PIH


 * Diary of a Gold Digger **

__** Profile: **__ Name: Rosalie O'Reilly. Age: 17 when she reached the goldfield. Her date of birth is 14th of July 1834. Origin: Ireland. Family: Mariel (Mother), Joseph (Father), Henry and William (brothers), Katherine, Jane and Pheobe (sisters). Personality: Hardworking and sensible, speaks her mind which isn't always good.

Year That She Left for the Goldfields: 1851 but didn't arrive until 1852.</span Occupation/Education: She never went to school but Mariel (her Mother) taught her to read and write, she worked as a maid before she came to the goldfields of Australia.She wants to write a book to make her family proud and earn some money for them. Tools: A gold pan and a small shovel are her only tools, but her Fath er Joseph owns the large shovel and the sharp pick. Success: Yet to be known.

__** Diary Entries: **__

3rd December 1851 Fortune awaits those who have patience. I have waited for a long while for a way to earn good money. Then news of the goldfields reached Ireland. My Mother was unsure but my Father helped convince her. Now my family of 8 are cramped on this small boat without enough food to go around. To pass time on this oat I shall write about my work. I was a maid in a big house. My sisters and Mother worked their too. We got no money only a roof over our head. Father and my brothers earn the money by making little metal figures to go on sale. On Sundays we get to our best clothes, which are quite shabby and old, to go to church. We left with Mistress Adeline’s consent.

I think to get my mind of this boat I shall write about my family. My mother is Mariel of Ireland; she is a laundry worker for Mistress Adeline and is the most kind, caring person I know. Father has a very persuasive tone, everyone sees to listen and do what he says, my Mother is so very lucky. Jane is the eldest of us girls (21) and then after he is myself, Katherine (7) and lastly 1 year old Phoebe. My brothers are William and Alex (18) they are identical twins its almost impossible t tell the apart, unless you know the signs. I had another brother, Charlie, but he died at birth, after that my parents decided 8 in the family was enough.

This boat is absolutely terrible! There are not very many women, the ones that are on this boat are refusing to go onto the deck like I am. I find the deck calming, the gentle spray on my face, the wind through my hair and the rush of sound that drowns out all other nises. My whole family have decided to go below to eat dinner but I decided to stay here for a bit longer.

Mother brought me up a cup of tea and I realised I was crying. I just watched Ireland leave my view and my tea felt warm in my hands. Mother stroked my hair and left me to it. Goodbye Ireland I hope I see you again oneday... ROSALIE.

4th June 1852 It’s a miracle! We landed, I am quite ashamed to admit I would rather have stayed in Ireland than go o that boat but at least now we have landed and I can start digging. But good job we have our own tent I just saw the price of the over here. ROSALIE

18th June 1852 I have made 5 very nice friends. Maryann is amazing, she beleives in womens rights and has long fair hair. Henry and Jamie are brothers but not twins there are 3 years between them. they are very cheeky and always tease maryann. Susanne has short jet black hair and sharp green eyes. The problenm is she only has 9 fingers and won't tell any of us why. ROSALIE.

20th June 1852 I am in awe of my Father he is so clumsy but he got some. Not much though Mother and Jane are making a list of what we could get and how much we should leave incase we don't find any for a while. ROSALIE

21st June 1852 Father wasn't really tring to hard today as he had already found some gold but because he didnt see a man dig up a rock and it shot up and hit him in the leg. It's broken now. ROSALIE

30th June 1852 Father isn't improving his condition very quickly so my friends and I volunteered to do some digging. it didn't go to well. Not a speck was found the only prize for our effort was the satifaction of a dreamless sleep. ROSALIE

13th July 1852 All my brothers, jane and I have decide to help father get back to work again since his leg started to get better. I get the feeeling Mother doesn't like Jane and I working she has been trying so hard to get us to do errends all day. Infact I have to go to town now. I think I shall take the long road to town as I see many brightly coloured birds and little brown birds. Oh, how I love birds. ROSALIE

14th July 1852 I am sitting in the shade of a tall tree in my favourite spot in Bathurst. I am trying to get out of my families way because they want me to have a fun 18th birthday but with what they have planned we would have no money for the rest of the year. i decided to leave until they find some sense. I wonder how long I will have to wait. Jane is angry at me now as she didn't get offered an interesting birthday when she was 18. I can't beleive she blames me it was not my idea I don't even want it to happen. It's beginning to rain but I am not going back as Jane has threatened me and is not one to go back on her word. I shall shelter in the hollow tree nearer town. I am there and it is dry enough. I am cold and hungry but no worse off than usual. Whats one day compared to a whole year. It's been a long time I think it's ok to head back now. ROSALIE

14th August 1852 It's been a month and nothing interesting has happened as of yet. ROSALIE

17th September 1852 Mother still won't let me out to mine! I'd sneak out but she would probably get upset, and I don't want that.

18th September 1852 I managed to convince Mother that using the Alluvial mine (which is panning in the nearby river or stream)is safe. But she said a month only and Jane could come too. I hope something interesting or intreging happens! ROSALIE

11th October 1852 I think panning is worse than that mining I did when Father broke his ankle. I do wonder if I should get a job as a housemaid or something similar. I have done it before. I shall talk to Mother. ROSALIE

Same Day I have spoken to Mother. She agrees and told me to go to town and see what I can find. ROSALIE

12th October 1852 I have found a job and I start next week as a laundy worker, the lady in charge says that if I work effectivly I shall move up in rank to become a maid. Once I am a maid I shall be paid 7shilling a week with no board or keep, as a laundry a laundry worker I only earn 3 shillings which will not last very long as we need to pay for food. Jane was also accepted into this job so we alltogether we earn 6 shillings. ROSALIE

20th October 1852 Finished work yesterday, it was so tiring. We had to carry big metal buckets, fill them with water and carry them back to the wash-room. We then ha to scrub the clothes with soap and a hard brush until they were completely clean. My hands are blistered and I am drenched with soapy water. I need a rest badly. Jane has collapsed on the floor and fallen asleep. ROSALIE

21st October 1852 I have to work again but I really don’t want to get up! ROSALIE

21st November 1852 Father has earned a fortune through one particular mine. Furthermore, Jane has become a maid, I am still a laundry worker though, I shall become a maid one day. Mother suggested we start saving up to but a small cottage or hut as we still live in a tiny tent. ROSALIE

24th December 1852 We bought the house but we haven’t enough money to buy presents for Christmas tomorrow! Instead I collected wildflowers and loose bits of rope and made 7 bunches of flowers. I also saw a shopkeeper who was throwing out some badly chipped and cracked so I took them out the rubbish and pt the flowers into them. ROSALIE

25th December 1852 I am devastated! Christmas isn't exciting anymore! Pheobe, my darling sister, has fallen down a mineshaft! She has to have died, she couldn't have survived the fall. Mother desperately wants to leave, but William and Alex do not. Surprising all of us, it was Katherine that came up with a brilliant idea. She said, "What if only half of us go home. Every time gold is found you can send some back and keep some for yourself." Mother, Jane and Katherine packed their bags quite quickly and I gave them their Christmas presents. Father found 15 shillings for when they arrived back in Ireland and a pouchful of change for the travel costs. They leave tomorrow. ROSALIE

26th December 1852 As goodbyes and farewells were exchanged, I was on my way back from town with some woolen blankets to give to them. I was back just as Mother said "If she doesn't come soon we leave without her." I knew she meant to say goodbye. The boys need me for a reliable income. I cried ROSALIE

27th October 1852 I feel empty. Like half my heart has been torn out and sent to Ireland with Mother and my sisters. I understand now, the family I took for granted is more precious than life itself. I have apologised to God Almighty and I hope he forgives me. It's depessing to know that they are getting further and further away every passing day. I pray now as a comfort. ROSALIE 31st December 1852 A huge New Years Countdown is being held and I am unsure if I should go. All my friends are going so I am not going to just sit around and mope. I should relish the freedom Father gives me. ROSALIE

1st January 1853 It was amazing, we traced the moon and counted down to today. It's 2am now and I am glad I went. We danced and no one mined or worked. ROSALIE

2nd January 1853 Today I met a very interesting girl named Lucy, we had a conversation that went like this. She asked if we could talk and I agreed to sit with her. We talked about ourselves and became fast friends. she asked if I was religious and I told her I started praying when half my family went home. She taught me a song about the Lord. It was really beautiful. ROSALIE

3rd January 1853 I have decided to write a letter to Mother, Jane and Katherine:

Dear Mother and my darling sisters, We have recently celebrated New Years Day, and although I realise you won't get this for a long while, I hope you will appreciate this. I have start work soon though which isn't too bad. I am tired though. I wonder whether Lady Adeline will give you back your old jobs or if you will have to look for a new one. Father says to tell you he loves you even more now your gone. Henry and William have been mining alot more and working harder. Not much has happened as it's been less than a week but I felt a need to write. Your Loving Daughter/Sister Rosalie

I'll post it on the way to work. ROSALIE

5th January 1853 A storm is raging and I am caught in the middle of it, I have no way of getting home without being drenched, I think I'll have to risk it. ROSALIE

// I am absolutely devastated. Today I found the body of my darling sister crushed by a tree. I found her hugging this diary and decided that it would be fitting for her death to be recorded. My brother and I shall treasure this diary forever as a memory of our wonderful sister. I have found a letter tucked into the back of the book. This must have been the letter that she never posted. It is for Mother and our sisters, I shall write about her death and then post it with this letter. Our family cried for hours and hours after I gave them the awful news. //

// Henry //