Mt Ida (Copperfield)
In August 2008 people traveled from interstate and as far away as Canada, for a weekend reunion of former Mt Ida residents at the old gold mining town site.
Some 92 people gathered for the reunion, held on the last weekend of August 2008. The reunion started with a barbecue at the Hannans Club in Kalgoorlie on the Friday evening. Old friends made contact, many of whom had not seen each other for 40yrs. Saturday was celebrated with a meal at ,the Tower Hotel and on Sunday morning two busloads departed for the old townsite.
Participant, Kevin O’Dwyer, whose wife Colleen (nee Picen) was raided in Mt Ida, said that the group stopped at the Menzies Roadhouse to enjoy a light breakfast and the courteous welcome of the staff who left nothing to be desired.
The Mt Ida reunion group pictured outside the Menzies Road House (now closed) after enjoying breakfast on the way to the old town site.
Many also noticed that finally a clock had been added to the Menzies town hall at long last. When the group finally arrived at their destination, many were disappointed to see their former homes had been flattened by the bulldozer, and what was once a proud little town now lay in small heaps littering the landscape.
It didn’t take very long for most to recognize the locations of the mess hall, the school, store and clubhouse. After a few hours of exploring they boarded the buses and traveled to the old freshwater soak, nicknamed the ‘mega car wash’, where they had a BBQ lunch. A plaque was affixed to a large granite outcrop and dedicated to absent and past residents.
OLd Soak :- The Mt Ida memorial plaque
The return trip to Kalgoorlie passed quickly with much singing and storytelling. On the return was the sadness of the goodbye’s, and knowing for some that this would be the last time they would meet but the memories of this great reunion would remain.
The reunion was organized by Kim and Rosemary Hillier. A book was written for the members of the group compiled by C van den Broeke.
If you would like to know more about Mt Ida you can go the the OFH web site at :- Mt Ida
If you have any Mt Ida memories or stories to share, do get in touch:- research@outbackfamilyhistory.com.au
Moya Sharp
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Hi – I was a teacher in Mount Ida during the years 1961-1962. It was a very interesting experience for me as I had never lived on a mining lease where there was a one teacher school. It is quite likely that the students I taught are now in the sixties and seventies and I am not sure where any of them are now located. Nevertheless, my two years teaching and living in the community were very fulfilling and helped me understand the lifestyle of overseas migrants who came there for work, as well the teaching tasks in a small diverse school.
If you would like further details, please let me know.
Michael Lee
Hi Michael You may have taught my brother in law and his siblings, they are all in theie 60’s now. They were the Gilmore’s, do you recall them?
5 September 2019.
Hello, my name is Adriana and I was in Mt Ida during Mr Lee’s teaching days…Rosanna De Luca and I live in Perth. I know that Timothy Crowley is in Ocean Reef so If Mr Lee would like to catch up with us I could get morning tea or something in Perth!! my e-mail for all the Mt Ida children in the 61-62 Year can contact me at adriana.f@iinet.net.au 🙂
Hi Adriana I will pass on your details.