This wonderful photograph, taken in Boulder, is from the family album of Glenda Martinick. It is of Lawrance and Elizabeth Blight, her GG Grandparents, and five of their children, plus a son-in-law and two grand children.
Glenda tells me:
I have a couple of connections to Boulder/Kalgoorlie though my GGGFather Lawrence Blight, who lived in King St Boulder in the PO Directory of 1899. He was a foreman/blacksmith at the Great Boulder mine. Born in Cornwall in 1854, he came out on a prison ship (his father was a Pensioner Guard), to Perth WA in 1865. He and the family then went to Adelaide SA where Lawrance married, Elizabeth Jane Chappell. He became a blacksmith and worked in Broken Hill, the family then moved to Kalgoorlie WA with at least ten children in tow!! He retired to Narrogin where he died in 1916. Goodness only knows how he got from Broken Hill to Kalgoorlie with a party of at least 12 people!
Back Row L-R: Florence Blight, John Rowe holding his daughter Maud Florence Rowe who was born in Boulder in 1901.
Middle Row: Lawrance Blight, Claude Blight, Elizabeth Jane Blight (nee Chapel), Lillie Rowe, holding Harold William Lawrence Rowe who was born in Boulder in 1902.
Seated : Alma Blight and Ruby Blight.
Elizabeth and Lawrance had in total 13 children. Their last child,Elizabeth Jane Blight was born in Boulder in 1901. This was the same year as his grandchild Maud Florence Rowe.
The children were:
William born 1877
Lilly Lavina born 1879
Frederick Alfred born 1881
Florence Lucy born 1883
Frederick born 1885
Charles Lawrence born 1886
Norman born 1887
Mabel M born 1890
Edith A born 1891
Alma Edith born 1891
Ruby Gladys born 1895
Wilfred Lawrance born 1897
Elizabeth Jane born 1901, was the only child to be born in Western Australia,
Sadly she only lived 14 days and is buried in the old Boulder Cemetery.
Lawrance Blight is mentioned in the following articles, his brother, William born 1856 in Plymouth, was Mayor of Hindmarsh in Adelaide, South Australia in the early 1900s.
‘THE GREAT BOULDER FATALITY.’, Kalgoorlie Miner 26 April 1902
DEATH OF JOHN HENRY PROWSE. ‘DEFECTIVE GEAR.’
The inquest on the body of John Henry Prowse, who was killed in the Great Boulder mine on Saturday, was resumed at Kalgoorlie yesterday….
“Laurence Blight, foreman blacksmith at the Great Boulder, said that every Sunday he and his pitman visited all the cages on the main shaft to see they were all right. The safety hook was changed every time the cage was taken off sometimes once a week : sometimes once a fortnight. This was the usual practice on big mines. He had been a miner for 30 years. He had been on the mine eight years. On one occasion, he could not say how long ago, the hook broke, and the cage ran away. The witness was cross-examined vigorously as to the date of this occurrence. He said he would not swear as to the date: but it might be within 12 months. He could not swear if it had occurred within six months. Sergeant Thomas urged that the witness be pressed for an answer. The Coroner thought that the witness ought to be able to recollect the matter. The witness said that, if he had known he would be examined as to that matter, he would have come prepared On the 14th the braceman reported that the shackle was out of place, and that consequently the cage was unsafe. This was the over winding incident referred to. The hook was replaced by him.”
Evening Star – Boulder Friday 22 September 1905, page 4
A VISITOR
Mr. Blight, ex-Mayor of Hind Marsh, South Australia, and brother to. Mr. Lawrence Blight, well-known in Boulder City, was introduced to the Boulder Council at their meeting last night by Mr. Mannion, and remained during the business. The Mayor formally welcomed him to Boulder as representative of the municipality of Hind Marsh, and hoped his stay on the fields would be enjoyable. At the conclusion of the business, Mr Blight’s health was proposed by the Major. Mr. Blight, in reply said that he was really an old Groper” having come here in a convict ship – not as a convict (laughter)—in the early 60′ s.
He had had a lot of hard times in the West, but had prospered since he had gone over the other side. He had not seen West Australia for 28 years. He was pleased to see the rapid strides Perth had made, and also the progress made by Boulder City. When he left for W.A. he was told to go to the goldfields because Kalgoorlie and Boulder were the two best cities in the Australian Commonwealth. He did not think that, but was surprised at the progress that had been made. He learned from the Mayor that the council received a £1 for £1 subsidy from the Government on rates. He advised them not to be niggardly in spending this money while they had it. There was no telling when a Government would change its mind. Regarding the fire brigade, he advised the council to come under the Metropolitan Board. They might find it expensive at first, but his opinion was that a volunteer brigade was more expensive. He concluded by thanking the council for his welcome to Boulder, and stating that if any of the councilors visited South Australia he would be pleased to introduce them round the municipalities about Adelaide.
Great Southern Leader Pingelly, 20 April 1917, page 5
Moya Sharp
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