I have recently been in correspondence with Lisa Clifford, who has very kindly allowed me to share the following story and photographs with you. She originally got in touch with me after seeing the grave of Alistar Douglas Calder in the Black Range (Nungarra) Cemetery on the Outback Family History website.
Lisa tells me that she is the youngest grandchild of Neil and Mary Calder, being the 62-year-old daughter of their second youngest daughter, Doris Marion Clifford, who was born in 1921 and died in 2015 at 94 years of age. Lisa’s mother survived her siblings, all of whom lived to old age. Their father Neil Calder was born in Scotland in 1867 and died in Geraldton in 1945 and Mary (nee Priestly) was born in Victoria in 1875 and died in Perth in 1968.
Neil & Mary Jane Calder nee Priestly on their marriage at Mt Jackson WA in 1905.
Westralian Worker – Perth – 22 September 1905, page 1
WEDDING BELLS CALDER—PRIESTLY.
A very pretty wedding was celebrated in the Miners’ Institute, Mt. Jackson, on Monday, September 4th, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. Mr. Davoren, Church of England Minister, Southern Cross. The contracting parties were Mr. Neil Calder, shift-boss, Mt. Jackson gold mine, and Miss Mary Priestly, proprietress Mt. Jackson boarding house. The bride, who was given away by her brother, looked charming in a very becoming cream silk dress, relieved with twine colored insertion and lace to match, veil and wreath of orange blossoms, carrying a very pretty bouquet of white everlastings. The bridesmaids were the Misses Rosie and Mary Duff, who were dressed in white silk, trimmed with lace and insertion, wearing hats to match.
Above is a very poignant photo of dear little Alistar Douglas Calder in his ‘wee’ kilt. Alistair was the couple’s first child. Born in Perth in November 1905, he died at Birrigrin, Black Range on 2nd March 1907, aged 14 months. The photograph must have been taken not long before he died. He must indeed have been very dear to them as his grave is most impressive, and there is only one other headstone in the cemetery. Alistar’s death certificate shows he died of natural causes. Lisa’s mother understood he may have died from convulsions, however, there were a number of childhood diseases that killed many babies and young children at that time.
Grave of Alistar Douglas Calder -Black Range Cemetery
Immortelle on the grave of Alistar Douglas Calder
Plaque on the grave of Alistar Douglas Calder
Lisa tells me she only recently learned where her grandparents met when researching on Trove and was surprised to read they had a huge community wedding with a 4-tier cake! After leaving Birrigrin, Neil and Mary eventually took up farming in Naraling, WA, where they raised their children in some very challenging rural circumstances. Those circumstances are outlined in the many articles on Trove where her grandfather is mentioned. They show a very civic-minded person, who not only agitated for better conditions for farmers in the Chapman Valley area but was also one of the “Airdens Martyrs” who defended the rights of crofters in Scotland and was imprisoned for 6 weeks in Inverness for doing so. He definitely walked his talk!
Geraldton Guardian and Express 14 November 1945, page 5
OBITUARY
LATE MR. NEIL CALDER
A POPULAR NARALING FARMER
After an illness extending over only a few weeks, the death occurred at the St. John of God Hospital at Geraldton on Sunday afternoon last of Mr. Neil Calder, who was an extremely popular farmer at Naraling. The deceased gentleman, who was seventy-nine years of age, was born at Bonar Bridge in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, and had a varied and interesting career as a sailor, miner, athlete, and farmer. He went to sea at the early age of thirteen years, and after four years of adventure, he spent about eight years working on gold and silver mines in America. He then returned to his native highlands, in which poor crofters. were being evicted in wholesale style. As a young man, the late Mr. Calder took a prominent part in leading an agitation against those ruthless land-grabbers, and mainly through his efforts, the Highland Land League was formed and still exists.
He then decided to go to Australia and landed at Albany in 1892, and being attracted by the gold boom at that time he walked from Northam to Kalgoorlie with seven other young men. From the goldfields town he then walked to Lake Way (now Wilnna), and sometime later he returned to Kalgoorlie, in which town he became quite a popular figure. Being a fluent speaker of the Gaelic and a lover of bagpipe music, he started a branch of the Caledonian Society, of which he was elected chief. After being appointed as manager of the Berrigan Gold Mines, he was married at Mt. Jackson in 1905 to Miss Mary Priesley of Victoria. Six years later he took up land at Naraling, and he very successfully farmed this property on the Bowes Estate. In the field of athletics the late Mr. Calder, during his eight years in America, annexed many prizes in long-distance pedestrian events, and at Maryborough Victoria, he won the shot-putting championship. Whilst at Kalgoorlie he also won the drill driving championship of the goldfields.
During his residence at Naraling, he displayed an active interest in the affairs of the Primary Producers’ Association, and at one period of his life in the district, he was a member of the Upper Chapman Road Board. In addition to a bereaved widow, the late Sir. Calder is survived by a family of seven comprising two sons and five daughters, and also five grandchildren. The youngest son (William) is at present serving with the A.I.F. in New Guinea, and the youngest daughter (Doris) is a member of the W.A.A.A.F. and is now on leave from Queensland. The funeral took place yesterday.
KALGOORIE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY COUNCIL.
Kalgoorlie Western Argus – 25 November 1902, page 19
Back – Hector McKenzie – James Davidson. – James Harper – John Davidson.
Middle – Robert Harper Past Chief – Joseph Skurry Chieftain – Neil Calder Chief – Andrew Hogg Chieftain – Dugald Mcleod Secretary – Robert Crichton Treasurer –
Front -Angus Matheson – Thomas Jas McAllan
Photo by J. J. Dwyer
Moya Sharp
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