHY – Kalgoorlie Miner 23/1/1912 Pg 4
