Madeline Evans has very kindly sent in this wonderful photograph and story of her Gt Gt Grandmother Madeline Mary Thomas nee DIXON. She was born the 22 October 1879 in Adelaide South Australia, the daughter of Joseph Elliott Dixon and Jane BROWN. She came to Coolgardie with three sisters and one brother and in 1897 she married John Albert Thomas in Boulder WA, he was another South Australian.
Madeline Mary Thomas nee Dixon
The couple had three children – all born in Boulder WA – the first was my great grandmother, Irene Myrtle Florence born 1898, who in turn had my grandmother Madeline Dorinda White nee Spence. Then followed another daughter, Dorinda Pearl born in Boulder 1902, followed by Albert Marquis born Kamballi (near Boulder) in1904.
Irene and Dorinda Thomas – Daughter of Madeline Mary Thomas
Madeline Mary Thomas died in 1904 and was buried in the current cemetery at Boulder. She would have been among the first burials to take place in this cemetery which opened in April 1904. She died from Diabetes at the age of 24 years and was buried on 30th August 1904 in the Methodist Section.
Kalgoorlie Miner 2 Sep 1904, page 4
John Thomas remarried in 1904 and moved to Albany WA where he died in 1932. He had no more children with his new wife and all of his three children are now deceased. My grandmother was the last who died in 2014.
Boulder Cemetery
Madeline was certainly not forgotten as these heartfelt notices in the newspaper on the first anniversary of her death show:
IN MEMORIAM – Kalgoorlie Miner 30 August 1905, page 4
THOMAS. — In loving memory of our dear beloved daughter (‘Madeline Mary), eldest. daughter of J. E. and J. Dixon, of Kalgoorlie, who died at Boulder City August 30th, 1904.
We saw her suffering day by day,
It caused us bitter grief
To see her slowly pass away,
And could not give relief.
Inserted by her sorrowful parents, J. E. and J. Dixon.
THOMAS – In lovling remembrance of Madeline Mary, who departed this life August 30, 1904.
She has gone to the land where the careworn and weary
Enjoy the sweet rapture of sacred repose
She has quitted forever this wilderness dreary,
And bid farewell to time and its woes.
Inserted by her loving cousin, E. Dixon.
THOMAS – In sad but loving memory of our dear sister (Madeline Mary), who died at Boulder City on August 30th, 1904.
Had I but seen her still in life,
Or watched by her dying bed,
My heart would not have felt so sad
The bitter tears I shed.
But I think I hear her loving voice say Gently back to me:
I have watched my Fathers home above. And wait to welcome thee.’
Inserted by her loving sister and brother-in-law, I. E. and M. W. Ford, South Africa.
THOMAS — In loving memory of our dear sister (Madeline Mary), eldest. daughter of J. E. and J. Dixon, who died at Boulder City on August 30th, 1904. Gone, but not forgotten.
Rest dearest sister, thy toil is over,
Thy loving hands shall toil no more;
No more thy gentle eyes shall weep.
Rest, darling sister, gently sleep.
You art not forgotten dearest sister,
Or wilt thou ever be, As long as life and memory last
We will remember thee.
Inserted by her loving sisters and brothers.
THOMAS.— In loving remembrance of our dear sister Madeline who departed this life at Boulder City August 30th 1904. The news came sudden, it was so sad,
It made us weep and sigh;
And oh it was so hard to think
We could not say goodbye.
However long our lives may be,
Whatever lands we view ;
Whatever joys or griefs be ours.
We’ll always think of you.
Inserted by her loving sister and brother-in-law, M. and A. Flower, Cottesloe Beach.
THOMAS — Madeline Mary, the dearly loved wife of John A. Thomas, who departed this life August 30th, 1904.
Pale death could scarcely find another
So true a wife, so fond a mother.
In all her actions she was kind,
She left her loved ones all behind.
Though gone from us — how hard to bear
No more on earth to roam.
Midst all our grief tis joy to know
She has found a better home.
Inserted by her loving husband and children.
The name Madeline was passed to my mum as a middle name and then to me as a first name and to the daughter of my cousin as a middle name.
In March this year, I went to the Boulder Cemetery and took photos of her grave.
Madeline Evans standing beside the grave of Madeline Thomas her Gt Gt GRandmother at the Boulder Cemetery. Photo – M Evans
Moya Sharp
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