Biography

Always light-hearted and of a most genial nature, it appears, that the deceased had been suffering keenly from mental worry and indulging more freely than wisely in wine; that his mind became unhinged to the point where he shot himself with a revolver and thus terminated tire career of one more unfortunate prospector. In the early history of the gold fields, he was attracted by an offer of £1,000 for the discovery of payable gold in the eastern division and he and a party proceeded to Golden Valley at the time Burnet Colreavy and Annesty had gone to Perth to report that find. From that field he proceeded further and was the actual discoverer of Southern Cross. Even before Bailey discovered Coolgardie Mr. Toomey had been in that district, but was unfortunate enough to miss the Golden Eldorado. Being one of our greatest bushmen and of a free and easy roving nature, he was well known all oyer the fields, where he had spent a rough life in searching for nature's wealth. But like many more of the good old pioneers, he simply opened the gates to let others enter and enjoy untold wealth. Latterly he had been resident in Mount Ida, and being a good sportsman, was the life and soul of meetings. In his youth, Toomey lived in Northam with his parents before heading to the wider regions of this state. His name is perpetuated in Toomey's Hills, near Parkers Range. He is remembered as one of the best bushmen that ever faced an unknown scrub.