This lad was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wade, of the United Aborigines' Mission at Warburton Ranges, 403 miles east of Laverton. The boy was seriously injured 200 miles from Laverton whilst travelling on the Mission tractor and trailer en route to the Warburton. He was returning after a holiday to rejoin his parents at the Mission. In response to a call for the ambulance sent out by the portable wireless transmitter operated by pedal and carried on this vehicle, Dr. Starke set out on the long trip over exceptionally rough bush tracks to render assistance. The 200 mile trip occupied 26 hours' travelling and the return journey with the injured boy was covered in 25 hours. He was operated on at Laverton Hospital and good hopes were held for his recovery.
The boy was jolted from the vehicle by a bump and fell to the ground and one wheel passed diagonally over his body. His injuries included a fractured ankle, fractured thigh, probable fracture of the knee, internal injuries and extensive bruises and lacerations. Later, it was thought the boy to be suffering from multiple leg fractures and shock, but not internal injuries as previously believed.
A very bright lad of high spirits, he showed remarkable fortitude but, unfortunately, his injuries were so severe that the constant attention and skilled medical service rendered were of no avail and he passed away in the early hours of August 25. This was the culmination of nearly five weeks of untiring effort in a dogged fight for the boy's life by the medical officer, Dr. M. Starke, and nursing staff of Laverton District Hospital.
It was found very difficult to make arrangements to get the boy's parents to Laverton. However on Monday morning a motor, truck left for the Warburton Range. The next day the truck was overtaken 70 miles out by Constable Anderson, who told the driver not to proceed as the boy had died.
The boy was buried at the Morgans Mission Cemetery in which only mission natives had previously been buried. He had a younger sister named Carol.
