Outback Graves Markers

Ellen Harrington (JAGO) BRENNAN (more)

Cause of Death: Myocardial Degeneration

The deceased had lived in Victoria for 23 years before moving to Western Australia.

Her husband and sons Jack and Harry were left to mourn her passing.

 

William BRILLIANT (more)

Cause of Death: Fractured Pelvis, concussion

William Brilliant was unscrewing a bolt on the top of a cement stand on the Cornish lift on the old Harriston Gold Mine Pig Well, when he overbalanced and fell in, a distance of about 9 feet, causing a fractured pelvis and concussion.

Nobody was in the vicinity at the time but he managed to drag himself to his camp, some distance away.  He lay there for a couple of days until discovered and was brought in to the hospital.  Though severely shaken and bruised, it was not considered that his condition was fatal but other complications set in and he passed away. 

The deceased was of a most unassuming nature and of retiring disposition and left many friends to regret his demise. The funeral took place on the Saturday.

The deceased's wife, Sarah Wilkes, was born 17 March 1851 in Melbourne, Victoria. She passed away on 6 June 1902 in Brunswick, Victoria. 

William had resided in Leonora for about 26 years.  His father was a Scot, born in 1826, who married his mother 25 November 1852 in Portland, Victoria.  She was born in Tasmania in 1834.

Joseph BURKE (more)

Cause of Death: Chronic Cardiac Valvular Disease, Syncope

The deceased is buried in Plot number 271 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

William Alfred BURKE (more)

Cause of Death: Fell Down a Shaft

Mr Burke fell 100ft down a shaft after falling from the ladder in the shaft of the Central Gwalia GM. The inquest concerning the death of William Alfred Burke, who was killed at the Gwalia Consolidated Gold Mine, was held at the Leonora Courthouse on the morning of 14 August. Dr,. Cameron gave evidence as to the cause of death. The deceased had a very bad fracture of the skull, which was quite sufficient to have caused instant death and his neck was also dislocated. Evidence was also taken from Robert William Berry, Harry Tedge, and Benjamin Rowe, all of whom were working at the shaft with the deceased. The whole of the evidence tended to show that the deceased at the time of the accident was descending the shaft by the ladder and must have slipped shortly after leaving the surface. The ladders used were good, with plenty of foothold and the requirements of the Mines Regulation Act were carried out on the mine. He had descended the shaft in which the accident occurred, by the ladder on different occasions and was of the opinion that the ladders were perfectly safe. The jury, after a retirement of a few minutes, brought in a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attachable to anyone. The deceased lived in New South Wales for 21 years before arriving in Western Australia.

Charles BYFIELD (more)

Cause of Death: Pulmonary Fibrosis

Charles went to Kambalda, Kalgoorlie, in 1903 at the age of 21 years.  From 1910, following his marriage a few years before, he lived in Menzies and, in 1919, moved to Mount Leonora.  He had two children with his wife, Frances, before she died in 1921.  He had a further two children with his second wife.

Charles was a mines inspector for the union, a cyclist and a member of the local rifle club.  He was well respected in the town. He died at his home in Towers Street, Leonora, where he had been stationed for the previous 8 years. He had been suffering from miner's complaint for some years past and eventually succumbed to an attack of pneumonia.  Following his death, his widow moved to Perth with her two children to be closer to her parents.

Charles Byfield is buried in Plot number 191 of the Anglican portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

Valentino CALEGARI (more)

Cause of Death: Phthisis, Exhaustion

In 1925, Valentino applied for naturalisation.

Michele Agostino CALNEGGIA (more)

Cause of Death: Toxaemia, Heart Failure

Known as Mick.

The family eventually moved to Boulder and it was noted that one of the deceased's daughter, Vera (Elvira), was married in Boulder in 1939.  Prior to the marriage, her mother and a few other ladies held a Kitchen Tea for her which was attended by no less than 300 guests.

 

 

Bortolo CAMADINI (more)

Cause of Death: Fall of Rock

While boring in the Mullock open cut mine, a pile of stone fell from the head on top of Bortolo Camadini.  Horrified work-mates saw Bartolo kllled at the bottom of the open cut at the Sons of Gwalla Mine.  Camadini was a machine miner and was putting In a borehole when a big piece of rock fell and crushed his head In. Death was Instantaneous.  It was understood that Camadini's neck had been broken and that he died instantaneously,

The adjourned inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of Bartolo Camadini was held at the Leonora Courthouse on 25 February before Mr. R. B. Millar. J.P., acting-Coroner, and a Jury. The verdict was that Camadini came to his death in the mullock open cut at the Sons of Gwalia Gold
Mine, Gwalia, on February 14, from injuries received from being struck by a piece of falling stone whilst working In the open cut; no blame was attachable to anyone. 
The person who identified the body of Bortolo Camadini was Bonaventura Piazraoi, who stated that he was a second cousin to Camadini.

Bortolo arrived in Fremantle at the age of 22 years, listed on the passenger list as a farm hand.  It appears he took a trip back to Italy and returned on 24 August 1935 on the Remo, aged 31 years.  On that passenger list, he was listed as being a labourer.

He is buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery, Plot number 257.

Guiseppe Luigi CAPPELLI (more)

Cause of Death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Known as Joe.

Later that year, the deceased's widow married Leslie Davidson at Boulder (Marriage Registration 53/1923, Boulder).  However, the marriage was short-lived as Enrichetta Rosa, by then known as Henrietta Rose, died in 1926 in Perth (Death Registration 100433.1926, Perth).  She was just 34 years of age.

James Reuben CARTER (more)

Cause of Death: Ulcerative Colitis

John Charles Carter was born in Wallsend, New South Wales, in 1883. He apparently married Catherine Ellen Hogan in 1904 at Kalgoorlie. Catherine Ellen, known as Kitty, was born 10 February 1886 in Devenish, Victoria. The marriage produced 13 children, of which James Reuben was the second eldest. The other children were William John Charles born 1906 in Gwalia; John Charles Junior, born 1908 in Gwalia; Peter Preston born 1910 in Fremantle; Jessie Iris born 1912 in Fremantle; Twins, Matthew Daniel (died 2 March 1914) and Christopher Eric (died 8 June 1914) born 1913 in North Fremantle; Robert Henry born 29 April 1915 at Fremantle; Lily E born and died 1919 in Wallsend, New South Wales; Charles born 1921 Wallsend; Henry Albert 19 May 1922, Wallsend; Possibly twins Frederick and Linda, both born 1924, New South Wales. John Charles Carte died 2 February 1938 at Wallsend, New South Wales and Catherine died there 13 July 1973.

John CASEY (more)

Cause of Death: Pleurisy and Pneumonia

John Casey was found dead in his bed at Wilson's Patch. Deceased had been employed for some time past at the Great Western mine and was regarded as one of the miners on the property. He had been suffering from influenza for some time and pneumonia, which followed, caused his death. Mr C. A. Andresen came into Leonora that morning and reported the matter. On the following day, he brought the body to Leonora in his motor car. The deceased was buried in the Leonora cemetery on the Wednesday. Casey was working at the Great Western Hotel, Wilson's Patch, at the time of his death. He left a total of 42 pounds to Mary Roddy.

Pietro CASTELLANELLI (more)

Cause of Death: Compound Fracture of the Skull, Mine Accident

Employed at the Sons of Gwalia Gold Mine, the deceased was struck on the head by a drill dropped from higher up in the stope. A man named Martin Epis found the deceased in the stope apparently severely injured. He at once called for assistance and a miner named Andy Delia (who was working with him) and others carried the victim down the shoot to the level. Castellanelli was immediately taken to the hospital and Dr Cameron, who was in attendance, held out no hope of his recovery owing to the serious nature of the injuries to the skull, which was badly fractured. The deceased lingered on till about 9 o'clock in the evening and then passed away.

It was the verdict of the Coroner that Pietro Castellanelli died from a fractured skull from a drill accidentally dropped down the mine shaft by one Martin Epis. He left an estate valued at £329 3s. 5d to Guiseppi Fausto Castellanelli. It appeared the deceased had only one relative in the state but it is not known what relationship they had to each other.

Giuseppe CECCHINI (more)

Cause of Death: Gelignite Explosion Injuries received in an explosion caused by drilling into unexploded fracture

Giuseppe Cecchini was killed when he drilled into a missed hole on the 2400 ft level of the Sons of Gwalia mine about 10am on the 3 April 1934.  Death was due to shock from injuries received from an explosion caused by drilling into an unexploded fracteur in a butt hole.

The circumstances relating to the death of Giuseppe Cecchini were inquired into at the local courthouse on Monday 9 April, after an adjournment from the previous week. Mr. R. B. Millar, J P., acted as coroner, and the jury comprised Messrs. M. McAppion, foreman, L. Travis and R. Currie.
The inquiry was conducted by Constable Pollard, and there were also present Messrs. L. Gibbons, mines inspector, representing the Mines Department, H. V. Rowe, Sons of Gwalia, and F. Pennefather, AWU.
Bernardo Contessa, sworn, said he was a machine miner, a working mate of the deceased, but on different shift. On Saturday, 31st March, he was working in the 1220 ft. drive on No.24 level, on which date he fired out bottom holes, which had been already bored. Cecchini had fired the other holes in the face. He heard two separate charges go off and then sent a shoveller, named M Tolj, to clean out the face.  He went in afterwards and rigged up the machine again.  He examined the two holes, which appeared to have been fired out all right.  He had put four plugs of fracteur in each hole.  No one else had been boring at this place.  He had had 24 years' experience in mining and always took precautious against missed holes.  He had no idea how the explosion occurred.
Dr. Clarke deposed how he had been called to the mine and had seen the body of Cecchini brought to the surface.  He was then dead. 
In the afternoon of the same day, Dr Clarke made a post mortem examination of the body and submitted a report to the effect that Cecchini died of shock from severe lacerations to the skull and several fractured bones. There were no marks of scorching.
The jury, after deliberating for half an hour, recorded the following verdict: "That the deceased, Giuseppe Cecchini, came to his death at 10.15 am on 3rd April, 1934, in the 1020 ft. drive on the No. 24 level in the Sons of Gwalia mine, through shock and injuries received from an explosion caused by drilling into unexploded fracteur in a butt hole, no blame being attachable to anyone."
 

George Anthony CHRISTIE (more)

Cause of Death: Coronary Artery Disease

Mr Christie had been an employee of the State Hotel for some years.

In October 1943, he attempted a journey to Perth by train to consult a specialist for what he thought was some affliction of the heart.  But when the train reached Kookynie, he collapsed and died.  His body was taken off the train and removed to Leonora, where he was buried the following day in Plot number 287 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

Leslie Vernon CLARKE (more)

Cause of Death: Gastro Enteritis

The child's father, Frederick Cecil Vernon Clarke, was born 25 October 1893 at Hotspur, Victoria (Birth Registration 32584/1893, Hotspur). He married Ida Eileen Barrett on 11 September 1918 at Boulder (Marriage Registration 40/1918, Boulder). She was born in Broken Hill in 1895. The couple had three children. Leslie Vernon had an older sister and a younger sister. It is not known how or why the marriage ended but Frederick Cecil Vernon went on to have two more marriages before his death in Perth on 13 August 1966.