Dorothea Ruby Olive Wraight -grave tales

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. … [Continue reading]

Ode to the Nurses by Smiler Hales

Coolgardie Miner - 9 June 1898, page 4 The wretched typhoid microbe Is feasting in my chest; I'm doomed beyond redemption, By the cursed goldfields pest. It's 'elp me, nurse, 'nd soothe me, nurse, Put ice upon me 'ead; Take a message … [Continue reading]

The Box Soak Creek Rush

Where is Box Creek you may ask? As I did myself back in 2000, (I can't believe it was so long ago), when I received a letter from a lady in Queensland about a distant relative of hers called Ronald Donald McMillen who was supposed to be buried in the … [Continue reading]

An Hotel by any other name

In last week's' Ripping Yarns and Tragic Tales,' you may have read the story of the Hay family. While getting the story ready for the blog, which was sent to me by Nick Allan, I made a mistake in the name of one of the hotels his family ran. I got … [Continue reading]

Ripping Yarns and Tragic Tales – 23rd May 2021

Hi Everyone, hope your week has been better than ours. Sadly one of our beloved dogs has been diagnosed with cancer of the jaw bone and it has thrown us all into shock and sadness. We have decided that we will not put her through the drastic surgery … [Continue reading]