Mine injuries and deaths Victoria
Another site for your favourites is the Victorian Mining Accident Index compiled by Dave Evans and presented by the Ballarat & District Genealogical Society. This is my way of introducing you to a most informative site. It isn't only these few John Smiths injured or killed in mining accidents, but 5,600 miners from the 1850s to the 1940s.
Smith, Jno
1888/09/13
Injured
Married, 33 Y. O.
Ballarat
Buninyong
(A.R.Sec.Mines)
Smith, John
1862/00/00
Killed
30 Y. O.
Accident drowned
Castlemaine
(Dig. Evans)
Smith, John
1885/09/12
Injured
Single, 21 Y. O.
Castlemaine
Tarrangower
(A.R.Sec.Mines)
Smith, John
1886/08/03
Killed
Married, 28 Y. O.
Sandhurst
Eaglehawk
(A.R.Sec.Mines)
Smith, John
1913/00/00
Injured
Ballarat
Wilkinson & Co Mine
(A.R.Sec.Mines)
Smith, John F.
1892/08/10
Killed
Compo
Sandhurst
Eaglehawk
(A.R.Sec.Mines)
Smith, Jonathon
1875/03/31
Killed
Married, 41 Y. O.
4
Injury in claim
Sandhurst
Sandhurst
(C.I.R.)(Dig. Evans)
This photograph below I took at a little town called Yapeen, Victoria last month December 2011.
I'm always filled with a mixture of excitement and suspicion when I see a John Smith.
I wasn't disappointed this time.
After I took the photo, (I swear there was not another living soul to be seen in this town) I went around to the Guildford Hotel.
As I was showing the photograph to a couple of the locals, this old man pipes up " He was me grand father!"
This is the excitement part.
"I'll have another beer and a beer for this man here too please". I order, as I fossick in my bag for pen and notepad.
"Tell me about him." I coax all smiles and pen poised.
" Well, it wasn't his real name," says my new found drinking partner.
"Oh! I'm not surprised. Most John Smith's were hiding", says pedantic know-it-all me. " What was his real name?" I ask excitement mounting.
"William", says my new friend as I order another two drinks.
"William what," I ask impatiently.
"William Smith!"
Suspicion finally kicks in but not before the laughter from my drinking partner and his friends.
on 2012-01-13 22:10:02
janilye - 7th generation, Convict stock. Born in New South Wales now living in Victoria, carrying, with pride 'The Birthstain'.