Outback Graves Markers

Bernardo CONTESSA

Burial Location:Leonora  (details...)
Occupation: Miner
Place of Death: Sons of Gwalia Mine, Leonora
Date of Death: 11 July 1935
Date of Burial:12 July 1935
Age:46 years
Cause of Death:Fall of Rock
OGM Ref#: 2816
Headstone:OGM Aluminium
This is a photograph of plaque number 2816 for BERNARDO CONTESSA at LEONORA

REF 2816 BERNARDO CONTESSA LEONORA

Biography

Bernardo Contessa was killed by a falling slab of rock. The rock fell on his head when he stopped to talk to a friend in the course of his progress along a drive to a working face at the south end of level No. 26.

On the day of the accident, evidence of identification was taken and the coroner and jury visited the scene of the occurence.  The inquiry was resumed in the Leonora Courthouse on Saturday, July 13. The jury was comprised of Messrs. McAppion, Brennan and Gibb. There were also present in court, Mr. Foxall, Mines Department, Mr. H. V. Rowe. underground manager, representing the Sons of Gwalia, and Mr. J. K Bishop, who appeared on behalf of.
the A.W.U.   Constable Melrose assisted the coroner in taking the evidence.
Dr. H. E. Clarke, D.M.O., stated that he was called to the mine on the morning of July 11 and was taken underground, where he saw the dead body of the deceased and ordered its removal to the morgue, where he later made a post-mortem examination, the report of which the witness submitted to the court.
From the nature of the injuries he considered death would have been instantaneous. The whole of the head and face were smashed, the brain was lacerated, the shoulder was fractured and there were numerous abrasions on back, shoulders and arms.
Giuseppe Scolari, timberman, said that on the morning of the accident, he and his mate, Joe Varischetti, were taking timber along the 26 level when they met de Rubeis, who said, 'Come on in.  Barney is dead.  A big lump came down and all the timber too.'  Witness went to the place indicated and Varischetti went to ring the accident signal. Witness saw Barney Contessa lying in the drive with a stone across his back. The stone had come down from the roof. He had been working there for the past three weeks. Mr. Rowe, the boss, came along with others and later the doctor came.
The stone was lifted off the deceased and his body was placed on a stretcher and taken to the surface.
Scolari had sounded the ground at this place every morning and it seemed to be quite safe. The boss had told them to be careful and bar down any loose stones before starting. The drive at this point was about 17 ft. wide, and 17 ft. high where the stone fell.  The stone lying across the deceased weighed about 1 cwt. Another piece
weighing about two tons was lying close by.
The coroner then adjourned the hearing for 15 minutes to allow the jury to consider their verdict and, on resuming, he announced the jury finding as follows :— 'That the deceased came to his death on the 11th day of July, 1935, through being accidentally struck by a fall of earth at the 26 level of the Sons of Gwalia mine, no blame being
attachable to anyone.'
Bernardo Contessa was buried in Plot number 236 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.
Parents:Lucia (nee RINALDI) and Bernardo CONTESSA
Spouse:Unmarried
Birth Details:Born circa 1889, Serino, Italy
Death Certificate:4300016/1935, Mount Margaret