Norman Dodd – Death by Despair

The following story was supplied by Gail and Keith Dodd and is produced here with their kind permission. The subject of the story is Norman W G Dodd who is Keith’s Great Uncle. It shows that it is possible to have the unrecognised grave of a victim of war finally honoured. Many more soldiers died […]

A Policemans Lot – The story of Patrick Donovan

I was recently sent a wonderful family story by Brian Kelly who has done an amazing job of researching the life and times of his ancestor Patrick Donovan. He has given me permission, with thanks, to reproduce an extract from the story of Patrick’s time in Western Australia. Patrick ‘Paddy’ Donovan (AKA O’Donovan) was born […]

Ante and Petrica – a love story

The following story is an extract with kind permission from – ‘For a Better Life, Yugoslavs on the Goldfields of Western Australia 1890-1970 by Dr Criena Fitzgerald. One of the most tragic love stories was that of Ante Mateljan and Petrica Mikovic (Micovich). Luka Markovich, a friend of Ante Mateljan, brought Petrica’s photograph back to […]

Winter -v- Spring a Darlot Divorce

We often think that matrimonial matters didn’t go to court in the early days, but this unusual story shows that things could still be as complicated and acrimonious as you might see today. Leonora Miner 6 August 1927, page 3 Old Age and Youth    Wife of 39yrs Sues Husband of 82yrs A woman of […]

A History of Leonora United Lodge No. 64 WAC

Following on from our previous stories on the history of Freemasonary in the Goldfields, we are fortunate to have another chapter from Doug Daws on the history of Freemasons in Leonora, Gwalia and Malcolm. This story is not only of interest to those who are Freemasons but to all who are interested in the founding […]