Dorothea Ruby Olive Wraight -grave tales

Grave of Alwyn and Dorothea WRAIGHT – Boulder Cemetery 1911 – Photo J J Dwyer

Young Dorothea ‘Dorothy’ Ruby Olive Wraight, was born in Coolgardie WA on the 30th November 1902. She was the daughter of George Thompson Wraight and Ira Elizabeth nee Risden. George was from Aberdeen in Scotland and Ira was from Stawell in Victoria. George and Ira married in Jul of 1902 in Kunanalling (near Coolgardie) WA. Dorothea was their first child.

Ira Gladys Wraight (b 1909) and sister Dorothea Ruby Olive Wraight – Photo Ancestry.com

When Dorothea died on 6 Nov 1911 aged 9 yrs, not long after the above photograph was taken, the family were living at the town of Waterfall, not far from Kalgoorlie. Her little brother, Alwyn George Wraight who was born in Perth WA in April of 1911, died one week later aged 7mths on the 13th of Nov 1911. They are buried in Boulder Cemetery together. Photos by Danelle Warnock

We cannot be certain, but the two children may have died during an epidemic of Diphtheria at the time they died. You will see from the following notice that Dorothea, and probably Alwyn were in the Bouder Isolation Hospital.

Kalgoorlie Miner 7 November 1911, page 4

George Thompson Wraight with daughter Ira Gladys and wife Ira Elizabeth Wraight – photo Ancestry.com

Up until 1908, George was working as a Tributer on the mines in the Vale of Coolgardie near Bonnivale. The newspapers of ther time shiw his application for various mining leases. He had the reputation of a bit of a claim jumper. He would watch to see if a mines was being worked as per the regulations and if it wasnt he would apply for the lease.

George Thompson Wraight – taken in Coolgardie c 1904 – Photo Frank Martyn

Dorothea had one further sibling born many years after her death, that of George Risden Wraight, born 18 Jul 1922. The following is a photograph of George with his older sister Ira Gladys.

Ira and George Wraight- photo Ancestry.com

Dorothea’s parents were both to pass away in Fremantle WA, George in 1951, and Ira in 1960.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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