Biography

Known as Lazy.

Les acquired his nickname from his German friends, Horst, whose pronunciation of "Leslie" simply sounded like "Lazy" - and it stuck.

LES was born in Richmond, Victoria, 3rd September 1944, to Sylvia Gladys Moxham (née KING) and Reginald Earnest BAULCH.  He was the middle child, with older brother Christopher James, born in 1938 and younger sister, Helen Cecelia born in 1946.  In 1945 the family moved to an old orchard in Croydon, where Les completed all his schooling.

Dad Reg died in 1950.  Les and Helen being close in age formed a strong life-long bond which remained throughout his life.

A free spirit, Les roamed the paddocks and bush, discovering and learning to love nature.  From bird-watching, footy and cricket, Les became a clerk in the Postmaster General’s Department.  This was not for him.  In the early 1960s, he left for Lightning Ridge NSW in the search for Opal, then on to Rubyvale QLD looking for Sapphires.  Les had travelled Australia extensively and in the 1980s, he settled in his beloved Kookynie WA prospecting for Gold.  He lived in his bush camp on Dingo Creek in the Tampa/Butterfly area near his original Orient Well lease. 

The name Lazy was endowed upon him by an acquaintance who had a heavy accent.  Leslie became Lazy.

In July 2023, hospitalised with cancer, Les was still in touch with his siblings every day.  He died in Kalgoorlie Hospital 29th October 2022.  It is thanks to the persistence and dedication to her dear brother (Lop) that Helen was able to have the Kookynie Cemetery re-opened to enable Les to be laid to rest eternally on 22nd February 2023.

He lived the life he wanted.  He gave his heart, his hand, his knowledge, his wealth and friendship to so many.