Outback Graves Markers

WIlliam MOFFIT

Burial Location:Leonora  (details...)
Occupation: Labourer, architect by profession
Place of Death: Leonora District Hospital
Date of Death: 30 January 1933
Date of Burial:31 January 1933
Age:25 years
Cause of Death:Intestinal obstruction, General peritonitis, ruptured appendix
OGM Ref#: 2692
Headstone:OGM Aluminium
Monument Style: A rectangular inscribed stone with ornate shoulder leading up to a Celtic Cross - placed at the head of the grave.

Inscription

In
Loving Memory
of
WILLIAM MOFFIT
DIED JANY 30TH 1933
AGED 25 YEARS
"THEDEAR OLD FAITH WAS MINE"

In addition, a memorial stone has been added when his mother was buried with him in tis grave. It reads:

Also
SARAH EMMELINE MOFFIT
WHO DIED 14TH SEPT. 1938
R.I.P.

This is a photograph of the Memorial Headstone for William MOFFIT and his mother, Sarah

Memorial Headstone for William MOFFIT and his mother, Sarah

This is a photograph of plaque number 2692 for WILLIAM MOFFIT at LEONORA

REF 2692 WILLIAM MOFFIT LEONORA

Biography

At the time of William's death, his parents were visiting Melbourne.

On the previous Monday, William complained of acute internal pains and sought the assistance of Dr. Clarke, who diagnosed the case as ptomaine gastritis. The patient was admitted to hospital on the Thursday, but did not respond satisfactorily to treatment, indicating some obstruction which was clearly manifest. Before deciding to operate, Dr. Clarke suggested a consultation with Dr. Byrne, of Kalgoorlie, who came up on Saturday in response to a telephoned message.  On his arrival, an operation was deemed imperative and this was carried out between 1 and 2 am on Sunday, disclosing an old appendix trouble.
The conditions were such that it was apparent that the patient had but faint hope of recovery, and he gradually sank and passed away very peacefully and painlessly on Monday afternoon.  He maintained a cheerful disposition, greeting the nurses and visitors with a smile, until a few minutes before he died. 
Billie Moffit, as he was known, received his secondary education at' St. Ildephonsus College, after wards attending the University of W.A. and the Perth Technical School.  He chose architecture as a profession and after serving a cadetship with the Public Works in Perth, he gained the Diploma of the Royal Architects Society, a little over a year before his death. The financial depression so affected his profession in recent years that he followed the occupation of a labourer in preference to unemployment.
Although of a studious nature, and with a musical bent, he did not neglect the physical. He played football with the First Eighteen of the College, and in one year was awarded the gold medal as junior champion athlete, winning all hurdles and flat races up to 880 yards.  Since leaving school, he concentrated on tennis, and it will be remembered that a few months before his death, he won a silver cup as champion singles player of the Northern Goldfields.  He was always a staunch adherent of the Catholic Church and assisted on the Altar every Sunday till a week before his death. 
He was to be missed by members of the Gwalia Debating Society, of which he was President, being a fluent speaker and keen debater.  The Gwalia Debating Society expressed profound regret and sorrow at the passing of its late President, a man who had displayed outstanding qualities— a brilliant speaker, a sound scholar, and, above all, an unfailing charm of manner which endeared him to the members of the society, whose presidential chair he filled with conspicuous ability and success. Kindly in criticism, skilful in-debate, his passing left a void which could not be filled, but the members of the society had bequeathed to them imperishable memories of their late President which would in future be of inestimable value to them. The Society went into recess for three months out of respect for their late President.
William Moffit was buried in Plot number 213 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.
His mother, Sarah Emmeline Moffit (nee Connolly) died in Leonora in 1938.  Her story also appears in this website.  She is buried in the same Plot. number 213, with her beloved son, William.  The story of William's sister, Monica Patricia, who died in Sandstone in 1911, aged 9 months, also appears in this website. 
 
Parents:Sarah Emmeline (nee CONNOLLY) and Gilbert Tickle MOFFIT (Accountant)
Birth Details:Born 1907 at Boulder; Birth Registration 700593/1907, Boulder
Death Certificate:4300002/1933. Mount Margaret
State Records Office: William Moffit AU WA S59 cons3458 1933/080 Item - Part of APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS OF LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION (ORIGINALS)

Relatives click name for details:
Mother Sarah Emmeline MOFFIT
Sister Monica Patricia MOFFIT